The Drive-In 
"Southern California's widespread acceptance of the automobile in the early part of the century saw the rapid rise of a building type adapted to this new form of transportation. The drive-in restaurant was introduced to the Southland in 1922 at the Tam O'Shanter restaurant in Glendale where they offered customers the unique service of dining in their cars. The concept proved to be so popular that the drive-in quickly evolved in the first decade of its inception."
"From the modest roadside stands to structures specifically designed to meet mobile eating needs, most of the buildings were designed by contractors or by the owners themselves. And by the early 1930s, the hexagonal shaped drive-in dominated the industry, though other models reflected various attempts to accommodate the maximum number of cars while maintaining efficient food service. "
The Domed "Lamella" Roof
The roof structure of The Derby is known as a Lamella roof framing
system. In a Lamella roof, each framing member structurally supports the next. There are only a few buildings remaining in the Los Angeles with this kind of roof. The others have been demolished. Of those that are remaining, the Derby is unusual because you can actually see the wood construction. In most others, the construction is hidden from view.
The Lamella roof framing system used at the Derby is of great architectural and structural
importance. Although it uses techniques concepts first used in Roman arches, contemporary Lamella roof construction originated in Europe in 1908 and was
introduced to the United States in 1925.
The domed lamella roof at the Derby is original to the building and goes back to when the building was first built as Willard's Chicken in 1928 - a mere 3 years after Lamella roofs came to America!
Rowland Henry Crawford, AIA (1902-1973) - The Architect of Record
Architect Rowland Henry Crawford was an Architect for the Brown Derby Restaurant Corporation from 1939 until at least 1956. He was born in Deadwood, South Dakota and attended the University of Southern California before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1925. From 1930 until 1933, Crawford was a designer with the prominent Los Angeles architectural firm of Gordon B. Kaufmann. He established his own firm in 1938 with offices in Beverly Hills.
Besides the Santa Monica Sears Building (1947), Crawford principal works also include the Times-Mirror Building in downtown Los Angeles (1948) and the El Rancho Shopping Center in Arcadia (1955). He was Supervising Architect for both the Times-Mirror Company from 1945 until at least 1956 and the Janss Investment Corporation (the owner of the subject property) from 1938 until 1955.
Paul Gleye, architectural historian and author of The Architecture of Los Angeles highlights Rowland H. Crawford's achievements in the Late Moderne architectural including Crawford's Times-Mirror Building of 1948. Gleye argues that the Mirror Building was a key representative example of the style. Characteristic of the Moderne architectural style were the curving entrance canopies. The roofline of the Brown Derby Car Cafe which covered the drive in portion of the building (and now dovers patio area of Louise's restuarant) is a wonderful example of such a curving canopy.
That a well-known architect so closely identified with the Late Moderne architectural style designed the Derby reminds us that the building is not only associated with historical figures from Hollywood's silver screen but famous architects as well.
(adapted from materials written by Peter Moruzzi)
Wayne McCallister - Consulting Architect
According to oral interviews, Wayne McCallister, who designed Bob's Big Boy in Toluca lake (another classic L.A. drive-in) was a consulting architect on the Brown Derby Car Cafe. 
The following excerpts are from "A Place in the Sun - The Architecture of Wayne McAllister Works from 1928-1961" (An Exhibit produced by the Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee in 1998 and 2000)
"Rarely has an architect working for 40 years had such a direct impact on popular culture and made such an enormous contribution to the architectural character of both Los Angeles and Las Vegas, yet have virtually none of his work survive. Such is the case with Southern California architect Wayne D. McAllister. Perhaps because he is never retained a publicist, very few people know his name, yet his work is highly recognizable."
"For over four decades, Wayne D. McAllister was responsible for an impressive and highly influential body of work ranging from posh and glamorous 1920's Agua Caliente to flashy streamlined drive-in restaurants of the 1930s from the 1940s and 1950s restaurant row on La Cienega Boulevard to remarkably ? the birth of the Las Vegas Strip. "
"McAllister showed a vast design palate and willingness to experiment that may have been due to his lack of formal architectural training. Adapting roadside architecture to the growing car culture of Southern California, he used neon, streamline design, enormous sign boards, strong lines, glass and ultramodern décor to draw attention. McAllister was a self-schooled and self made man with abundant talent and the energy and 'smarts' to see it through fruition."
(Written by Peter Moruzzi )
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