Big Donut Drive-In

805 W. Manchester Blvd.

Inglewood, California 

"That's one Big Donut"

Built in 1953 as the second location in the chain, this is the most famous example featuring a 32.5-foot rooftop donut.  It operates 24 hours a day.

Novelty architecture is a style of design where buildings and structures are shaped like everyday objects, anmals or famous landmarks usually to advertise what is sold inside or to draw in roadside travelers. One example of novelty architecture is the Big Donut Drive-In.

The Big Donut Drive-In was a pioneering mid-century Southern California fast-foot chain created in the early 1950s by Russell C. Wendell featuring a 32-foot-diameter giant donut. Wendell was a doughnut machine salesman and started the chain in 1950 in the Los Angeles area.  Wendell built 10 locations there featuring the giant rooftop donut to catch the eye of passing drivers. One of his most famous surviving locations is the Inglewood shop which was later renamed Randy's Donuts

The location has appeared in tons of movies, TV shows and music videos. 

Opened in 1953.  Architect was Henry J. Goodwin.

Circa 2005

Circa 1977

Robert Eskow bought the Inglewood shop from Wendell and renamed it Randy's Donuts after his son. The colossal donut sign atop its original building near Los Angeles International Airport and the Manchester Boulevard off-ramp of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) is considered as "one of Los Angeles' most iconic landmarks.  It intersects with La Cienega Boulevard

The 1959 opening of the Van Nuys branch of Big Donut Drive-In (L to R) Russell C. Wendell, co-founder Royal Stearns, Miss Nan Nuys Jan Richards and Nels LaVally from the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce. 

Russell C. Wendell

(1919-1992)