View allAll Photos Tagged Signgeeks
On NY 5, near the PA state line
The sign still stood, but there was no neon left and no Steakburger Stop at all. The last time we drove along NY 5, I looked for this rusty old sign and didn't see it. It's possible I just missed it, of course.
An old, broken-down and closed truck stop
Route/US 301
King George, VA
One of my favourite Gordon Lightfoot songs ...
In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I'm a long way from home, Lord, I miss my loved ones so
In the early morning rain with no place to go
Wildwood, NJ
There's a lot of signage happening here. I loved the arrow, with the diamond-shaped openings for the bulbs. Fancy.
jerry's liquor, since demolished to make way for fancy condos.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
following up yesterday's post, here is the classic roadside sign marking the former location of the wagon wheel motel and restaurant which stood at the intersection of highway 101 and PCH.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160NC. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Pasadena, CA
One of the most glorious rusty gems I've found, this Reddy Kilowatt neon sign sits on the roof of Talbott Electric, still in business almost a hundred years after it opened. From their web site: "The company was established in 1924. It is a third-generation family run company owned and operated by Kirk Talbott."
I'm pretty sure this ABC Liquor sign, with the revolving alphabet cubes, is pretty old. Seen in Cocoa, Florida.
Ontario Ice Skating Arena
Ontario, California
As a Canadian, a skating arena is a familiar sight. It wasn't a sight I expected to see in southern California though lol
Oh, I know it must be popular in California, and Los Angeles does have an NHL team after all. It just seems, well, not very SoCal. Surfing, yes, Baseball, yes. Roller skating, yes. But ice skating? That's so......northern.
(I did appreciate that I saw it in "Ontario"!)
Their web site has a lovely night photo of this sign, and the following info on their history:
"The Ontario Ice Skating center is the second oldest ice facility in Southern California. Built by the Vanderberg family in 1957, the original "ICE BOWL" set the precedent for a brand new and innovative dimension of entertainment. Industrious Milo Vanderberg quickly recognized that the whole new industry was being launched. Milo invented equipment, which would revolutionize the ice skating industry forever. He introduced ice re-surfacing machine, a skate sharpener, electric broom, as well as other innovations. In 1983, the rink was purchased by a longtime friend and skating professional, Donald Bartelson.
The Ontario Ice Skating Center, a landmark of this community, has been operating continuously for the public's enjoyment for 53 years. Throughout the years, numerous champions from surrounding cities have earned prestigious recognition both in figure skating as well as hockey. They include: World Professional Champion, Robert Waggonhogger of Fontana, Los Angeles King's Draft Pick, Noach Clarke of La Verne, Anaheim Duck, Torrey Di Roberto of Upland and Edmenton Oilers Draft Pick Kyle Bigos of Upland.
The Ontario Hot Blades, our Recreational Figure Skating Team, has dominated as champions in the USA and in Asia. Ontario's youth hockey has created an untouchable legacy. Our reputation and experience in the world of ice sports speaks for itself."
This was a tricky one to shoot -- glaring late-afternoon sunshine and to boot, it's huge! If you're in the area, it's a definite must-see.
St. Petersburg, FL
Wrigley's Spearmint
The Perfect Gum
ghost sign
Lowville, NY
I think this is the only chewing gum ghost sign I've come across.
La Verne, CA
The sign says "Lopez" but this Los Angeles liquor store is now called Fairplex Liquor. Their old rooftop scaffold sign is a rusty, crusty delight.
on the carnival midway at the 71st annual carrot festival in california's imperial valley. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 400. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
mamiya 6MF 75mm f/3.5 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
the only thing higher than the gas prices was the temperature. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
North Wildwood, NJ
I'm pretty sure this isn't vintage...maybe about 20 years old or so? It may not be old but it's sure nifty.
Route/US 301
Emporia, VA
This imposing building is just not something you see being built anymore. It dominates the parking lot of this small-town plaza, offering a laundromat on one side and a dry cleaning facility on the other. Chunky neon letters advertise both Vogue's COIN LAUNDRY and FAST SERVICE. We drove by this and immediately turned around to go back to shoot it; I wasn't going to miss getting shots of this great piece of americana.
Biddeford, Maine
From their web site:
"Pizza By Alex was founded February 18, 1960 by Alex Mantis and one employee. Within a few years, we outgrew our old facilities and moved up the street to our present location at 93 Alfred Street in Biddeford, Maine. The business has remained in the Mantis family for over 58 years, as it was passed onto Alex’s nephew, Andy Mantis. Pizza By Alex has become one of the finest and largest pizza houses in New England. Our menu consists of one item, “Pizza”, which is made daily on the premises using only choice ingredients. Satisfied local customers along with summer visitors to Maine from all over the world claim its the best pizza they have eaten anywhere."
This sign has deteriorated considerably from the last time I shot it (see my Virginia album if curious -- the neon was even working, then). Still a great one, though! The building was built in 1946, desegregated in 1960, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On Washington St (US Route 1); Petersburg, VA
More info: www.progress-index.com/article/20150623/news/150629881
Meadville, PA
One of the niftiest dealership signs I've come across, this little vehicle features neon tubing; I saw a photo of it online, all lit up at night, and it was very cool!
Lang Motors has been in business for almost a century. From their web site:
"Lang Motors has been in business since 1924 and originated when John Wesley 'Wes' Lang Sr., at the age of twenty-one opened a Maxwell dealership in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Wes moved to Meadville in 1927 and became a Dodge dealer, and later a Packard dealer.
Wes's son, John Wesley 'Jack' Lang joined his father in the car business in 1951 and the two operated Wes Lang Motors together until Wes retired in 1967.
Jack continued to grow the business, changed the name to Lang Motors and bought additional properties, which abutted the Lang Motors tract. Jack's son, Dane Lang joined the business full-time in 1976."
5-stop bracketed exposure, nikon D7000 + nikkor 18-200mm. processed in capture NX2 + photoshop + nik HDR efex pro 2.
iconic scenes along old route 66 between hackberry and truxton in western arizona.
vintage polaroid SX-70 camera electronically modified to shoot 600 series film, impossible project B&W generation 2.0 beta test film. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
jeff brouws was here. mamiya 6MF 75mm f/3.5 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
scans from the archives. kiev 60, zeiss-flektogon 50mm f/4. kodak portra 400UC. lab: photoimpact west, santa monica, ca. scan: epson V750 pro. exif tags: lenstagger.
the now demolished wagon wheel bowl, which stood alongside highway 101 for over 50 years.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160NC. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Route/US 17
Warrenton, VA
This is where the locals went to get a good steak, for years. Decades. Sadly, it closed down several years ago.
Writes Todd Middleton in FauquierNow, back in 2013:
"What's missing in the Warrenton area is a talented, motivated, passionate chef and owner. Someone with a creative, fresh approve (sic) to the food service industry. Where it's missing is the location: 6806 James Madison Highway, Warrenton, Va.
Ben and Mary's Steakhouse in days past was not only a larger than life landmark, but the owners provided great food, even better service and consistency in their product. It's where everyone went to get a great steak and a good drink for a family night out.
That type of restaurant never goes out of style and will thrive even in poor economic times. I hope someone out there is reading and listening to this and accepts the challenge of opening a real restaurant in a great location. In the mean time, I'll fire up my backyard grill to cook my own steaks . . . and wait."
I'm not positive, but all these years later, I think the former Ben & Mary's is still sitting empty.