The Daily Briefing

WHAT I LEARNED FROM CARL KARCHER

Theo DouglasSat. January 12
 

Or “No, he didn’t talk me out of an abortion.”

Word comes this morning that Carl Karcher–the man who launched a thousand Carl’s Jr. restaurants–is dead at age 90.

And I like the Bloomberg.com lede the best: “Carl Karcher, who borrowed $311 to buy a Los Angeles hot dog cart in 1941 and turned it into a fast-food empire … .” That’s specificity for you.

I’ll remember Karcher–a deeply religious man known in part for claiming to have talked an employee out of having an abortion–for his apparent skill with the word “junior,” and not entirely for his stance on baby-making.

I’m obsessed with the word “junior,” as in “Eddie’s Liquor and Jr. Market.” What in hell’s a junior market? Why, it’s a small market with a limited selection. (Yes, but who was Eddie?)

Same concept was apparently applied to Carl’s Jr., I realized, after reading in his obituary that Karcher had actually run a full-service restaurant before embarking on his chain of junior restaurants.

It’s interesting–to me–and almost as educational as the day I realized the true meaning behind the name Pup ‘N’ Taco: some time in the late ’70s/early ’80s, after my school bus had driven past their old franchise at Clark Avenue and Stearns Avenue (where the El Pollo Loco is now) for weeks.

A “pup” was a hot dog–which, of course the way it’s usually made, is neither hot nor dog.

Sadly, I never experienced Pup ‘N’ Taco’s uniquely personal brand of regional colloquialisms and cuisine. My bus never stopped there. Anybody else go there back in the day?

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  • The Commish
    Don't cry for Earl. He was L.B. version of Tony Soprano, I have a feeling. This was in the 60's. My dad had a gamling "issue." Earl helped since we lived right around the corner, also. One day my dad called my mother and said, "The grunion are running!" She said, "Larry, if you bet on another horse, I'm leaving you." We were new in town.
  • Theo Douglas
    I believe Dimy's is in the newly-expanded book on Googie--titled, of course, "Googie Redux." Still authored by Alan Hess. And sorry to hear about Earl. Sports book--yikes! That's a story in and of itself. There's another real sordid Eddie's franchise on Pacific Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway--and I don't feel bad saying that 'cause I grew up around the corner from it.
  • The Commish
    Gees, for once I'm too young to remember something (or too old to recall) - Dimys rings no bell. Now Eddies Jr.....I always wondered that. I lived near one of the early ones on 4th and the owner was killed in a shootout with a robber. Broke a lot of hearts since he was also said to be running a book out of there. But his name was Earl. (How often do you get to work that into a comment?)
  • Theo Douglas
    Yes, my mother was a big fan of words like "toothsome." And man, you guys are totally old. (Not really!)
    But hey, thanks to all of you for the fast food-iana. Makes me hungry.
    Now--anyone remember who the Eddie was in Eddie's Liquor?
    And what about Dimy's--old Googie-style diner near Walnut Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway? I've seen pictures, but never met anyone who went there. Commish, did you ever do Dimy's?
  • the commish
    I'm sooo old, I remember driving all over town for fast food. There wasn't something on every corner. There was Oscar's drive in for the best hamburgers. (For us Wilson types). There was a very early Taco Bell clear out on Carson (probably actually rang that bell), and a Pup and Taco in North Long Beach. They would have specials: 4 hotdogs or tacos for a dollar. I've probably cut years off my life span with all those early trans fat laden foods. But, as your mother might have written - they were mighty toothsome.
  • vrod
    I must have been about... 4, and I ate at a PupNTaco. I think they had crinkly fries and I think I really really really liked them. Crinkle fries and a taco can't be beat!
  • Dave Wielenga
    I ate at a Pup N Taco -- the one that used to be on the corner of Seventh and Ximeno, on the Wilson High side of Seventh, before Wilson condemned that neighborhood across the street to expand its athletic fields. Ah, yes, I ate at Pup N Taco, although just once -- and did I mention I am writing this from heaven?
  • Theo, it's funny that you mention Carls Jr. and Pup 'N' Taco in the same write up.

    They both had the best french fries in the early to mid-80's.

    Sadly, Pup 'N' Taco, the one on Markey and Atlantic anyway, closed and soon thereafter Carls switched to the crappy fries they still have.

    Unfortunately, I know almost no one who has ever eaten at a Pup 'N' Taco and thus, am overjoyed just to see it mentioned here.

    Thank you.
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