Eldon Davis
Encyclopedia
Eldon Carlyle Davis was an American
architect
, considered largely responsible for the creation of Googie architecture
, a form of modern architecture
originating in Southern California
. Googie architecture is largely influenced by Southern California's car culture and the Space Age
of the mid-20th century. Davis was a founding partner of the Armet & Davis
architectural firm
which championed Googie architecture, including the original Norms Restaurant, a Googie coffee shop
designed by Davis. For his work, the Los Angeles Times
called Davis, "the father of the California
coffee shop."
Eldon Davis was born in Washington state
in 1917. He originally worked at a fish cannery while attending the University of Southern California
. He created a new design for the fish cannery as an architectural student, a design that was later built. Davis earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1942.
Davis and his business partner, architect Louis Armet
, expected to work in industrial architecture
following their graduation from USC. However, their plans changed thanks to the post-war construction boom in Southern California
following World War II
. They began designing structures geared towards a growing population, including nurseries, churches, country club
s, banks and even bowling alleys.
In 1947, Davis and Armet opened their architectural firm, Armet & Davis
, in 1947. Together, the architects used their firm and its designs to champion Googie architecture
, especially in California. The firm exists today as Armet Davis Newlove Architecture and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
One of the best preserved examples of Davis' work is the Pann's
coffee shop and its neon sign
in Westchester, Los Angeles. Davis also designed the early prototypes for local Big Boy
and Denny's
restaurants in Los Angeles. The older buildings on the Fullerton campus of Hope International University
also display Davis' classic Googie style
Eldon Davis died of complications from spinal meningitis, at a hospital in West Hills, Los Angeles, on April 22, 2011, at the age of 94. He was survived by his second wife, Luana; a dauughter, Karen; three sons, Dan, Mark and Wyatt; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His first wife of more than thirty years died in the 1970s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, considered largely responsible for the creation of Googie architecture
Googie architecture
Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture influenced by car culture and the Space and Atomic Ages....
, a form of modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
originating in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Googie architecture is largely influenced by Southern California's car culture and the Space Age
Space Age
The Space Age is a time period encompassing the activities related to the Space Race, space exploration, space technology, and the cultural developments influenced by these events. The Space Age is generally considered to have begun with Sputnik...
of the mid-20th century. Davis was a founding partner of the Armet & Davis
Armet & Davis
Armet Davis Newlove Architects, formerly known as Armet & Davis, is a California based architectural firm known for working in the Googie architecture style that marks many distinctive coffee shops and eateries in Southern California. The firm designed Pann's, the first Norms Restaurant, the...
architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
which championed Googie architecture, including the original Norms Restaurant, a Googie coffee shop
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
designed by Davis. For his work, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called Davis, "the father of the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coffee shop."
Eldon Davis was born in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
in 1917. He originally worked at a fish cannery while attending the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He created a new design for the fish cannery as an architectural student, a design that was later built. Davis earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1942.
Davis and his business partner, architect Louis Armet
Louis Armet
Louis Armet was an American architect and strong proponent of Googie architecture during the mid-20th century. Armet and fellow architect, Eldon Davis, co-founded the Armet & Davis architectural firm in 1947, which became known for its distinctive Googie architecture style in Southern...
, expected to work in industrial architecture
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
following their graduation from USC. However, their plans changed thanks to the post-war construction boom in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They began designing structures geared towards a growing population, including nurseries, churches, country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
s, banks and even bowling alleys.
In 1947, Davis and Armet opened their architectural firm, Armet & Davis
Armet & Davis
Armet Davis Newlove Architects, formerly known as Armet & Davis, is a California based architectural firm known for working in the Googie architecture style that marks many distinctive coffee shops and eateries in Southern California. The firm designed Pann's, the first Norms Restaurant, the...
, in 1947. Together, the architects used their firm and its designs to champion Googie architecture
Googie architecture
Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture influenced by car culture and the Space and Atomic Ages....
, especially in California. The firm exists today as Armet Davis Newlove Architecture and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
One of the best preserved examples of Davis' work is the Pann's
Pann's
Pann's is a coffee shop restaurant considered an institution in Los Angeles, California, for its history, role in movies, and distinctive architecture. The restaurant was opened by husband and wife George and Rena Poulos in 1958 and is still operated by the Poulos family as of 2011. It is also...
coffee shop and its neon sign
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
in Westchester, Los Angeles. Davis also designed the early prototypes for local Big Boy
Big Boy (restaurant)
Big Boy is a restaurant chain with its headquarters in Warren, Michigan.Big Boy was started in 1936 by Bob Wian, in partnership with Arnold Peterson in Glendale, California, USA. Marriott Corporation bought the chain in 1967...
and Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
restaurants in Los Angeles. The older buildings on the Fullerton campus of Hope International University
Hope International University
Hope International University is a Private Christian University in Fullerton, California. The campus is located just south of California State University, Fullerton. Hope International University has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students representing 35 states and 40 countries...
also display Davis' classic Googie style
Eldon Davis died of complications from spinal meningitis, at a hospital in West Hills, Los Angeles, on April 22, 2011, at the age of 94. He was survived by his second wife, Luana; a dauughter, Karen; three sons, Dan, Mark and Wyatt; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His first wife of more than thirty years died in the 1970s.