Here's a nice one recently restored here in Portland, OR. The 6th Ave Motel. Hope you guys enjoy the photos. I've tried not to flood the thread so if you'd like more we also post one or so a day on our Facebook page too.
This part of the sign was great at night. I suppose it does not work anymore. The wheels would turn, the horses ran and the the guys whip would move. I always liked it as a kid. Did bowling league at the alley in the 80's there. Thanks for the shot but sad to see it that way. Can't remember the place that was next to it but it was a fantastic Tiki themed place.
The tiki restaurant at Wagon Wheel Junction was The Trade Winds. It was a fantastic building. The roller rink is still sitting empty behind the bowling alley.
Love this thread, got to about page 30 so far, will have to try to look through more when I get back from work. Here's a contribution, taken in Mitchell, NE:
Lowcab - Didn't want to quote your post and repost the picture again, but If your ever in Demming New Mexico, there is a hotel right on the main drag that has a very similar animated wagon sign. Come to think of it, there is one in Flagstaff AZ. on old route 66 as well. Makes me wonder if these were the work of one sign company, or just similar ideas. I don't believe the hotels are related at all. I can't believe that I have been on the H.A.M.B. for quite awhile now and have never seen this thread. And to think it starts off with a pict from right up the street!
Thought I would bring this back to the top with a couple of my favorites. These are around Washington state, taken as I moved around and worked driving my '48 Plymouth. I will have another to add soon. Unfortunately, one of the last and coolest of the old "motor courts" on Phoenix's Van Buren street fell to the wrecking ball sometime early last week. It was called the Log Cabin motel, and it was operational and open 3 weeks ago, so I was shocked to see it gone. The sign is still there though, better shoot a picture soon...
So here is the sign I mentioned in my last post. It hung out side the Log Cabin motel for many years on Van Buren. It was a cool older Motor court style hotel where the rooms were individual log cabins. It always looked to be in good repair, although the neighborhood has in my life time been one of the seedier ones in town. It has changed a bunch in the last ten years and improved so I thought this joint had a chance. I mean if you had a real cool little thirties or forties motor court that had survived all these years intact, you certainly wouldn't tear it down right?!?! So what you see is what is left, and as most things in phoenix, it will probably be an empty lot for many years to come. The other one is kinda' bonus pict. It's the old Deero paints building right down the street. It's been a Hispanic arts joint for about twelve years now, and a little while before that I was trying to convince Elpolacko that it would make a great home for Industrial Chassis. This little stretch of Van Buren st. used to be one of the most intoxicating streets to drive down in phoenix. Fifteen years ago, there were about ten small motor court hotels each with some of the most beautiful neon you could imagine. The neighbor to the west was the Rose Bowl motel, with a forty foot multi-stage blooming rose animated sign. The Arizona remains two doors down, but it's neon has been stripped, and I'm sure it's days are numbered. As I shot these picture today, I had to ask the guy stripping the neon off to crouch down to keep him out of frame. I tried to ask about the sign's availability, but my spanish didn't go quite that far. There oughta' be some laws... Sorry the last one is facing the wrong way, I will get the hang of this picture thing soon.
I haven't looked at every page on this thread, but if it hasn't been mentioned, RoadsidePeek is a great website for old signs. Categorized by type of sign, diff. regions of the country etc. Take a few minutes & check it out.
Bonnie & Clyde Muffler, and the Sportsman sign pictures were taken in Yakima WA., went there for a family reunion. Sportsman sign looked a little to minty fresh, new?/restored?, still thought it was pretty cool, had a neon muzzle flash! Cyclone sign, Coney Island NYC from a recent family vacation, of course my boy and I took it for a spin! Have a great weekend all, John
The Jalopy Journal
