View allAll Photos Tagged signgeeks
This is one of my photos that was part of the #SIGNGEEKS exhibition at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA. I shot this in Hamilton, ON -- the store is closed, but this great sign still hangs above the sidewalk.
US 22
Huntingdon, PA
Sadly, another wonderful old location that has now permanently closed. Top's Diner opened in 1949 but after a fire in 1959, moved to this location. In 2020, the current owner shut it down. Unfortunately, it appears this was a pandemic-related closure.
You can read more here:
www.huntingdondailynews.com/tops-diner-owner-announces-cl...
Oceanside, CA
I particularly liked the neon starburst on this sign, and the circles behind each neon letter. Fun design.
Sherman Oaks, CA
I love this towering sign for the Valley Beverage Company .... that great bulb arrow, neon liquor bottle, the "fine" in neon script, and those fabulous corrugated metal triangles with the chunky neon letters. Sure, it's rusty and crusty -- that gives it character!
Wildwood, NJ
Yet another restaurant that's on my "to visit" list. I really want to return to Wildwood and dining here (as long as we visit in-season when it's open!) will be on the agenda. Restaurants that have been open for decades are always a high priority for me.
According to their web site, the restaurant was started by the Urie brothers (George, Charles, and Larry), from Philadelphia, as "a seasonal, paper-plate seafood restaurant" way back in 1956, and was known as Urie's Fish Fry. In 1963, George and his wife (and seven of their eight children!) began running the restaurant themselves, and eventually sold the restaurant to a group of local businessmen.
Given the good condition of the bottom three-quarters of this ghost sign, I'm betting it was uncovered during the demolition of whatever building used to be in the empty lot.
Syracuse, NY
derelict water tanker in the fading town of ludlow along old route 66 in the middle of california's mojave desert. polaroid spectra pro instant camera + impossible project blackframe B&W film.
Petersburg, VA
Really fun storefront and signage, from the neon "furniture" sign to the cool Philco sign with its funky shape and, if you look close, you'll see the king too!
Hamilton, ON
Maybe my fellow Canadians can help me out? I think the "Royal Oak" in the sign refers to the company that provides us with all those bags of charcoal for our barbecues? But I'm not sure because I can't find any reference to that particular logo. It's an old sign so I'm guessing the logo could be retired, but you'd think I'd be able to find something. All the logos I can find online have a crown, not an acorn.
all that remains of a whiting bros. truck stop and motel are the vintage signs along route 66 / interstate 40 in yucca, az. nikon D7000 + nikkor 18-200mm, photoshop CS6 + nik color efex pro.
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.
Jacksonville, FL
In the fall of 2014, on one of our many road trips down to Florida, we took a side trip into Jacksonville specifically so I could shoot this amazing neon sign. It's huge! Big chunky letters (about 10 feet tall) and that coffee cup with its animated neon drips -- good to the last drop! Those letters date back to 1955 and used to be on another side of the building until they were moved to this side in 1971. And the porcelain enamel cup is 45 feet tall!
I learned all these details from the always helpful Roadside Architecture web site. I also learned that, in 2016, the sign was repainted and the red neon tubing on the cup and letters was replaced with LED tubing. The drips are no longer animated. I'm very glad I shot this back in 2014.
In March 2020 we were in Jacksonville again and drove near here and, for some reason, I decided to skip going back to shoot it. You know, I'm kind of glad I did. I would have been disappointed, I think. At least now, the next time I see it, I'll be prepared.
Los Angeles, CA
I have Norwegian heritage so I loved finding this! The axe is outlined in neon but the little viking is not.
One thing that stands out -- I have never stayed at a motel that surrounds itself with razor wire. And I don't plan to, either.
abandoned truck stop on the arizona-california border.
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. 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.
San Gabriel, CA
The first Norge Ball sign I've had the opportunity to photograph. I certainly hope for more!
To read more about these, check out this informative page at the excellent Roadside Architecture site:
www.roadarch.com/signs/norge.html?fbclid=IwAR3aI0TD-fkINB...
Franklinton, NC
When exploring and sign hunting, always go down the side streets, then turn around and go back the same way. You never know what you might suddenly see!
mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4. + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Anaheim, CA
Back in April 2016 I shot several photographs of Anaheim's La Palma Chicken Pie Shop, which opened in 1956, not knowing at that time the fate of either the restaurant or the sign. About a week or so later, I posted one of those photos here on Flickr, along with the news I had just learned that the restaurant was closing. Thankfully, the Museum of Neon Art (MONA) in Glendale rescued the sign.
Here is a photograph I took of the sign on the side of the restaurant -- I now have three shots of this restaurant's signage posted here on Flickr (two shots of the neon and this shot). I hope you'll have a look in my "2016" album here on Flickr to see all three photos of this long-gone restaurant.
recently processed film. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
US 19
Beckley, WV
The King Tut Drive-In has been serving the local crowd since the 1940s. They have a stunning sign. I first encountered it about ten years ago on a bitter cold, snowy day. I did get some photos but was thankful this encounter was not cold and not snowy.
Lynn, MA
In 2018 the Boston suburb of Lynn started to light up its streets with a collection of vintage neon signs. The project was supposed to run for three years, so I hope the signs are all still up! This is one of them; I shot many and in going through old folders today, I realized I have not yet edited most of the signs I photographed. I have my work cut out for me LOL
Here's an article about the project:
Very close to this rusty old clock sign, there is an old Coke sign for "Wren's Market"....so I'm making the assumption that the wording below the clock face is also advertising Wren's. It was not 9 in the morning.....the clock likely hasn't worked for years. (That Coke sign photo I mentioned is the next photo after this one in my photostream, btw.)
Spotted this beauty as we were driving through Louisville, GA (which is pronounced Lewis-ville, not Looey-ville, according to what I've learned).
We ended up staying for lunch in Louisville at the delightful Home Fresh Bistro. We were quite surprised to find ourselves in a Mennonite restaurant in the middle of Georgia! The food, by the way, was spectacular!
Los Angeles, CA
I checked google streetview and several years ago, this mural was not there. And then it appeared. And now google streetview shows that the wall is white again. I'm guessing they heard from Warner Brothers?
US/Route 301
King George, VA
It had all the look of being closed for quite some time, but I couldn't say for sure. Abandoned? Maybe. The sign was old and rusty, and it was the only signage -- so the name of this (former?) restaurant/drive-in is unknown. I'm actually wondering if the drive-in used to be at the back and has long since been removed. At the opposite end of the building shown there was another door, with a big "closed" sign on it. The whole thing was a mystery to me at the time, and still is. Nevertheless, I love the old rusty neon signage!
mamiya 6MF 75mm f/3.5 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
The sign was there, but Mr T's wasn't. No cocktails for us.
Photographed on Route 66 in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.