I didn’t know a term existed for the quasi-futuristic, kitschy American architecture of the 50s, 60s, and 70s until a few days ago. But as I drove home from my parents’ house (the same house I grew up in) on the less-than-scenic Lake City Way last week, I drove by the in-progress restoration of Ying’s Chinese Foods Drive-In – as I have done multiple times before. I decided I needed to photograph it, and in my googlings I came across the term “Googie Architecture.” Things started to click, and I made plans to take the husband on a Golden Hour Thursday night date to document this both captivating and extremely kitschy building.
Growing up, as my father was working to start his own business, I remember going to Ying’s on special occasions for American Chinese staples like General Tso’s or almond chicken. I was particularly attracted to the fried rice cakes the kitchen staff had colorfully and artificially colored vibrant pinks and greens and yellows. The building has always had a special place in my memory, and yet I didn’t know the history of the plot of land itself. Read more
