Below is a casual, conversational rewrite of the piece about the disappearing giant doughnut signs across Southern California. Keep in mind that all quoted titles and proper nouns are kept exactly as you see them. The new version is freshly phrased and avoids reusing the original wording.
The big doughnut‑shaped signs that have become landmarks on the low‑rise skyline of Southern California are gradually fading away, carving out blanks in the city’s silhouette.
Those massive doughnuts that sit atop drive‑through diners are a familiar sight for Los Angelenos and have even popped up in blockbuster movies and TV shows as a quick visual cue for “LA.” In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark lounges inside the hole of a Randy’s Donuts sign while munching on a box of donuts. In Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” music video, a shop employee can be seen dancing right in front of the infamous O.
Adrian Scott Fine, the president of the LA Conservancy, compares the doughnuts to the Hollywood sign. “If you’re going to experience LA, you need to experience a giant doughnut,” he told SFGATE. These rooftop treats first appeared in the 1950s, but as property values climbed and development intensified, many of them have been torn down.
Fine explains the story: “Initially those sites were vacant lots or barely developed, so land wasn’t as pricey. As neighborhoods grew, the plots became more desirable and expensive. Development pressure pushed the doughnuts out.”
The original giant donuts were the brainchild of Russell C. Wendell, who in 1951 opened Big Donut Drive‑In. He had to bring in architects and structural engineers to design a metal frame that was covered in a sand‑cement mixture. According to the LA Conservancy, building a similar sign today would be prohibitively costly, given stricter building and seismic codes. Fine said, “Even with modern building techniques, a big doughnut would be cost‑prohibitive and difficult to get approved.”
The remaining doughnuts are cherished by locals who’ve battled—and sometimes won—against demolition. Fine admitted, “While it may seem like we still have many giant doughnuts, we’ve actually lost a lot.” Architectural surveys suggest fewer than a dozen are still standing, including Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood, Dale’s Donuts in Compton, the Donut Hole in La Puente, and Donut King in Gardena.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
