THERE’S STILL LIFE OUT THERE….It’s been 13 years since we launched The Time Traveler site and subsequent Bay Area Backroads. For our inaugural trip, in 2006, we went beyond the Bay Area to explore still existing ’40s and ’50s TIKI culture and related Living Nostalgia in the Los Angeles area. The trip spawned TheTimeTraveler.com which became TheTimeTraveler.info and then BayAreaBackroads.org which is now BayAreaBackroads.us Like much of our past, these sites went to sleep, as it were , for years but we’re back -hopefully permanently – along with some of our past as we attempt to keep our glorious Mid-Century Golden Years alive, discovering and re-discovering places and people and related music, movies and memories of the simpler ‘Happy Days’ era.
While what were considered decaying cities have headed in perhaps a worse direction what with the gentrifying destruction of yesteryear’s Golden Palaces such as Oakland.s Biffs (UFO-shaped) Coffee Shop, the Hofbrau and Dave’s Coffee Shop , just to name a few. Yet, while city life continues to decay, in a post-modern kind of way, many small towns in the hinterlands have risen up -often through a new generation – like the proverbial Phoenix, maintaining their quality of life edifices from that earlier, simpler era of the 1930s-1960s . It seems folks in the so-called ‘fly over’ areas, well beyond the growing generic urban sprawl, seem to appreciate their roots and past more than those of the once-spectacular big cities and we will attempt to celebrate their efforts to restore and keep alive what were memorable formative years for many of us.
While what were considered decaying cities have headed in perhaps a worse direction what with the gentrifying destruction of yesteryear’s Golden Palaces such as Oakland.s Biffs (UFO-shaped) Coffee Shop, the Hofbrau and Dave’s Coffee Shop , just to name a few. Yet, while city life continues to decay, in a post-modern kind of way, many small towns in the hinterlands have risen up -often through a new generation – like the proverbial Phoenix, maintaining their quality of life edifices from that earlier, simpler era of the 1930s-1960s . It seems folks in the so-called ‘fly over’ areas, well beyond the growing generic urban sprawl, seem to appreciate their roots and past more than those of the once-spectacular big cities and we will attempt to celebrate their efforts to restore and keep alive what were memorable formative years for many of us.
Amazingly, we were able to find more remaining classics in one short Burtday Time Travel Trip, April 7, 2019 to the Stockton-Lodi ‘Inland Empire ‘ than in any previous venture. We are happy to be able to share these remarkable places and people who continue to operate these Golden Era beauties so that you may still frequent them and, in so doing, help to keep them ALIVE and STILL ENJOY THAT BYGONE ERA that many thought had completely disappeared forever! Time Travel Lives!
We currently will be offering weekly updates that will include more such recent discoveries and updates in our ‘JACK BENNY ‘A’ LIST COUP-LETTER.’ You get not only these nostalgic updates but coupons,offers along with savings and success tips.
St. Francis Motel , Stockton CA near Lodi off #99 – no date of origin to be found but likely 1950s or 1960s. Appears all original from reviews of ‘uneven floors and lumpy carpets.’ Hollywood Cafe with iconic sign and mural – ‘Lodi’s Oldest and Finest ‘ – no date given, even on website. Here shows wall mural with Hollywood Stars. Can you name all four?‘Modern Motor Lodge’ Lodi CA is perhaps our favorite Lodi Motel sign for the name and worn look. By contract check out the 1950s postcard of the same when it was no doubt quite the traveler’s paradise
Original 1950s postcard of ‘Modern Motor Lodge’, L’odi
Back of above postcard promoting all of the ‘1950s’ benefits – quite a ‘time travel’ nostalgic piece. Still no opening date noted but likely 1950s or even 1940s just by sign deco graphic.