Whether it’s Coca-Cola, Betty Boop or rows of model Corvettes,
this Gilroy couple’s home is all things 1950s
Elvis lives in Larry Pierotti’s garage with a car hop named Candy. On the back wall of his living quarters, Coca-Cola paraphernalia mixes with Marilyn Monroe and Corvette memorabilia. To Elvis’ left sits a free-standing soda fountain, and to his right are working drive-in movie theater speakers blasting his song “Hound Dog.”
OK, so Elvis and Candy happen to be life-sized statues keeping each other company among all the other 1950s nostalgia in the garage – but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Larry’s wife, Paula, has given him free reign in half of their Gilroy home, allowing him to hang Pepsi signs (“If you have to drink and drive, drink Pepsi”) and Coke plaques (Coca-Cola 5¢) over nearly every inch of wall. He’s scattered juke boxes throughout his allotted space, which includes the garage, laundry room, family room, back yard, kitchen and the “toy room,” where he keeps shelf after shelf of Corvette model cars.
“I probably started collecting this stuff about 10 years ago,” Larry said. “I was inspired by my neighbor who had some Coca-Cola stuff in his garage. So, I started adding stuff to my garage and it just kind of took off from there. I like the ’50s stuff because it just reminds me of a nicer time. Things weren’t so hectic, and the music was awesome.”
Everything about the Pierotti home seems to pay homage to the bygone era. In the kitchen, a 5-foot-tall Betty Boop stands with her tray poised in the air, apparently ready to serve any guests something from the soda fountain. Larry and Paula write themselves notes on the same style tickets that a car hop would have used to take an order. They put them on an old-fashioned spinning ticket carousel. The Pierottis eat their meals at a table reminiscent of the Formica-topped tables popular half a century ago. The chairs resemble the seats in a 1957 BelAir Chevy. Over the table is a Coca-Cola-themed ceiling fan.
“I get this stuff from all over –  the kitchen table we actually got from Sears,” Larry said. “Betty Boop I got from Home Goods. I probably got about 60 percent of this stuff from eBay, though. I could spend hours and hours on eBay. We get other things from swap meets, catalogs, antique stores or specialty shops. I really like Craig’s List, too. I got the soda fountain in the garage from Craig’s List. I think it cost me about $1,000. I got the old-fashioned candy machine from Craig’s List, too, and that cost me about $400.”
Larry doesn’t know how much money he’s spent on his memorabilia, but he does say it’s worth every penny. He knows which items are original and those that are just good reproductions. His two favorite items include a 1960s Americana Wurlitzer juke box his father left him when he passed away. The other is an original 1937 Pepsi machine that’s been fully restored. One expert said it’s probably one of just three in the United States that’s in working condition, and it could be worth as much as $5,000.
The South Valley Corvette Club, of which Larry is a member, often meets in Larry’s home. He also holds family reunions, Super Bowl parties and other gatherings in his unique house. If people pass by and his garage door is open, many will stop to ask Larry about his collection, and he said he’s happy to give them a quick tour.
“I like sharing this stuff with people,” he said. “It makes me happy and people get such a kick out it. I like showing them what I’ve collected over the years.”
