| Clifton's Pacific Seas (Los Angeles, CA) |
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| Three views of the facade - a gift shop was at far left of building. Over the doors, a huge waterfall. | ||
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| The Rain Hut | The Stage | |
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| Waterfall & Waitresses | The Lagoon | |
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| Views of the Neon Decor | |||
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The restaurant business was in Clifford Clinton’s blood. His parents had several establishments in Northern California before he moved south and struck out on his own. In the late 1920s, he opened L.A.’s first cafeteria, The Cafeteria of the Golden Rule, on Olive St. Clinton added another "Golden Rule" on Broadway which would later become the Brookdale (see this page). (The name "Clifton's" was a compounded word made from his first and last names.) In 1939, the Olive St. location was remodeled and became known as Pacific Seas. Unfortunately, it closed in 1960 and today there is a parking lot on the site.
During the Depression, Clinton kept thousands from starving by serving those who couldn’t afford to pay. His five course dinner or MPM (Multiple Purpose Meal) was purported to be a completely balanced, nutritional 5 cent meal. It consisted of bread, soup, salad, jello and coffee for a nickel (or free to the needy). But there was plenty of more indulgent food available, too. Patrons received free sherbet and "Green Water Drinks" – Clifton’s own soda which I assume was the same beverage served at his Brookdale Lodge (the bottles shown in the "Limeade Springs" view). The signage in front proclaims "Pay What You Wish" at left and "Visitors Welcome" at right. This "Pay What You Wish – Dine Free unless Delighted" policy made his establishments unique. You were given a check but you decided how much to pay. (Most folks did pay the full bill.) But what really set this restaurant apart was the décor. The exterior waterfall façade had geysers, tropical foliage and was illuminated at night. Sightseeing buses were available out front for a 20 mile tour of L.A. The interior was a Polynesian palace with neon floral patterns, 5 neon palm trees and 12 waterfalls. The Rain Hut in the Mezzanine Dining Room had a rain shower every 20 minutes which trickled into a brook alongside the room. There was a lei and flower shop, a book shop, entertainment and organ music, and a roaming photographer. Clinton was big on customer service, providing an exchange board where guests listed offerings and wants and an advisor ("Mrs. Yon") for guests with personal problems. There was also The Garden of Meditation with a statue of Jesus. Clinton opened a location in Lakewood in 1956 in the Lakewood Mall. It appears this was not a theme restaurant and closed only recently. In 1958, a West Covina location was opened. This was replaced with another West Covina Clifton's restaurant (The Greenery, at a different spot) in 1978. The Greenery closed in 2003, making the Brookdale the sole survivor of the Clifton's legacy. There was another restaurant, Clifton’s Silver Spoon on West 7th St. in Downtown L.A. The Mediterranean Revival building, which Clinton bought and restored as a restaurant, was designed as jewelry store in 1922. The Silver Spoon opened in 1975 and closed in 1997. It featured the figure of Christ (which had been in storage when the Pacific Seas closed in 1960) in a basement meditation room. Next to nothing is written on the Clifton's website about this place, but you can see this website for more info. For more about the Pacific Seas, see these websites: 1 and 2. For more about Clifton's history and restaurants, see this website. For other Polynesian theme places, see my Tiki section. |
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