Date Posted:10:20:15 08/01/03 Fri Author: Mt. Healthy Mountaineer Subject: ANHOW Review of Books: "California Crazy & Beyond: Roadside Vernacular Architecture"
Genre: Non-fiction
Author: Jim Heimann
Published: 2001 by Chronicle Books LLC
This is a wonderful coffee table type book about a strange style of architecture that started in California in the 1920s and mostly died out in the 1960s. The book features bulidings in the shape of non-building objects, such as Hot Dog stands in the shape of dogs, Donut shops with giant donuts on the roof, buildings shaped like jets, ships, teepees, people, frogs, derby hats, coffee cups, castles, etc.
It's a fun book to leaf through, the notes on the pictures are informative. I must admit, I skimmed the text, but it was a fun book. He includes an addendum of other bizarre items, such as statues of dinosaurs and men, including a group of fiberglass statues called "muffler men". These caught my eye because there are one in Indianapolis at the Ralph's muffler shop across from old Bush Stadium on 16th Street. If you're not sure what a muffler man is, here's a link to a very detailed site: CLICK HERE
