We've had a couple people send us messages about their memories of Merle's Drive In, located on the corner of MacArthur Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway. Merle's goes back to the 1950's. I don't have the exact date when it opened.
In the 1960's, it became the "The Zoo" drive in, and then in the early 1970's, it closed down, and was leveled. Today, it's the location of shopping center, and another restaurant, the Gulfstream Restaurant.
Here's a letter we received from Ron & Anna Winship on August 25, 2007, regarding their memories of Merle's Drive In...
Steve,
Before it was the ZOO....with the big gorilla waving at all the people....It was Merle's Drive-In....on the corner of MacArthur Blvd. and PCH on the land they call Corona Del Mar Plaza these days.
Meanwhile, this came to mind because we were watching a PBS special with Ralph Story about "What isn't there anymore!" in Los Angeles.
So, it got us thinking: The Clock Restaurants ...especially the one on the Circle in Long Beach. The Clock in Whittier too! Van De Kamps.....and we can't remember what cities they had those! Remember the Windmill in Neon? Harvey's Broiler in Downey! Was in Mel's on Sunset Blvd. or was it something else...can't remember. That one was the most famous of them all. My mom used to hang out there in the 40's.
Anyway, we had a great place for burgers and the best tachitos on the planet. It was located near Poppy and PCH in Corona Del Mar.....where the Sandwich Place is now..next to the empty parking lot.
So, Steve if you can remember the name of the famous Drive-in on Sunset in Hollywood...please let us know.
Ron & Anna Winship
Here's another message I received from Matt Keto as a comment on the Submit a Memory page...
In Corona del Mar, at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and East Pacific Coast Highway, once stood some kind of a drive-in.
I thought it was called The Zoo in the early 70s.
An acquaintance remembers it from her childhood as Merle's.
Can anyone fill in the blanks?
Cheers,
Matt Keto
Costa Mesa
If you have something to contribute regarding Merle's Drive Inn, or The Zoo, please click on "Post a Comment" below, and share them with us.
I'm a blogger and internet marketer, motorcycle rider, and craft beer lover.
Merle's was a BIG car cruising spot for most of Orange county in the '50s & early '60's, and included car-hops. We all stopped going when it got stupid as the ZOO. The following will get you to a photo of the day.
ReplyDeletehttp://cgi.ebay.com/1951-Vintage-Ad-MERLES-Coffee-Shop-CORONA-del-MAR-Ca_W0QQitemZ220084761825QQihZ012QQcategoryZ850QQcmdZViewItem
I believe the Drive-In on Sunset was called "Tiny Naylors"
ReplyDeleteif anyone is interested, i have an original Merle's menu from the 50s. I am selling it on Ebay soon unless someone out there wants to buy it. let me know.
ReplyDeletethanks, Patti
Hey Patti, make digital scans of the menu, and send them to me. I'll post them here. E-mail me here...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.octhen.com/2005/01/contact-us.htm
In Visalia, we also had a Merles Drive in..but sadly it caught fire and now going under new ownership and they claim they will make it like the old one. It is located on Mooney blvd.
ReplyDeleteHey Steve,
ReplyDeleteI cant get through to your email via Internet Explorer. I have had a problem with IE. for quite awhile.My browser is Firefox. Is there a direct email address that I can send you the scans or I can even send them via US Mail. Let me know.
Patti
You mean you can't send an e-mail to: steve@cleardigitalmedia.com ??
ReplyDeleteTry it first.
Or send via snail mail to:
P.O. Box 3622
Quail Valley, CA 92587
Kau Kau Corner was the name of the
ReplyDeletesmall drive-in near Poppy in CDM...
Additionally, Tiny Naylor's was the
name of the Famous Drive-in up on
Sunset Blvd. We had forgotten, but
they also had Hody's Drive-in and
we think they were up in Long Beach
or Los Alamitos. Let's just say...in the old days...we really wore out the seats of our cars....a
lot faster than they do today!
I so remember when this place was The Zoo! I lived in Costa Mesa at the time but my grandfather lived in CdM. Whenever we used to visit him I always hoped we'd stop there. I'd get pretty damned stoked whenever I saw that gorrila waving on the corner. I remember the food used to come in different colored plastic baskets and there were cheap plastic toys in the kids meals. I lived in CdM several years later and saw the place become different things. I was in one of its incarnations Cowboys, and I remember thinking wow what a HUGE change after watching Dennis Rodman roll through with his entourage LOL
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Costa Mesa and attended Corona del Mar High School 1967-1970, so I'm pretty familiar with the area. The drive-in was known as The Zoo at that time, and I believe it was located at the corner of East Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Road (not MacArthur). It was demolished well before the time I graduated in 1970.
ReplyDeleteGreg Lima
I also remember the Zoo restaurant. My aunt took us their twice. I still have a menu that I've thought of selling on Ebay but I don't think many Ebayers would appreciate it since not many people knew about the Zoo. Up until finding this web site I've never been able to find ANYTHING about the Zoo My sister even worked at the NB police dept. in the 80's and said they used to refer to the "Zoo corner" but most of the officers didn't know why it was called that.
ReplyDeleteI also remember the little zoo in Fullerton on Orangethorpe. My aunt took us there a few times. I seem to remember seeing toucans and peacocks. I remember the chimps too but I was more impressed with the birds.
Does anyone have any photos of either of these places? It would be great to see them.
i know that i have a menu from Merle's, i just have to find it. anyone interested in it. If i find it, I may want to sell it. Let me know
ReplyDeleteThe Hody's drive in was located at the corner of Candlewood and Lakewood Blvd. in Lakewood,CA.
ReplyDeleteLater on it became a Mexican restaurant.
Hody's Drive-In was also at the corner of Anaheim and PCH in Long Beach. Now a ten-story commercial building. Nothings sacred any longer ....just tear down old stuff with character and build some glass thing that has no ascetic value. Bob King at majskyking@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHody,s were in Long Beach, Lakewood and Hollywood. Merles was actually on the corner of PCH and Jamboree. The Drag Racers used to go race on Jamboree out towards the Blimp hangers.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is wrong: Merles was on the corner of PCH and MacArthur Blvd, and WAS replace by the ZOO. I know, I lived it. Jamboree was up the coast a bit, and just across from Bal Island.
ReplyDeleteCoxPilot
Got a kick out these about merles, merle, was my stepdads brother inlaw,started out with male carhops dressed in Balboa blues,Use to fish on his cris craft out of Bal. Yacht club, 1949, Merle also started the Copper Penny chain,also at the circle in Long Beach, Bennie and cecle drive in,Bet ya dont remember that one, It was a little ahead of its time AL
ReplyDeleteMerle's was a hot spot to connect up to find out were the parties were on any given weekend in Newoport, Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, ect. We used to drive down from Garden Grove, a big car full of girls looking for the boys. It was a spot where drag races were set-up, the guys raced up McAurther or other roads in the back bay. Corvetts from as far as Hollywood would come down to race the locals.Memories...
ReplyDeleteI am looking for anything merle's related. I have a original artist concept painting of what merle's would look like. I am reframing it and would like additional items.
ReplyDeleteTo any and all posting comments regarding Merle's drive in the Copper Penny chain, Beanie & Cecil's or Merle Afflerbaugh i would be most interested in any and all you have to show or say. Mr Afflerbaugh was my grandfather he died before i was born his wife Paula was my grandmother and their daughter Merilee is my mother. Please contact me @ adams_j_2009@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThe taquitos at the Kau Kau Korner were the best ever. The BBQ beef sandwich was great too.
ReplyDelete- jwhook
Lincoln Junior High, 1962
Let's not forget Harvey's Broiler in Downey where they had a 1/4 mile marked off in the alley behind the drive-in. And of course Lions Drag Strip.
ReplyDelete