View allAll Photos Tagged signgeeks
Ontario, California
This terrific sign dates back to the 1950s, I believe. I shot this photograph in 2014; oddly, it was blue on this side and green on the other. In 2016, the neon was removed. Yes, even that wonderful neon grinder sandwich. (I revisited the sign in 2018 and took many photographs, but they just seem so sad, with all the neon gone. I've yet to share any of those shots.)
And, unfortunately, more destruction was to come -- it has been completely repainted, now brandishing the name of a taco shop, the new owner.
over 40 homes were lost in a wind-driven brush fire last night in niland, near the salton sea. mamiya 6MF 50mm f/4 + kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Pasadena, CA
I'm a fan of southern California's In-N-Out burger chain....both for the food and for their iconic signage.
This particular In-N-Out in Pasadena, on Foothill Blvd, opened in September 1952. I just love this bulb-and-neon sign, which sits large on the roof of this location. And unsurprisingly, cars were lined up down the street waiting for their turn to place an order. They have a lot of fans.
Route/US 41
Tifton, GA
It's a shame the neon and bulbs are missing, but it's still a striking, wonderful sign. And even though the old Bulova clock is mounted on a pole on the street, in the sidewalk, it seems quite the coincidence it's right in front of a jewellery store. I'm thinking it's there on purpose.
The Roadside Architecture site states the store dates back to 1953 and the sign was probably installed then too. It's an oldie!
Blue Swallow Motel - July 2019 - Rollei CR200 transparency film/Mamiya RZ67. Camera scanned with A7R-IV
Lawrenceburg, KY
If you are into collecting old postcards, googling this motel's name brought up many listings.
Lake City, FL
Unfortunately we were there too early in the morning; they weren't yet open so we couldn't buy a t-shirt. We probably would have bought a few lol
mamiya 6MF + 50mm f/4. film: kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Fredericksburg, VA
Found this by driving the side streets in Fredericksburg; this factory had the appearance of being shut down and abandoned. The sign above the door reading "furniture" was painted on top of something else. I'm not sure what it used to say.
I was attracted (as I always am lol) to the grunge and decay. Also the red walls and red door were striking.
mamiya 6MF + 50mm f/4. expired kodak TCN 400 chromogenic B&W film cross-processed in E-6, push two stops. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: lenstagger.
Covina, CA
Loved the sign and wished we could have gone in, but we just didn't have the time. It looked like a great place.
North Providence, RI
Further to the last photo I uploaded (the Christiansen's Dairy neon sign), as promised, here's a photo of two of their old Divco delivery trucks. There were three others in the parking lot as well; two of those appeared to be in good shape while one was quite rusty.
As I mentioned in the description of that photo, Christiansen's closed in 2019, almost 100 years after the company began. Right up until their closing, they continued home dairy delivery.
According to Wikipedia, "Divco was a brand name of delivery trucks built and marketed in the United States. Divco is an acronym which stands for Detroit Industrial Vehicles COmpany. Divco became known for its multi-stop delivery trucks, particularly in use as home delivery vehicles by dairy producers."
Route/US 1
Dinwiddie, VA
Despite the full window, this old garage had an abandoned, unattended look to it, and online it is listed as permanently closed. The coca-cola privilege sign had certainly seen better days, and I would love to know what the chunky green letters above the garage once spelled out. Another example, I guess, of fading small town america.
South El Monte, California
June 2021: Word from my sign buddies is that the Starlite Drive-In is in trouble. It hasn't shown movies for a long time but it has operated as a swap meet location. Now, the entire property apparently looks abandoned and there are real estate signs up, I hear. There is concern the sign may not make it, and is vulnerable to being vandalized right now. Such sad news to hear. It's such an amazing sign -- the neon is missing and so are a lot of the bulbs, but it is absolutely striking to see in person.
Seligman, AZ. Route 66 beauty. Also I'm pretty much just on Instagram nowadays @saguarosally and focusing almost exclusively on signs.
Columbus, OH
According to what I read online, the Chatterbox had been in business since the late 1930s, under a variety of owners over the decades. Sadly, it looks like this longstanding community dive bar is now permanently closed.
On US 9
Malta, New York
The Malta Drive-In Theatre has been in continuous operation since 1949. For sign loving photographers, it's worth a visit.
Franklinton, NC
According to Texaco's web site, this sign was introduced in 1963. It was a fun find as we drove off-interstate through North Carolina on our way north.
Commerce, CA
While driving around Los Angeles looking for signs to shoot, we found a doozy. There are even a few stars in the swirl below the text, not to mention the nifty "lady". A tall, fun find.
mamiya 6MF 75mm f/3.5. kodak portra 160. lab: the icon, los angeles, ca. scan: epson V750. exif tags: filmtagger.
Kissimmee, FL
I enjoy finding any sign related to art. I don't know what store/business this sign in downtown Kissimmee originally represented -- maybe a gallery or an art supply store -- and I think there used to be neon. I'm unsure. I do know that sadly, the last time I checked on this sign, it had been completely repainted and while the shape remained, that's it -- it was hard to tell it used to be a palette.
North Hollywood, CA
When we travelled to Los Angeles for the first time in 2014 (I had been a loooong time ago, when I was a child), it was a long weekend that was a sign-shooting frenzy. I knew I wouldn't get to all that I wanted to shoot (and I sure didn't!) but I had a few that were on my must-shoot list -- and the Circus Liquor clown was one of them.
Confession: clowns creep me out. But I love this one -- as creepy as I find all clowns, including this one, I think this particular clown is still marvellous.
You've likely seen him before, even if you've never been to Los Angeles, as films and music videos have all been filmed in Circus Liquor's parking lot.