History of a Painting, McDonald's, Mishawaka, Indiana.
It was the 1950's, when Neon, Milk Shakes and cool cars came on the scene. In the midst of it all, we had heard of a new restaurant that had burgers, fries and shakes. You couldn't go inside to eat and they didn't have car hops that brought it out to your car. The way it worked was, you walked up to the window on the outside of the building and ordered your food, they prepared it, put it in a bag and you either sat in your car or took it home to eat. They called it "Fast Food". The even had a sign that told you how many hamburgers they had sold.
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Acrylic painting by Larry Johnston©
These places started in Chicago and were popping up in other states. In January of 1959, the first local McDonald's opened just one block from the dividing line between South Bend and Mishawaka, Indiana, on Lincolnway West on the Mishawaka side.
As I was traveling and painting for Art Shows, the pubic was excited about my diner and restaurant pictures. Since I did several shows in this area, and was raised in South Bend, I decided to include McDonald, as it would have looked, when it first opened here.
While on the road in in Louisville Kentucky, at St. James Court, one of the top shows in the country, we were approached by a family, who's father had just retired and sold his collection of a large number of McDonald's restaurants he had built up, during his restaurant years. The children wanted to pool their money and buy him the painting as a retirement gift.
The McDonald's painting was my first experience with Classic Cars and Neon, which became a popular theme in later paintings.
Blogs About Some of My Other Paintings and their History:
Barber Tonics,.... Pelican Diner,.... A & W Drive-in,.... The Lantern,.... The FOX Theatre, Atlanta,... Tri-Way Outdoor Theatre,... Rexall Drug Store,... A Family Homestead,... The Palace Theatre,... Angel's Diner,... Krispy Kreme, Gainsville, Florida,... Bonnie Doon US31,... Ross Diner,... The Gag & Heave,... A&W Root Beer Barrel,... Bonnie Doon, Lincolnway, Mishawaka, IN,... Train Depot, Cartersville, GA,... Dairy Queen,... Firestone Store,... The South Shore,... The Gathering Place,... 4-Way Lunch,... Mustard and Ketchup,... McDonald's,... Lost Mountain Store,... The Big Chicken,... Euharlee, GA. Covered Bridge,... Juliette, GA Church,... Fried Green Tomatoes House,... Whistle Stop Cafe,... Whistle Stop Train Depot,... Tilley Park,... Jimmy's Hurricane,... Barber Chair,... Fire Truck,... Rosies Diner,... Judge Roy Bean's
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If you know someone who wants to Buy or Sell a Home in Elkhart County, Indiana, have them call me:
Larry Johnston, 574-304-7577
Elkhart County Subdivision, LLC, and Friends & Neighbors Real Estate Services,
Elkhart, Indiana,
or email larry@larry-johnston.com
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