Founding branch: Clifton.27s Pacific Seas Clifton's Cafeteria

clifton s pacific seas postcard circa 1940s

in 1931, clinton leased distressed cafeteria location @ 618 south olive street in los angeles , founded customers referred cafeteria of golden rule . patrons obliged pay felt fair, according neon sign flashed pay wish.

in 1939, founders of clifton’s remodeled restaurant change conventional dining establishment more exotic setting , renamed clifton s pacific seas . exterior decorated waterfalls, geysers , tropical foliage. brightly illuminated in evening, became mecca tourists , angelenos alike, being referred in same category other prominent landmarks of downtown los angeles, such angels flight, olvera street, , pershing square. initially, los angeles architectural commission unhappy facade , decor threatened suit.

one of many interior themes of pacific seas included garden setting done in period ad 33. garden first conceived clifford e. clinton in 1943 interpretation of famous artist heinrich hofmann s christ in gethsemane. clinton commissioned sculptor marshall lakey fashion life-sized figure of christ, kneeling in prayer. mural behind christ, depicting city of jerusalem , garden of gethsemane painted artist einar c. petersen.

clifton s pacific seas visited jack kerouac wrote in on road of visiting cafeteria downtown decorated grotto, metal tits spurting everywhere , great impersonal stone buttockses belonging deities , soapy neptune. people ate lugubrious meals around waterfalls, faces green marine sorrow .

in 1960, although three-story structure cascading waterfall facade had become landmark on preceding 29 years, original clifton s pacific seas closed, building razed, , location turned parking lot, has remained since then.