At the beginning of the automobile age, in a car crazy southern California, roadways were dotted with eye-catching beacons for travelers. Scattered among the Western architectural landscape were diners shaped like chili-bowls, pigs, and coffee pots - a trend that later spread across the United States. Taking their inspiration less form professional architects and more from the business owners who knew the value of catching the attention of someone in a moving car, these structures combined whimsy, practicality, and visual appeal.
