PATTERNS AND TONES

"Caspers Famous Hot Dogs - South Hayward No. 1" 2018 In my final entry this month on the structures of the San Francisco Bay Area's famous Caspers Hot Dog chain, I decided to feature this 1950's location last, as its architectural elements are unique and stand out from the others. It's octagonal facade is also lined with flagstone, but unlike the previous locations which featured flat slabs or boulder shaped rock, the flagstone at this location were chiseled into brick shaped rectangles. This was a pretty common material used for building facades at the time and is neatly stacked, much like the brick facades of its neighbors. The roof is neither gabled like the ranch-style of their Pleasant Hill location, nor incorporated into the trapezoid shaped buildings that were constructed in Dublin , Albany , and North Hayward . It looks to me like a pretty standard flat roofed 50's diner with its stripped edge. What really sets this location apart is its orig...

“Caspers Famous Hot Dogs - North Hayward No. 1” 2018 Who knew Hayward, CA was such a special place? It boasts not one but two Caspers Famous Hot Dog stands! This 60's gem sits on Foothill Boulevard north of it's first location. Its shingled siding and iconographic logo are accented by its neighbor's Googie signage that rises three stories above its roof line. I couldn't help but think that Hayward Tools and Equipment must have been a converted carwash. This location was packed with patrons. The smell of their delishious hot dogs permeated the parking lot making it hard to shoot the subject! It was clear that this was the best location out of all the Caspars I had visited. The Boulevard was busy with commuters racing to the freeway entrance just a few blocks away. It was a great pleasure to photograph this location and a bit of a challenge to frame this structure around its towering neighbor. Two architectural visions from various eras vying for your patrona...

“Caspers Famous Hot Dogs - Albany No. 1” 2018 At it again this week with my obsession to capture all Caspers Famous Hot Dog stands throughout the Bay Area. I can remember hanging out in this Albany, CA location as a child, since it was right down the street from my grandmother's house on San Pablo Avenue. Capturing the  everyday life of a by-gone era that still exists is a thrill. You can enter a memory, you can taste the past. These 60's structures were impervious to the local neighborhoods around them. Each location is an exact replica of the one before it, perhaps even being a precursor to their fast food chain rivals who cranked out duplicate franchises around America.  The branding and design of fast-food  restaurants changes on a regular basis nowadays. Every three years, most undergo  new paint, light fixtures, menu boards, and floor treatments. It seems every ten years they undergo a full-on redesign: tearing out seats, updating exterior architectur...

“Caspers Famous Hot Dog - Dublin No. 1” 2018 After celebrating Caspers perfectly designed logo, their 60's shingled architecture comes in a close second to design perfection. Keeping the flagstone at the base, these iconic structures remind me of take out boxes. I occasional hung out at this Dublin location when I was in high-school. In my 20's, I even did a photo shoot for Tower Record's Pulse magazine at this location. You can read about that here . The commercial vernacular of this architectural style is characterized by its use of wooden shingles.  Typically made of decay-resistant cedar,  wood shingles and shakes  are prized for their rustic beauty and ability to adapt to various architectural styles. However, due to their high degree of flammability, many regions of the country have restricted them. In addition, shingles and shakes are prone to rot, splinter, crack, and cup. They can be pried loose by wind and change color if not properly maintained....