Well.. being that I work for a sign company, I love the oldies. Enjoy em while you can boys because the neon is being replaced with LEDs in the near future. The Neon isn't "green" friendly since mercury is pumped into them with the neon gas. Flourescent lights are made the same way but nobody has said anything about those yet. Anyhoo.. here is my contribution of pics of signs we made to look vintage. The Potbelly sign I faux finished myself right down to painting rust runs from the screws that held parts of it together. That one is in Michigan I believe. Ultra diamonds in Atlantic City, NJ. That got a shot of metal flake with tons of pearl mixed in. The Mama Fu's isn't old looking but it was a cool sign to make with a smoke machine to boot. They turned off the smoke machine a few days later after many people called the fire dept. claming the building was on fire.
34dodge, did your garage appear in Handyman magazine? I guess you have something to light up your life
34dodgehemi- Looking at your Red Ram and FireDome signs, I'm wondering if yours are real dealer signs. I have a friend that has both of those and a (Chrysler) FirePower sign in his collection. They are about 6' across and look just like yours. Beautiful collection you have!
I can tell you it was there in 1956 when I was standing across the road trying to hitch a ride. I stood there all night. I could hear the cars coming for ten minutes before they got there. I will never forget that sign. Hope to see it again.
Chef Louie's Mitchell SD (finally a steak house that doesn't want me to change ): The lady behind the counter looked at me funny when I asked for a footlong chili cheese dog and fries. It was so much food I skipped the next two meals.
Funny how time can warp memories - seems to me that the Moon Motel in Howell NJ was there in the late 50s but a website contradicts my recollection - they say it was built in '66. Since I was five I've been searching out old roadsigns and barn ads and look for the remnants of faded radial numbers on the tops of barns that were put there by the FAA in the days when radio beacons were unreliable. Anyway, right down the street from the Moon Motel stands Young's Appliances, with a two story plywood statue of Mighty Joe Young .
the STARLITE DRIVE IN THEATER in Schertz Tx Sadly closed ! Saw Smokey and the Bandit there when we were kids
I took this picture while driving by unplanned- and planned to go back next week and take a few more. Next time I went over it was a vacant lot!
Here's the only one I have.This was taken at the last cruise before they tore it down..thats my 66 SS396 .sad day for sure
Wow, we live just a few blocks from the old Speck (a Burger King now). What year was the photo taken? I've got shots of the Speck sign on Burnside but not the one on Foster, and also a shot of the Speck before it was the Speck. It was a cool art deco building when it was Bart's Drive In. Great stuff!
I think it was mid 80s.Ya know if your in that 'hood you should talk to Joyce Johnson(hotrodlady) she should have some better pics they did a feature on her and her late husband BUB, she live's down by the high school on Powell.I might have some more I will keep lookin
here's a TON of cool old neon signs in my local area, and some from roadtrips....follow the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/farmerjohn/sets/72157594524890046/ and here's one to whet your appetite.....
the new restored ritz theater in wellington texas built in 1928 and one of the first business to have a/c in the texas panhandle.
About ten years ago, when I lived on Maui and worked as a sign contractor, I repaired the neon sign mentioned in the Eagles song titled "Last Resort". The sign actually reads "Jesus is coming soon", and is perched atop the roof ridgeline of an old church in Lahaina. We replaced some bad tubes and a transformer. "You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina just like the missionaries did, so many years ago They even brought a neon sign: "Jesus is coming" Brought the white man's burden down Brought the white man's reign" My only claim to fame.... except being a Hotrodder's Daughter!!
This is from an old restaurant that burned, got remodeled and still serves GREAT pork tenderloins! Near KC, MO.
On route 66 in Rialto CA. Combo self serv auto parts and hardware store. Locals call it "Nervous Neds"
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