I know that place...my folks used to take us there when I was about 8 or 9 yrs. old. It was the "TANNELLA" restaurant and I remember the tiki torches burning at night !!!
My dad shot this on a trip to Colorado in 1956: He and my mother passed on visiting the place, thank God.
Bad Penny, It sure looked like a cool place at one time...I drive by it several times a week while at work. I had to get a picture before it was too late, the building is in bad shape.
I'm glad you got those pics Jack. There are som many things that have disapeared that I should have taken pictures of. I'm really surprised nobody has knocked down the Tannela restaurant, it's probably been closed twenty years. Same for the Edgemere Drive-In, I used to got to that one.
Those sputniks are cool but I doubt you'll be able to trade one for a rotosphere. Rotospheres sell in the $15-$18K range if you can find one! How about posting some pics of the sputniks lit up?
I spotted a restored sputnik about 10 days ago at Oxford Antiques in Billings, MT. I didn't get a price, but based on other signs in the store, it won't be cheap ... beautiful condition, though.
This one is in Chciago, did some lettering at this Foremost but couldent hang around till they turned it on at night. It's huge!
Tex Randall, Big Texan Canyon, Texas Tex Randall is touted as the "Biggest Texan" -- although you'd hear a strong argument from the Texas State Fairgrounds their Big Texan tops the charts. But this Tex is mighty big. He's been here in Canyon since 1959. Industrial arts teacher Harry Wheeler built "Texas' Biggest Texan" to promote his Western curio shop. Tex Randall is 47 feet tall and weighs seven tons. Tex is constructed of concrete, with an internal structure of pipe, rebar, and wire mesh. He originally wore real denim jeans and a red checkered shirt, courtesy of a local tent and awning store. He casually held a giant cigarette in one hand. His sturdy design has helped him survive 100mph winds, along with a network of steel struts and cable anchoring him to the ground. A long period of deterioration was worsened when a semi crashed into his left boot, and the cigarette was shot out of his hand. Local businesses rallied during a "Save the Cowboy" campaign and contributed to a restoration in 1987. The work was completed in 1989. A spur replaced the cigarette, in deference to today's health-conscious tourists. From the appearance of Tex up close, another makeover is about due. He's a little chipped and sun-worn. Large open wounds on his legs may be the result of desperate souvenir seekers. June 2010: Still standing but showing his age. A group is trying to raise funds for his preservation. July 2008: Tex is threatened with destruction. The 47-foot tall cowboy may be shoved aside to make way for a new business. A diner owner in Canyon bought Tex for his own business, then found out moving and installation costs would top $50,000, which he can't afford.
Ryan, Great thread! Just today I attended a meeting @ the Wally Parks-NHRA Museum in Pomona talking about this very subject. In attendance was The Museum of Neon Art Executive Director-Kim and Neon Restoration Exhibits Coordinator-Dave, Board Member-Adriene, Automotive Neon Art Advisor-Myself and Executive Director of the the NHRA Museum-Tony and their PR coordinator Monique. Seems that MONA had an exhibit next door when the L.A. County Fair was in town. Well the NHRA-Tony liked what was shown and we're looking to put together a Auto Related Neon Exhibit thru MONA. This could take place as early as late Feb 2012. The signage could include signs that one would see cruising down Rte 66,which is just to the north of Pomona in La Verne. This would include the Vintage Winchell's Donut Sign that was once located on 66 in nearby Upland. Automotive Dealer Ships, Drive-In Restaurant and Movie or even Hotel/Motel signs,. We may need volunteers in order to donate time, talent and money so that this could happen. The time would be needed to assist in the setup and hanging/mounting of signs that can be very heavy, The talent would be needed in order to weld up mounting stands of a substancial weight and size. The money (Which I believe is tax deductable) is needed in order to buy materials to build the stands for signs that couldn't be exhibited inside the museum due to size, but between the NHRA and the Fine Arts Building. This could be a very cool exhibit with your help. Lastly, If anyone has some cool neon that they'd like to loan to the NHRA-MONA, PM Adriene or I and lets see what we can make happen. I know that I've called on the HAMB before many times for the Broiler which itself has incredible neon and you guys have come thru and support its existence to that I say Thank You,it is very appreciated. See what we can do for this one.
The Yorktown Plazza sign. Just restored this fall, looks even better than this older picture from a couple of years back.
The Ice Cream makes me smile when I'm in the house. The Dr. Ali sign makes me smile in the shop!! John
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