Last September, we posted a blog deconstructing the meanings behind several Los Angeles neighborhoods, and you guys wanted more. Well, you don’t need to twist our arm to get us to discuss LA. But instead of looking at a new batch of neighborhoods, we wanted to take a closer look at the names of a few Los Angeles landmarks and businesses… even a highly recognizable chain. If you had your heart set on crazy stories behind neighborhood names specifically, then knock yourself out with the history of Baldwin Hills and Arcadia (though that’s admittedly a rougher read). For the rest of you, let’s dive right in with one of the most instantly recognizable Los Angeles locations…
The “Clifton” Behind One of the Weirdest Los Angeles Landmarks
Clifton’s Republic, formerly Clifton’s Cafeteria, has been visually overwhelming patrons for nearly a century. Eating at Clifton’s was never about the food (forgettable cafeteria slop). Rather it was a testament to the establishment that people would stomach the grub simply to spend an hour in its radiant halls saturated with faux redwoods, fairy lights, and a 20-foot waterfall. Animatronic raccoons would tilt their heads to curiously watch Angelenos tackle blobs of Jell-O on cafeteria trays. Honestly, it was all part of the surreal experience.
So, who was this mysterious Clifton who was crazy (and brilliant) enough to think any of this was a good idea? The founder of Clifton’s Cafeteria was one Clifford E. Clinton. Yeah, that’s not a typo. The eccentric restaurateur combined his first and last names when naming his off-the-wall cafeteria. Clifford + Clinton = Clifton. At the time of writing, Clifton’s Republic is temporarily closed for a flood issue. But normally, Angelenos can still visit this bizarre hybrid between a bar, an art installation, and easily one of the strangest Los Angeles landmarks to grace the city.
The Wiltern Might Be a Bit Too Obvious
This one’s likely a no-brainer for a lot of Angelenos. But sometimes, when you drive by a building daily, you take it for granted, and brain function goes out the window. Situated inside the Art Deco Pellissier Building, The Wiltern Theatre is one of the most instantly identifiable Los Angeles landmarks. The theater portion of the building has gone through extensive remodeling over the years but currently accommodates a little over 1,800 people. So it’s not exactly The Forum. Still, notable acts pass through The Wiltern all of the time. (This blogger has visited the venue to see Sonic Youth, King Diamond, and a double-bill of Ride and The Charlatans, just to name a few.)
But the meaning behind The Wiltern name is so simple, that it’s practically slapping you in the face. Located at the intersection of Wilton and Western, the Wiltern is obviously a combination of both names. Personally, I drove by this theater for over a decade and never put that together. Maybe I shouldn’t be admitting that.
That’s Carl’s Jr… Not Carl, Jr.’s
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Okay, this one’s not just a combination of two other names… promise. Carl’s Jr. is a fast-food chain now, but its story began with a simple hotdog cart camped at the corner of Florence and Central in 1941. Operated by former truck driver Carl Karcher, the cart was successful, to say the least. Soon it gave way to several hotdog stands. By 1945, the Karchers were opening the door on their first full-service restaurant, Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue in nearby Anaheim.
In 1956, Karcher was keen to expand his empire with two smaller versions of his original barbecue joint. Since both locations, one in Anaheim and another in Brea, were noticeably smaller, he decided to call them Carl’s Jr. restaurants. Therefore, the Carl’s Jr. locations were simply “junior” versions of the original restaurant. Today, they have an international reach. Yet, there’s still no shortage of people mistakenly calling the restaurant Carl, Jr.’s.
The Odyssey of the Iliad Bookshop
The Iliad Bookshop may not number among the most well-recognized Los Angeles landmarks, but everyone in the Valley knows what we’re talking about. If you weren’t paying attention in your high school literature class, we’re going to take you to school for a moment. Modern literature found its footing in the epic poems of Homer, a poet of ancient Greece whose Iliad and Odyssey are among the oldest examples of writing still popularly read today. While the remaining portions of Homer’s eight story saga are lost to history, the intrepid tales preserved in Iliad and Odyssey continue to inspire writers all across the world. Therefore, when Angelenos pass by The Iliad bookstore in North Hollywood, they’re not likely to do a doubletake. It’s a fitting name for a book shop.
But The Iliad decided on its name as a response to their pre-existing neighbor Odyssey Video. So, at one point, Angelenos had The Iliad and Odyssey right next to one another. In 2006, The Iliad moved to a more affordable location just up the street a bit. Its own epic odyssey, if you will. Later, after putting up a decent fight against the streaming giants, Odyssey Video closed its doors for good in 2018. So, yeah, much like Homer’s six additional epic poems, the joke pairing is lost to time, doomed to be over-explained in blogs just like this one. That being said, visit The Iliad… one of the best (and last) bookstores in LA!
