One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Mad Men's Beautiful Burger Chef Was Recreated Along Route 66
Last Sunday's Mad Men ended with Peggy, Pete, and Don dining out at a Burger Chef. The restaurant was recreated so perfectly for the show, with colors popping and a shine that made the chain seem inviting—if there was a glory days of fast food, this is what it looked like. The show's designers really excel at recreating franchises from the era—last season they gave the same treatment to a Howard Johnson's. So where did they revive the past this time?
The scene was filmed at a real, former Burger Chef in Rialto, along Route 66—it's currently Jim's Burgers, but the structure and basic design have remained the same. Roadside Peek writes: "Notice the large red brace with the Jim's Burgers lettering. This used to hold the Burger Chef sign back in the day." Franklin Avenue says it's located at 765 East Foothill Boulevard, if you're looking to recreate the moment—presumably Jim's has kept the fresh coat of paint and any other renovations Matthew Weiner's team made.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
