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Alas, the Brown Derby and most of L.A.'s other unusually-styled buildings were torn down long ago. But there is one notable survivor from those days of architectural excess: the Tail O' the Pup. Built in 1945, it is a hot dog stand shaped like (what else?) a giant hot dog, in a giant hot dog bun - with mustard, of course. Over the years, this humble counter has served the public over five million hot dogs - everything from the Mexican Ole, (with chili, cheese & onions) to the Boston Celtic (with baked beans).
There were serious howls of protests from Los Angelenos when the stand was threatened with destruction in 1985. When it re-opened in 1986 (a few yards away from its original location), the odd little hot dog stand had a grand reopening worthy of any Hollywood premiere, complete with star emcees such as Jay Leno and Robert Wagner. Billy Crystal is also a fan, as is Richard Dreyfus, Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Magic Johnson, Robert Culp and Jenny McCarthy.
It was also seen in the George Benson video "Give Me the Night." And if you take a look at the Buck Owens' album, "Hot Dog," you'll recognize our old friend.
As you might guess, Tail O' the Pup also dishes out some very good chili dogs (although, for my money, not quite as good as those at Pink's). There are a few tables out front, with umbrellas, on a tiny patio where you can sit down to eat your hot dogs in the sunshine. Hot dogs sell for around $2. Open daily: 6 AM - 6 PM (except Sundays, when they open at 8 AM).
As noted above, the hot dog stand has moved two blocks north, to 451 N. La Cienega Blvd.
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