Vintage neon signs

[2jakes]

Great story. So many words - especially slang ones - have appeared, disappeared or morphed in meaning that it is probably amazing this doesn't happen more often.

Quite often, in old movies, the expression "he made love to me" will come up which, back in the '30s - '50s, meant something like "the man said romantic things to the woman to get her interested in him" and nothing more and nothing physical (other than he might have tried a chaste kiss).

But with what it means today, it can creates some funny scenes where, for example, the most innocent looking fifteen-year-old daughter will tell her Ozzie and Harriet parents at breakfast when asked about "the dance" last night, "oh, two of the boys made love to me last night."

And of course, the term "gay" (which seems to have meant homosexual even back then, but only in the insular world of homosexuals) is used to mean "happy" or "upbeat," which also leads to some funny lines in movies to our modern-day understanding of the word.

In Spanish, the word "cojer" meant "to
take" or "grab" when I was growing up.

Go to Google and type "Spanish to English translation" in the search mode.

When the window opens.... type the word
"cojer" in the box to see what this word translates to English today.



No kidding!

 

[Fading Fast]

In Spanish, the word "cojer" meant "to
take" " or grab when I was growing up.

Go to Google and type "Spanish to English translation" in the search mode.

When the window opens.... type the word
"cojer" in the box to see what this word translates to English today.



wtf!

That's a change!

 

[2jakes]

That's a change!

My aunt used this word as it was originally
intended.
Also my grandmother from UK used queer and gay in her conversation but these words had a different meaning for her unlike what
is now meant.
I never said or tried to explain what it meant
today. I knew how she meant it and left it at
that.

 

[Winston Carter]

Built 1938. Still looks like brand new. Official Dallas Landmark. 100 foot

tall.

 

[Fading Fast]

And another version of our pizza chef:

 

[2jakes]

If you ever wondered what a pinball machine would look like if it ever grew up to be a restaurant:
View attachment 126920

After a heavy downpour !

 

[2jakes]

The faces!

 

[BobHufford]

Always liked this guy's face... (Santa Rosa, NM). Sadly it closed in the early 1990s and is now gone.

 

[2jakes]

Always liked this guy's face... (Santa Rosa, NM). Sadly it closed in the early 1990s and is now gone.

Face reminded of this:

"I'm Earl Scheib and I'll paint any car any color for $29.99. No up no extras!"

 

[2jakes]

Nope...but it shoulda been one!

 

[Fading Fast]

I applaud the intent, but not sure the cone really works. If not for the "Frozen Custard" words, I'm not sure I'd get ice-cream cone from that, especially driving by at 50mph.

 

[2jakes]

 

[3fingers]

That last one has Reddy Kilowatt on it so the neon is just a bonus. Reddy is the coolest old advertising mascot in captivity all on his own.

 

[2jakes]

That last one has Reddy Kilowatt on it so the neon is just a bonus. Reddy is the coolest old advertising mascot in captivity all on his own.

I relate Kilowatt image to a time in the '50s when my uncle gave me a tiny promo pin of "Reddy".

 

[2jakes]

 

[LizzieMaine]

There was a very impressive neon Reddy Kilowatt outside the Electric Utilities of America pavilion at the 1939 NYWF. Can't find any decent photos of it online, but it turns up in a lot of the Kodachrome home movies of the Fair.

Reddy at that time was still very much in his original incarnation, as a skinny, gangly fellow. The neon sign used this basic pose, but was animated so his pointing finger flicked back and forth.

 

[1mach1]

These are from Namur, Belgium

 

[Frunobulax]

There was a very impressive neon Reddy Kilowatt outside the Electric Utilities of America pavilion at the 1939 NYWF. Can't find any decent photos of it online, but it turns up in a lot of the Kodachrome home movies of the Fair.

Reddy at that time was still very much in his original incarnation, as a skinny, gangly fellow. The neon sign used this basic pose, but was animated so his pointing finger flicked back and forth.

My introduction to Reddy was a large, lit version mounted to the side of the DP&L Tate substation you would pass while driving south on I-75. He was 2-3 stories tall. I have yet to be able to find a photo. They tore down the Tate about 20 years ago.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[2jakes]

Entrance to Electrical Utilities Pavilion 1939. NYWF

Electrification was a major theme throughout the fair.

1964
New York World’s Fair

 

[2jakes]

(patent image)

Besides Reddy Kilowatt, with a light bulb nose, plugs for ears,
and a body made of lightning bolts…


There was...”Willie Wirehand"

The electric cooperative spokes character.