With the city currently experiencing devastating wildfires due to unprecedented weather conditions, Los Angeles needs some love and appreciation. To help us recall a less distressing time, please enjoy this Eastern Airlines television commercial from 1971, in which various Angelenos express what they love about their city:
One notable participant in this ad campaign is the late Tom Koulax, founder of the California hamburger chain Original Tommy's. In the commercial, Koulax stands in front of his flagship restaurant, also known as "The Shack," located at the corner of Beverly and Rampart boulevards in LA's Silverlake neighborhood. Thankfully, The Shack has so far survived the fires, and the company has even sent out its mobile food truck, "Shack on Wheels," to serve free meals to members of the Los Angeles Fire Department and other first responders.
Tom Koulax, and all Los Angeles residents past, present, and future, are what give the city its character. If you ever find yourself out west and in the mood for a burger (or a hotdog, tamales, or fries), take yourself over to The Shack. And if you're in the mood to view other historic Los Angeles-themed materials, or just to browse our collections, please visit Hagley's Digital Archives.
Ona Coughlan is the Audiovisual Digitization Archivist at Hagley Museum and Library