Lovie Yancey, founder of Fatburger

The bad run continues for founders of Southern California's fast-food icons. Yancey, who died Jan. 26 at age 96, and a partner reportedly used scrap materials to build a three-stool hamburger stand on Western Avenue near Jefferson Boulevard. Mr. Fatburger opened in 1947. She went alone in 1952 and opened a Fatburger branch on La Cienega near the future Beverly Center in 1973. She began franchising in 1981 then sold the company in 1990. The original location was sold last year and there are plans to develop the site. LAT obit by Dennis McLellan:

Over the years, Fatburger has been immortalized in a string of songs, movies and TV shows, including the sitcom "Sanford and Son," the film "The Fast and the Furious" and the Ice Cube single "It Was a Good Day."

Fatburger even once made David Letterman's Top 10 list for things he'd miss most about leaving Los Angeles.

Previously on LA Observed:
Carl Karcher, burger man was 90
What happens to In-N-Out?