Mid Century USA Back Yard Barbeques.

[steina81]

When I was growing up in the 50's and 60's all urban homes with a state-of-the-art backyard would have a brick BBQ with a steel walkway for a grate and a brick chimney to the rear. The more progressive people would have a second grate below the cooking surface to hold the wood. The ones I have seen were all wood-fired. They would cook anything on them from soup, fried fish, to burgers.

We bought a little farm in Tennessee with an over-abundant supply of rocks. I would like to build one of these things. Has anyone ever seen plans for the backyard brick BBQ?

Allan Steinkuhl

[Mosca]

I can see it in my mind: bricks or stone, the big chimney in the back… i’m pretty sure I’ve seen plans for something like that within the last 10 years, either on the ‘net or in a book. I’ll search my library, but I’m pretty sure a decent Google search will get you want you want.

[RonB]

I can't help, but my Dad built just what you are talking about in the mid '60s. He found a cast iron griddle that was divided into two sections with a raised edge to hold in the grease. There was a compartment built in on each side to store wood.
He would have a fish fry 2 - 3 times a year and cook fish for the neighbors. Everyone would bring sides so all my Dad had to do was cook the fish. Fun times.

[Jfrosty27]

Ha! I didn’t taste anything like quality bbq or grilled food until I was in my mid 30’s. Around 1990 that would be. My parents were not outdoor cooking people. All they had for a grill was one of those super cheap, round and very flat charcoal grills. The type that was about 20-25” in diameter and only about 4” or so deep. They only used it about twice a year and absolutely destroyed whatever meat that they put on it. Usually chicken or burgers.

Anyway, good luck with your project!!

[texastweeter]

Mosca my Uncle Dale lost his eyebrows, part of his beard, and the front of his mullet adding fluid to the grill. Also managed to set fire to about an acre of the side pasture.

[Mosca]

texastweeter It’s been more than 50 years and I can still remember watching the flame walk up the stream of fluid toward the can I was holding. God steps in and protects the stupid sometimes.

[Smoker_Boy]

I've seen Myron Mixon using lighter fluid.
Must be that special Georgia lighter fluid.

[MBMorgan]

Just search for “plans for brick bbq” (I used Google) and you’ll get more results than you probably need.

[jtw]

Hope it goes better than this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSGEzpkgsu0

[Potkettleblack]

When we were home shopping here in Beautiful Downtown Berwyn, we saw a few places that had these brick oven grills in the yard. Most in poor repair.

[HawkerXP]

If I may. We had a neighbor who put in a similar grill / fireplace / patio thing in their backyard like you are looking at.

My suggestion don't put it close to the house. They didn't pay enough attention to the wind direction nor what was exiting the chimney until the fire department showed up.

[Alan Brice]

When we got to start the grill for Pops, we were told to saturate each briquet with lighter fuel til it would take no more.
Reminds me of the EDDIE Murphy skit, Now boy, Dats a fire!!!

[Smoker_Boy]

The charcoal must shine before you light it.

[58limited]

Time period DIY magazines will have plans, many are archived on the interwebs

[58limited]

I do have a bunch of Life magazines from the 1940s and 1950s, a few year sets of Arizona Highways from the 1950s, plus several Ford Times form the 1950s. Jan 1955 Arizona Highways has rough plans for what is basically a kamado - the story featured a restaurant in Wickenburg (The Frontier Inn) that cooked on one; people including Hollywood big names would go there. The Hollywood bathroom in my house is seafoam green and purple, someone in the past replaced the toilet and sink with avocado green.

[58limited]

For those interested in this "Chinese oven" or barrel oven as they also call it there is a free archive of Arizona Highways online. Here is the January 1955 edition, you can download it as a pdf file (download arrow is at top of left column). The barrel oven is on pages 10-13: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/nodes...565b9b24656508

Ebay auction Item #145888328357 has an optimistically priced menu.

[Smoker_Boy]

58limited - I see that barrel oven uses genuine lead screw anchors.

[Alan Brice]

Reminds me of a character we had in the near country, South Lebanon Ohio. TV ads Where you'll save cash with Cash D. Amburgy's big Bargain Barn. (It literally was a barn) Biggest advertiser was the stove or refrigerator in "Avocado". His wife was always sitting on a lawn tractor that was on sale that week. "follow the cars, follow the arrows to Cash's Big Bargain Barn!"

[Kascon11]

As others have stated...A, a simple search yielded many results...

like this one...

https://www.facebook.com/ThisOldHouse/posts/diy-dare-before-gas-grills-and-outdoor-kitchens-america-fell-in-love-with-that-s/10152133688816513/

Or ,is this what you were thinking about?

As always good luck and post pictures...

[Alan Brice]

Twenty five cents! Such a deal.

[DaveD]

Pro tip: Lose the necktie before you lean over the fire!

And why is he holding his meat fork by the *metal* and not the handle?!

[Kascon11]

it was the 50's. men were tougher back then.

[steina81]

I am looking for something similar. Maybe a bit straighter.

[Alan Brice]

Luuuceey! You gotta whole lotta splainin' to do!