10 vintage motel matchbooks that light up nostalgia

Denise McKinney says she has astir apt determination adjacent to fractional a cardinal matchbooks tucked distant wrong her Riverside home.

She’s been collecting for years and volition typically prime up immoderate strikes her fancy, nary pun intended. She has specialties now, similar matchbooks with animals connected them oregon matchbooks that advertise vigor and TV stations, but she says her biggest postulation by acold is books from Southern California, including vintage motel matchbooks.

The motel turns 100. Explore the state’s champion roadside havens — and the coolest stops on the way.

The president of the Angelus Matchcover Club says she likes matchbooks due to the fact that of however they bespeak a region’s history. She’s grabbed books that tout Route 66 attractions oregon places from her Orange County hometown.

Matchbook collectors Olivia Frescura, Robert Donnelson, Denise McKinney and Cheryl Crill.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

This twelvemonth marks the 100th day of the motel, a conception that originated with the Milestone Mo-Tel successful San Luis Obispo (later renamed the Motel Inn). Though it didn’t go wide known until aft World War II, “motel” is fundamentally a portmanteau for “motor hotel,” oregon a lodging spot wherever the rooms could beryllium entered done the parking batch alternatively than done a cardinal lobby.

To get travelers successful the door, motels utilized gimmicks to basal retired among the stiff competition, similar neon signs and themed decor, but besides promotional materials similar escaped postcards and pocket-sized matchbooks. With the 100th day successful mind, we wanted to look backmost astatine immoderate of Southern California’s motel past arsenic seen done collectors’ matchbooks. These books correspond conscionable a tiny fraction of the thousands of motels that person operated successful the portion but are a large spot to start.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

Collector: Cheryl Crill, Pasadena

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? From the publication itself, we cognize precise little, lone that it was connected Hollywood Boulevard betwixt Western Avenue and Vine Street and that it was allegedly some fire- and earthquake-proof. From postcards that look online and accusation gathered by amateur historians, though, we cognize that the Town was a two-story ceramic motel located astatine 5756 Hollywood Blvd., and it was built successful 1940 for astir $40,000, tract included. Each country had a room and galore guests rented by the week oregon connected a semipermanent basis.

What the collector says: A matchcover collector for implicit 35 years, Crill says she was drawn to the Town Motel publication due to the fact that of its modernist look and location. An L.A. County native, who’s besides the editor, treasurer and rank caput for the Angelus Matchcover Club, Crill has astir 2,000 matchcovers from Hollywood hotels and motels alone.

What’s determination now? The Fusion Hollywood/Alta Ink flat complex.

(Chester Crill)

Collector: Crill

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? The publication lets america cognize that the motel was located successful the “City of Stars,” astatine 2010 N. Highland Ave., conscionable “2 blocks northbound of Hollywood Blvd. oregon 2 blocks southbound of the Hollywood freeway.” According to vintage postcards, it had 30 “lovely units,” each of which were afloat carpeted.

What the collector says: The Bowl Motel appealed to Crill due to the fact that of its location, and the artwork goes crossed the entirety of the cover.

What’s determination now? The tract is slated for a 62-unit affordable lodging analyzable for the homeless.

(Chester Crill)

Collector: Crill

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? Located astatine 8585 Santa Monica Blvd. successful West Hollywood, the Tropicana was purchased by Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax successful 1962. He sold it a fewer years later, but successful the meantime the edifice started to go a blistery spot acknowledgment successful portion to its proximity to the Sunset Strip. The 74-room associated became particularly fashionable among stone ‘n’ rollers, implicit clip hosting luminaries similar Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett and Sly Stone. Both Jim Morrison and Tom Waits were semipermanent residents, holding down rooms astatine the Tropicana for years.

What the collector says: While Crill says she collected this matchbook due to the fact that of wherever the edifice was located, she notes that it besides would entreaty to Koufax oregon shot collectors oregon those who cod matchbooks from businesses owned by “VIPs.”

What’s determination now? The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham West Hollywood Hotel & Suites.

(Chester Crill)

Collector: Crill

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? Offering “resort living,” according to a postcard, the Algiers was located astatine 445 N. Rossmore Ave. It had a cocktail lounge and a eating room, arsenic good arsenic expansive greenish vistas from its excavation platform acknowledgment to its proximity to the Wilshire Country Club. Those who chose to enactment astatine the Algiers besides got complimentary tickets to TV amusement tapings astatine adjacent studios, an amenity much than a fewer Hollywood motels offered backmost successful the day.

What the collector says: Calling yourself thing similar “the Algiers,” Crill says, could marque visitors take to enactment determination conscionable due to the fact that they thought it sounded exotic.

What’s determination now? The Windsor astatine Hancock Park Apartments.

(Amanda Villegas/For The Times)

Collector: Olivia Frescura, Beverly Grove

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? The publication gives america comparatively small to spell on, saying conscionable that the motel was located astatine 3019 E. Colorado Blvd. successful Pasadena, on Route 66. It besides names the then-owners, George and Corinne Macklem, which matchbooks of the epoch often did successful bid to marque staying determination consciousness similar a much personalized experience. From aged postcards online, though, we tin spot that the Clark was built sometime successful the aboriginal ’40s and had 22 cottages on-site, 16 with kitchenettes, arsenic good arsenic a heated pool. It went done immoderate renovations and astatine times advertised that patrons would person entree to backstage telephones, afloat tiled baths and “free hi-fi music.”

What the collector says: A comparative newcomer to the matchbook game, Frescura started collecting conscionable 7 oregon truthful years ago, successful portion due to the fact that she was moving arsenic a societal media manager for a hospitality institution astatine the time. Now, the contented creator collects some aged and caller matchbooks, posting them connected her @MatchesInLA Instagram account. She says she was drawn to the Clark Motel publication successful portion due to the fact that she grew up successful South Pasadena but besides due to the fact that she liked the color, which she says is adjacent to 1 of the colors she uses successful her ain concern logo.

What’s determination now? The Ganahl Lumber Yard’s parking lot.

(Amanda Villegas/For The Times)

Collector: Denise McKinney, Riverside

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? A Riverside instauration since the 1950s, the Farm House was located astatine 1393 8th St. Each small barn-shaped bungalow suite offered a bedroom, bathroom, surviving country and kitchen, and the publication says patrons could travel “for a nighttime … oregon a vacation.” Operated for astir 32 years by Isidore and Marie Claire Camou, the Farm House’s plan paid tribute to the area’s cultivation heritage, including the dairies that erstwhile filled the countryside. In 2019, the operation — which has ever kept the aforesaid barn-shaped neon motion — was designated arsenic a metropolis of Riverside Historic Landmark, successful portion due to the fact that it was 1 of the past remaining examples of a centrifugal tribunal successful the region.

What the collector says: As a local, McKinney has known astir the Farm House for years. She calls the Farm House “charming” and “country-western-looking,” hailing it arsenic a “very bully relic of roadside architecture.”

What’s determination now? The Farm House Collective, a edifice and buying halfway that opened successful March.

Collector Denise McKinney’s matchbook from the Pioneer Motel.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

Collector: McKinney

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? Located successful Buena Park, the Pioneer Motel was 1 of galore that popped up successful Orange County successful the 1950s and ’60s successful the aftermath of the Disneyland tourism boom. According to vintage postcards, the ranch-style motel had 2 pools, TVs successful astir rooms and was adjacent to different restaurants and theaters.

What the collector says: McKinney grew up successful Orange County, “right determination connected Beach Boulevard,” she says. She’s ever liked the drawstring of motels and attractions on that portion and says that successful some Buena Park and Anaheim, motels often would beryllium designed astir a theme, whether it was pioneers oregon knights oregon thing fantasy-related. “They had to bash their champion to get radical to enactment there,” McKinney says, “so they had to advertise what they had versus the edifice adjacent door, due to the fact that they virtually were each close adjacent to each different similar boom, boom, boom.”

What’s determination now? An bare batch owned by the metropolis of Buena Park.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

Collector: McKinney

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? A 54-unit operation located astatine 2711 Wilshire Blvd. successful Santa Monica, the Red Apple Motel was the sister spot to the adjacent William Tell Motel and Apartments. The Red Apple attracted Route 66 tourists and formation bums alike who could avail themselves of the Red Apple’s in-room radios and kitchenettes.

What the collector says: Like Orange County, Santa Monica has ever attracted a batch of tourists. That’s why, McKinney says, motels similar the Red Apple and William Tell chose to marque themselves truthful distinctively. “If you look done each the different motels that were successful Santa Monica astatine the time, they’re each precise beachy themed oregon trying to beryllium glamorous,” McKinney says. “I deliberation the Red Apple’s look makes it basal out. [The Red Apple and the William Tell] did a large occupation with each their graphics and postcards and different matchbooks, which conscionable goes to amusement you that radical knew their competition. They knew, ‘We’ve got to get radical to enactment present somehow.’”

What’s determination now? A Chase Bank.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

Collector: Robert Donnelson, Azusa

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? Located astatine 12059 Wilshire Blvd., the Don Lowell advertised itself arsenic being “30 minutes to downtown LA and 5 minutes” from the beach. Each cottage had a room and a garage, and the installation touted its AAA approval. According to postcards, it was a comparatively tiny establishment, with conscionable 12 structures, “all with tile showers, innerspring mattresses, radios, [and] partition heaters.”

What the collector says: Looking astatine the Don Lowell’s operation makes Donnelson, an amateur historiographer and longtime matchcover collector, deliberation that it was much of a “motor court” than what we mightiness deliberation of arsenic a motel, with a carport fundamentally wedged betwixt each unit. Donnelson says helium grabbed this matchbook purely due to the fact that helium loves SoCal matches, with astir 5,100 L.A. books on with 10,000 New York City and 5,000 San Francisco books successful his collection.

What’s determination now? A Ralph’s market store.

Collector Robert Donnelson’s matchbook from the Pasadena Motel.

(Amanda Villegas / For The Times)

Collector: Donnelson

Where was the motel and what bash we cognize astir it? Advertised arsenic being “typically Californian,” the Pasadena Motel was a mission-style gathering located astatine 2131 E. Colorado Blvd., on Route 66. Operated, according to a postcard, by “Mr. and Mrs. A.H. King,” the centrifugal court-style motel offered patrons views of Mt. Wilson.

What the collector says: Donnelson loves the bold blue-and-white graphics connected the book’s exterior, arsenic good arsenic the useful representation inside.

What’s determination now? The Travelodge by Wyndham, a fashionable spot to enactment during the Rose Parade owed to its way proximity.