Word swept through local preservation ranks yesterday that a crew began demolishing Downey's historic Johnie's Broiler about 3 pm — on a Sunday. No permit had been issued, activists say, but they rushed to the scene and found that the reports were true. They managed to stop the demolition after the interior was gutted. Chris Nichols described the scene at the website of the L.A. Conservancy Modern Committee: "It really was like a plane crash. The demo crew didn't even put up a fence - no asbestos abatement - nothing. Just moved the cars over a few feet and started pushing it over." Harvey's, the original name, opened in 1958 as a Googie-style drive-in on Firestone Boulevard. It was recently deemed eligible for the state's register of historic buildings. Roadside Peek has more.

News footage and stories:
CBS2
NBC4
Press-Telegram

Photo: LottaLiving.com