Studes in Roadside Americana photos

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[BobPalma]

Far left peeking out mid-screen: Is that a Lark or a 1963 and newer Jeep Wagoneer or Gladiator?



That is The Pole Drive In on the busy corner of West 16th Street and Lafayette Road (U.S.52) in between the west side of Indianapolis and the town of Speedway. It probably got its name (i.e., Pole Position) from its proximity to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is immediately west about a mile, going away from the camera straight down West 16th street on the right side of the photograph. It was THE place to see and be seen on Indianapolis' west side in the 1950s and 1960s.

It was long ago converted to Tillman Van Sales, specializing in used work vans. (By now, it has probably been Tillman Van Sales longer than it was a drive-in restaurant.)

Update: Friend Howe Clark, who used to tour the pole in his 1953 Commander Starliner as an Indianapolis [Brownsburg] west-sider, suggests that The Pole name may not have come from its proximity to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rather, per Howe;

I doubt the "Pole" got it's name for the Speedway. There was another Pole near Carmel and may have been one on South Madison St. I think it got its name from being circular in shape with the kitchen being in the middle and the dinning room curving around the kitchen and the fact that parking and the driveway were all around the building. 'Course I could be wrong.

A tip of the old Stetson to Indianapolis SDCer Phil Brandt for finding it. BP

[Studedude]

[Studedude]

[Bob Andrews]

[Bob Andrews]