Ghost signs

[Fading Fast]

This ghost is no longer haunting us -- sad to say. It was exposed during the demolition of the Jewell Theater in Springfield, MO (home of the Ozarks Jubilee / Jubilee USA). Circa 1961.

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Any idea what "Put Your Ford in the Boulevard Class" means?

 

[LizzieMaine]

It means, basically, to jazz your cheap little Tin Lizzie up with accessories so it'll seem fancier than it is. The "boulevard class" describes those who promenade along the boulevard in their high hats and spats and gold knob-headed walking sticks with their proboscises elevated. They wouldn't be fooled by a tricked-up Ford, but your neighbors down in Goat Alley would.

 

[Fading Fast]

It means, basically, to jazz your cheap little Tin Lizzie up with accessories so it'll seem fancier than it is. The "boulevard class" describes those who promenade along the boulevard in their high hats and spats and gold knob-headed walking sticks with their proboscises elevated. They wouldn't be fooled by a tricked-up Ford, but your neighbors down in Goat Alley would.

One of Fedora Lounge's best lessons is that very few things really change. Sure, this or that looks a bit different now versus then or something happens in a modified manner, etc., but most things in life just keep repeating if you look beneath the surface.

 

[Bushman]

A real spectre of a ghost sign here. I almost didn't see it. All I can really make out of it is the word "clothes"...

 

[BobHufford]

^^^^^ Looks almost like the "Bond" logo seen in some hats. I assume from the mega store of the same name.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Bond was a huge deal in "two-pants suit" menswear on the East Coast in the Era, and right up into the 70s. Aside from the monster-size store in Times Square, they had a slightly less gigantic branch in downtown Brooklyn.

That guy with the pipe right behind the arrow don't need no new suit now geddouttamyface.

 

[Fading Fast]

⇧ and nice to see what, I've learned from you, is an iconic Waldorf cafeteria.

I'm just guessing, but the gentleman you note with the pipe probably has a favorite drinking establishment nearby that he frequents and it's possibly called the Killarney Rose or Shamrock Bar and Grill.

 

[3fingers]

I just heard an ad for Bond Clothes on the radio last night. Fine quality suits with 2 pairs of trousers from $28 to $40.75.
B.C. gentlemen, and we're not talking about a period in history.

 

[Bugguy]

Pretty much sums it up...

 

[Fading Fast]

⇧ Ghost sign, but still accurate aphorism.

 

[LizzieMaine]

8th Avenue & 34th St, Manhattan.

Bickford's was a major player in the East Coast urban-lunchroom market during the Era, spotting a niche slightly higher on the pre-fast-food chain than the Automat or Waldorf Lunch, but a bit less than that occupied by Child's or Schrafft's. Bickford's stores, most of them offering a cafeteria format, were very popular for the white-collar worker grabbing a quick bite, and since most of them operated late into the night/early morning, or even 24 hours, they were also a favorite rendezvous for the nighthawk crowd.

The chain was focused on New York, but also penetrated into New England as far as the New Hampshire border -- the last l Bickford's unit I ever saw was in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and was still operating as late as the early 2000s. It seems to have closed around 2016, but there's still an active Bickford's website indicating units remain open in Acton, Burlington, and Woburn, Mass. These, however, appear to be more along the line of suburban "family restaurants" than the traditional downtown urban locations of the Era. The menu is no longer quite the same either, since there is no listing for a breaded veal cutlet served with tomato sauce and green beans.

 

[hatsRme]

Fading fast in King Arthur country, a Gold Medal Flour sign graces the west side of this building in beautiful, sunny downtown Lyndonville, Vermont.

 

[1967Cougar390]

I snapped this picture about two weeks ago on US Hwy15 North. The motor court was actually open and had cars in the parking lot in front of some rooms.
Steven

 

[Fading Fast]

Fading fast in King Arthur country, a Gold Medal Flour sign graces the west side of this building in beautiful, sunny downtown Lyndonville, Vermont.

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That's awesome and fun to see considering the insane number of Gold Medal Flour bags that have passed through our kitchen.

 

[BobHufford]

Thayer, Missouri.

Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.

 

[dh66]

HY-UP

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[BobHufford]

 

[3fingers]

^^^ Somewhere in the archives here I believe there is a cloth seed sack from there.

 

[BobHufford]

Personal ghosts. These were from my wife’s late great-grandfather’s and late grandfather’s construction company which closed up in 1968 when Grandpa Chapman retired. Together they built quite a few landmark buildings in Springfield, Missouri.

The rusty one (which was outside for far too long) shows evidence of of a prior version. The nicer one was found in a stack of plywood in an open shed.

A gentle wipe down, a light clear-coat and they now hang in the new shop at the “farm” Grandpa purchased when he retired.

 

[dh66]

Personal ghosts. These were from my wife’s late great-grandfather’s and late grandfather’s construction company which closed up in 1968 when Grandpa Chapman retired. Together they built quite a few landmark buildings in Springfield, Missouri.

The rusty one (which was outside for far too long) shows evidence of of a prior version. The nicer one was found in a stack of plywood in an open shed.

A gentle wipe down, a light clear-coat and they now hang in the new shop at the “farm” Grandpa purchased when he retired.

Very cool, Bob!!

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