Vintage neon signs

[LizzieMaine]

The Citgo sign in Kenmore Square in Boston had all its neon replaced by LEDs several years ago, and it seems to be just as bright as the original was. They still have maintenance issues with it, but not as often as they used to.

We're looking into re-doing our neon sign with LEDs. I've asked the sign company to give me a quote, if it's feasible -- anything would be better than the constant maintenance headaches we have with the neon. The salt air here is deadly to the many fussy little high-voltage electrical connections -- and they tell me that the parts are getting to be harder and harder to find. LED may or may not be more durable -- I don't think the diodes that it requires for its electrical system will be any less delicate than what we've got now, but they'll at least be off-the-shelf replacement parts.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Signs, signs, everywhere signs... blocking out the scenery and breaking my mind.

Rob

 

[LizzieMaine]

Joe Dinnerpail there doesn't realize he's standing right smack in the middle of the Miracle Mile. U AUTO BUY NOW!

 

[BobHufford]

The drive-in movie sign from "Twister" (watching it for about the tenth time this afternoon). It's from 1996 so it's nearly vintage.

 

[BobHufford]

Neon rat and roach ... it's kinda putting me off my Virginia ham and waffles.

I'd love to have that "Hatters" sign.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm more concerned with that Virginia Ham sign where the neon swine is prancing up to sell you a sizzling slice of one of his fellow hogs. Capitalist pig.

 

[Fading Fast]

I'm more concerned with that Virginia Ham sign where the neon swine is prancing up to sell you a sizzling slice of one of his fellow hogs. Capitalist pig.

"Capitalist Pig," fantastic - well done Lizzie. And it was, after all, the pigs that first took to haughtily walking on their hind legs in "Animal Farm."

My girlfriend and I often note how one will regularly see an animal happily advertising a restaurant at which its brethren are also on the menu. Cows will be smiling happily in signs for steakhouses while, at other establishments, cheery lobsters will implore you to try the seafood and big chickens regularly try to wave you into fried-chicken places. It does feel a bit better when a smiling cow invites you into a place selling dairy - it's almost as if he's proud of his work.

 

[3fingers]

Then you have Chick-fil-A where the animal in question is a cow imploring you to "eat more chiken".

 

[Frunobulax]

Then you have Chick-fil-A where the animal in question is a cow imploring you to "eat more chiken".

There were some Pop-Tarts commercials a few years ago that were a little "creepy" that way. I thought they were funny.

And the M&Ms guys seem to go there fairly often, too.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Mister Peanut is the worst.

He's the Jeff Bezos of legumes.

 

[BobHufford]

The store building (and that iconic roof line) still exists here in Springfield, MO. It was most recently the world's biggest CVS Pharmacy (and didn't even use all the space), but is now vacant. I remember that spinning cat head.

 

[Woodtroll]

Not a "sign" as such, but the Mill Mountain Star in Roanoke, VA was first lit 70 years ago today, and is still in operation nightly. Nearly 90 feet tall with 2,000 feet of neon tubing, it gave rise to Roanoke being known as "The Star City of the South".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Star

As a child, it was about an hour drive to "go to town" (Roanoke), and those rare trips usually involved a stop at the Sears and Roebuck retail store for shoes or some such. My brothers and I always looked forward to the evening trips so we could see the star all lit up, perched up there high on Mill Mountain.

 

[BobHufford]

Kudos for keeping the cool part of the sign.

 

[Frunobulax]

Kudos for keeping the cool part of the sign.

View attachment 199307

It works, with the arrow and all.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Noir.

Rob

 

[BobHufford]

Maplewood neighborhood in St. Louis, 1980s.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Nice neon, bad roads.

Rob

 

[3fingers]

^^^ Is that Alaska? I've seen similar pictures from a giant earthquake they had in 1964 or 65.

 

[Ghostsoldier]

^^^ Is that Alaska? I've seen similar pictures from a giant earthquake they had in 1964 or 65.

I believe it is.

Rob

 

[Zombie_61]

^^^ Is that Alaska? I've seen similar pictures from a giant earthquake they had in 1964 or 65.

Yes it is. March 27, 1964. Magnitude 9.2, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America.