Olive Manor Motel - Burbank, CA

New does not mean better. It does when the improvements are obvious or structural. Style takes time to recognize. Classics are defined by age, style is judged by being a passing fad or lasting impression. I am writing and posting these pictures of the Olive Manor Motel in Burbank right now, mainly because of what happened recently with Johnie's Broiler. The Olive Manor, and it's connecting restaurant Frank's, apart from the sign, is one of the best preserved buildings of it's types. Seemingly untouched, even having the old American Express signs on the outside (seen above), the hotel has such charm and character. Well had. It seems as though this is another victim of remodeling. I don't have any pictures (remember my camera broke) and I don't know what they are doing to it, but it seems as though they are removing all the signature details from the building including the orange folded plate awnings. There are run of the mill hotels and motels everywhere, why is it that the only one with character feels the need to fit in with the boring crowd.

Now I doubt the place was doing very well but that had more to do with general up keep and I think they are taking steps in the wrong direction. The Motel would be more successful if it utilized it's design (a boutique motel?) and used the modernism to attract a clientele interested in design and it would set itself apart from the rest of the blah motels in the area or even outside the area.

If they are doing positive rennovations that I just can't see now then I apologize but when I drove by I could hardly look at it and it seems to be far from the case. I keep getting broken hearted by these kinds of things, which means I need to get more involved, but I am doing something now by at least writing about it but we should all try to take the next step.