
Gas Station Artistry – At A Price!
This is the iconic, architecturally significant gas station in Beverly Hills California. It’s not only a gas station but a major tourist attraction as well!
It is the Union 76 station located at 427 N. Crescent Drive. Designed by Gin Wong in 1965, it is a renowned example of Googie architecture with a distinctive, sweeping T-shaped roof, often featured in tours of Beverly Hills.

This futuristic gas station roof is considered a Mid-Century Modernist icon, featuring a futuristic, boomerang-styled canopy.
And what was the inspiration? This!

It was originally designed to complement the theme building at LAX – which still sits smack dab in the middle of the horseshoe style terminal buildings…but was instead built as a service station – and in a city where everyone drives, a good idea!
I shot this video three days ago….watch as I reveal the current price for a gallon of gas in Beverly Hills:
Yep, you read it right! Pump your own premium for $7.29 per gallon or let them do it for $8.34!

Thanks to a completely unnecessary and completely botched military action by our country, the world’s gas prices are skyrocketing.
I won’t editorialize more, except to say that prices in California are always among the highest, but this is a shocking new level that everyone is having to adapt to…still, if you are in Beverly Hills, there are tradeoffs like this:

Trust me: if you drive down this street you will see a photo op!
Here’s a closer look at where you are and how wonderful it is – plus the notorious Lan Turner house too:
You can also head to the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire boulevards and let this beautiful fountain relax you:
And while you are relaxing, take a moment to watch as DRIVERLESS TAXIS cruise by – and they are everywhere!

I see these Waymo driverless taxis everywhere and it still takes a bit of getting used to…see more about them here!
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, books, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
If you like the story, please share with friends and family on social media!
Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Memoirs, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
I think the inspiration for the gas station is proof of the power of art. Wonderful, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an interesting design. Very appropriate for the current times.
LikeLike
The retro cool style. The palm trees in the background. Almost makes me want to go to the gas station. Almost! Almost! Yes, way too expensive right now. But hey, we’re winning, right. Ugh. Recent travel took me through PA, NJ and NY. Prices ranged from $4.39 to $4.70. I know a lot goes into pricing (like certain state surcharges) but I guess I should be grateful that those figures are lower than CA! 😎😎😎😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here in New York the prices are using high $2 to low $3…now over $6. Disastrous leadership to blame
LikeLiked by 1 person
i love the retro styles you shared and do not love those insane prices!
LikeLike
We have often had the highest gas prices in the state, but we’re “only” at $6.36 per gallon right now. When we were in the Phoenix area, those driverless vehicles were everywhere. I was on a one-way street with three lanes, and I had one on each side of me.
LikeLike
And we bitch about $4 a gallon…..chuq
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a beautiful petrol station, John. But your prices are still low by UK standards, and we no longer have attended pumps, they are ALL self-serve only. The cheapest petrol where I live is currently £7.80 a gallon for regular unleaded, sold in a supermarket petrol station. That works out to $10.61. So the low price in the video for self-serve regular at $6.94 is good value in the current climate!
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
WOW Pete, I knew your prices were higher but wow.
LikeLiked by 1 person