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Another of Southern California's fast food pioneers has died. John Galardi was a student at Pasadena Junior College when he started working for Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell. Galardi opened his first hot dog stand on Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington, next to a Taco Bell, in 1961. Bell's wife suggested the name Der Wienerschnitzel, which doesn't mean anything in German or English (the proper article would be the neuter das, and the Austrian food item is two words anyway: Wiener schnitzel), but which stuck on the pitched roof stands found across California, Texas and some other states until the article was dropped in 1977. There are now 350 outlets, and the original Der Wienerschnitzel in Wilmington still operates. Galardi, a familiar face in TV commercials, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer.
A partial list of other fast food places that originated in SoCal includes McDonald's, In-N-Out, Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box, Fatburger, Johnny Rocket's and Tail o' the Pup. Plus restaurants and other brand names such as Bob's Big Boy, IHOP, Sizzler, Denny's, El Torito, Du-Par's and Baskin-Robbins — and many more.
Previously on LA Observed:
Glen Bell, founder of Taco Bell was 86
Lovie Yancey, founder of Fatburger
Carl Karcher, burger man was 90
In-N-Out Burger co-founder Esther Snyder
