Here’s the American Dream looking pretty Hungover by the 1970s

I would have liked to see America during its in-between period– somewhere in the seventies when the whole “Stepford Wives” thing and censorship and social compliance was over with (more or less), but they hadn’t yet starting tearing down all those wonderful and whimsical buildings. Sure, they might have been looking a little sorry for themselves; crumbling, repurposed several times over or abandoned entirely; but at least they were still standing. In my eyes, aesthetics and architecture are among the few things history got right, but it seems that all too often, they pay the biggest price as time goes on…

Hoot Owl Cafe, 8711 Long Beach Boulevard, Southgate, Los Angeles, California

Ford dealership in a now-demolished art-deco building at 1300 Main Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon

Mattoon Service Station (pre-fabricated), National & Washington Boulevards, Culver City, California

Architectural critic, photographer, and author, John Margolies began an American journey in the early 1970s, photographing the country’s novelty and vernacular architecture that he was concerned would soon be displaced by the growing modernist trend. John was later credited with recognising buildings that would be added to the National Register of Historic Places through his extensive documentary work.

Following his passing in 2016, the Library of Congress created an archive consisting of 11,710 scans of his color slides, which capture this unique “in-between” moment for America. The 1950s pastel paint has faded but the local Mom & Pop shops are hanging onto business. The mid-century modern diners and kitschy roadside attractions have lost their sheen but the vintage signage hasn’t yet found its way to a trash heap.

Bang’s Drive-In, Route 34, Chariton, Iowa

Arguably more mesmerising than ever in their decay and loneliness, for a hopeless nostalgic and lover of all architecture, what a time to be alive…

Hat n’ Boots gas station (1945), 6800 [East] Marginal Way [South], Route 99, Seattle, Washington

Opened in 1949, the Skyvue Drive-In was located in the southeast part of town inside the Ross Clark Circle loop, near the corner of Main Street and Columbia Highway. It was operated by Martin Theatres. While the theater has been demolished, the driveways remain. The lot itself still resembles a drive-in and, while overgrown, there may be theater remnants among the weeds and trees.

Loyola Theater, Manchester & Sepulveda Boulevard, Westchester, California, now an office building. 

The Tower Bowl, Broadway near Kettner, San Diego, California (demolished).