Scrivner's Carhop Drive-In Restaurants

 

Above, Scrivner's Drive-In at Cahuenga and Ivar in Hollywood.

The first drive-in restaurant with carhop service was in 1923, but the drive-in restaurants didn't take off until the 1940s and 1950s following World War II.

A prominent drive-in carhop restaurant in Los Angeles was Scrivner's. They had several locations. My parents and I went to the one in Inglewood at 3425 West Manchester Blvd. Many times, my parents mentioned seeing D.J. Art Laboe at the Inglewood restaurant in the 1950s whenever we heard him on the radio in the 1970s. Laboe apparently broadcast his radio shows from different Scrivner's.

Above, a carhop retrieving a tray in the 1930s.

What's a carhop?

According to Wikipedia:

A carhop is a waiter or waitress who brings fast food to people in their cars at drive-in restaurants. Carhops usually work on foot but sometimes use roller skakes.

Above, a vintage ad for Scrivner's with their list of locations.

The Inglewood Scrivner's location closed in the 1960s and demolished.. The Guardian convalescent hospital was built at the former restaurant's location.

There were other chains of drive-in restaurants besides Scrivner's. None of them exist today.

Above, Art Laboe (with microphone) and fans at a Scrivner's remote broadcast.

There are some 1950s-themed drive-in carhop restaurants springing up today such as Mel's Drive-In and Sonic. I have been to the Sonic in Gallup, but wasn't impressed with their burgers. It appears nostalgia is alive and well.