popturf

thomas pynchon, inherent vice

posted in literature

the lighthouse cafe

from thomas pynchon, inherent vice posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat

Doc visits the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach looking for Coy Harlingen near the end of Inherent Vice. The Lighthouse Cafe is a bistro that began showcasing jazz in 1949. Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley and others recorded live albums here in 50s, 60s and 70s.

Juicy James, located a block north of the pier on the Strand, was a real hot dog stand just like Pink's, although I'm not sure how many liberties Pynchon took with the sign that 'featured a giant hot dog with a face, arms and legs, cowboy hat and getup, firing a pair of six-guns and to all appearances enjoying itself.'

view full location details...

pink’s hot dogs

from thomas pynchon, inherent vice posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat

Doc grabs a couple of chili dogs to go here at Pink's on his way to the (fictional) club FFO on Sunset to see the band Spotted Dick and track down Bambi.

view full location details...

zucky’s

from thomas pynchon, inherent vice posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat

Many of the 1960s-era California hangouts in Pynchon's Inherent Vice are fictional, but the Santa Monica delicatessen Zucky's is an actual place (or at least it was until it closed in 1993 after nearly forty years).

Doc eats here with Fritz in chapter seven, and the deli is packed with 'Marcus Welby M.D. freaks' who frequent the place because of the brief shot of Zucky's exterior in the show's intro. He has an apparent case of the munchies ordering 'the usual Zuckyburger and fries, and rolled beef on rye, and potato salad and Dr. Brown's Cel-Rays plus another bowl of pickles and sauerkraut...' and later Doc eats an entire chocolate cream pie here by himself in the last chapter.

view full location details...