1971 Diner

[DDTJRAC]

One of my early shots from 1971. Diner in downtown L.A. Food was crazy cheap back then.

 

[Carter john]

I wonder if it is still there? Hard to believe 47 years.

 

[Vaughn]

Great image! In 1972 I was on a college basketball team. When we traveled we had a budget of $2 per meal. Generally one could eat well, though any kind of soft drink, etc could put one over the limit.

 

[dasBlute]

classic image, well done

 

[Colin Corneau]

Very classic image. What strikes me is how perfect the lighting is. I know it's likely just ambient but it just looks perfect. Very nice documentary image.

 

[BradS]

Wonderful photo. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[removed account4]

Wonderful photo. Thank you for sharing it.

ditto !

 

[Vaughn]

Very classic image. What strikes me is how perfect the lighting is. I know it's likely just ambient but it just looks perfect. Very nice documentary image.

Slacker will have to confirm it, but it looks like well-used flash to me (bounced off the ceiling?) But I have been wrong before and most likely will continue the trend...

 

[Helios 1984]

Complete breakfast 1.15$, the good days.

 

[miha]

Ashtrays all around

 

[MattKing]

Ashtrays all around

Some changes are definitely for the better!

 

[miha]

Some changes are definitely for the better!

Indeed. We banned smoking in all public places in 2007. Sadly some countries within the EU still allow exceptions to this rule.

 

[ic-racer]

Back in the days when only a 'photographer' could get an image like that. One had to know the equipment, right lens, probably guess at exposure with powerful bounce flash. Or if that is available light it was probably even more challenging.

 

[sissysphoto]

Indeed. We banned smoking in all public places in 2007. Sadly some countries within the EU still allow exceptions to this rule.

If I'm not mistaken, a grill is not a public place. It's privately owned. I love the photo. It has character. Made before the ban-everything crowd got their hands on everything they had no authority to. Thanks for posting it.

 

[miha]

Public in a sense that everyone is allowed to enter.

 

[jtk]

Wonderful!

 

[Trask]

Great photograph! It has tone and grit — lovely. I’d love to know what film and developer was used. And I wonder what that “SOS + biscuits 95 cents” is.

 

[ambulatingreader]

"SOS" is military slang for S--t on a Shingle, otherwise known as creamed chipped beef on toast.
One of those dishes you either loved or hated.

 

[wyofilm]

Ashtrays all around

They needed those ashtrays - what with the cigarette vending machine to the left.

 

[ericdan]

One of my early shots from 1971. Diner in downtown L.A. Food was crazy cheap back then.

Beautiful!
Is it Inflation or was it really cheaper?

 

[Vaughn]

One on-line inflation calculator has $1 in 1971 equalling $6.33 today.
In 1971 I was getting around 'minimum wage' as a department stockboy (I was in highschool) -- probably $1.35 an hour.

edited to add -- I looked up the historic minumum wage rates for CA and it was $1.65 in 1971. After taxes and deductions, I would get an envelope with my pay (in cash) figured to the minute by the punchclock -- worked out to just over a dollar an hour take-home.

 

[ericdan]

so around $7 for the whole breakfast on the menu. that is cheap

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Great photograph! It has tone and grit — lovely. ...

Tone and grit, yes.. A wonderful photo of times past.

Thank you for sharing it.

 

[DDTJRAC]

I wonder if it is still there? Hard to believe 47 years.

Prob not. L.A. has changed drastically.

 

[DDTJRAC]

Great image! In 1972 I was on a college basketball team. When we traveled we had a budget of $2 per meal. Generally one could eat well, though any kind of soft drink, etc could put one over the limit.

I did similar in later 70's We got $3 a day. One guy used to buy a loaf of bread and peanut butter. That was all he ate. He made a profit!