Burbank in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Big Boy

— State of California Point of Historical Interest —

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

1. Big Boy Marker

Inscription. This restaurant was built in 1949 by locals Scott MacDonald and Ward Albert and is the oldest remaining Bob's Family Restaurant in America. It was designed by respected architect Wayne McAllister incorporating the 1940s Transitional design of Streamline Modern Style while anticipating the Freeform 50s Coffee Shop architecture. The towering Bobs sign is an integral part of the building's design and its most prominent feature.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 34° 9.154′ N, 118° 20.769′ W. Marker is in Burbank, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is on West Riverside Drive west of North Pass Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4211 West Riverside Drive, Burbank CA 91505, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Writers Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Warner Brothers War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Johnny Carson Park (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ford Anglia (approx. 1.1 miles away); George Barris Place (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Bungalow (approx. 1.2 miles away); Alfred Hitchcock

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.2 miles away); The Animation Building (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burbank.

Regarding Big Boy. Bob's Big Boy is a restaurant chain founded by Bob Wian in Glendale California in 1936. The restaurant is named after the Big Boy hamburger, which Wian created when he sliced a bun into three slices and added two hamburger patties, creating the original double-deck hamburger.
The chain was purchased by Marriott in 1967. At its peak in 1989, there were over 240 Bob's locations throughout the United States. The Elias Brothers purchased the chain in 1987. After remodeling many of the restaurants, bankruptcy was declared in 2000. Only five Bob's Big Boy Restaurants remain in operation, all in Southern California. Today there are 200 Big Boy franchise locations in the Great Lakes region.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

2. Big Boy Marker

Bob’s Big Boy Sign & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

3. Bob’s Big Boy Sign & Marker

Bob’s Big Boy Counter image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

4. Bob’s Big Boy Counter

Bob's Big Boy Car Hop image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

5. Bob's Big Boy Car Hop

Big Boy Display Inside the Restaurant. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

6. Big Boy Display Inside the Restaurant.

The Front of Bob's Big Boy Restaurant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

7. The Front of Bob's Big Boy Restaurant

Bob's Big Boy Car Hop Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

8. Bob's Big Boy Car Hop Sign

Bob’s Big Boy image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Baker, January 14, 2020

9. Bob’s Big Boy

Photographed By Craig Baker, 2017

10. The Beatles

Their booth is in the south-east corner of the restaurant.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,459 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on January 10, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 5, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 8, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 9. submitted on January 19, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 10. submitted on June 17, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.