If you lived in the Hancock Park area any time between 1946 and the 1970s you may remember the Tail O’ The Pup hot dog stand that stood on the corner of La Cienega and Beverly – if not for the dining experience then at least from driving by and seeing the mustard painted on that giant hot dog in a bun.
According to PreserveLA.com, the giant hot dog is a perfect example of “Programmatic Architecture” where the design of a building mimics that which it sells – be it donuts or tamales or hot dogs.
Vintage Los Angeles creator Alison Martino produced a short video on the history of the Tail O’ The Pup, designed by Milton Black and owned by the Blake family. After Kiddyland was demolished and the Beverly Center built in 1982, Tail O’ The Pup was relocated to San Vicente in West Hollywood and left the scene entirely in 2005. Â It’s next move: from a storage facility in Torrance CA to Las Vegas for renovation, and eventually back to Los Angeles, to look for a new home.
Vintage LA’s mini documentary shows the area in photos and footage over the Tail O’ The Pup’s life span – including the family owners, the stars and celebrities who ate there, and the many movies in which “the dog” appeared.
Let’s hope the grandchildren of the Blake brothers plant that Tail back in the old neighborhood again, somewhere close by.
