Vintage neon signs

Cities and counties are beginning to wake up, that old neon makes for attractions in local history museums. I'd like to walk the Neon museum boneyard in Las Vegas, just for the history.

 

I miss the neon signs. Several years back I'd been on a forum about old neon signs. On our way back to Florida from Illinois I spotted an old motel with exactly the sign I'd seen on line. I had driven past my half way point, 500 miles. So south of Montgomery, Ala on rt 231, 700 miles traveled, I made a U-turn in the 4-lane median and headed to what I think was called "Shady Pines". It is one of those long narrow motels right out of the 50's or 60's.
It was then I noticed at least half of the blinking neon sign wasn't actually working. Still that neon sign attracted me like a moth to a porch lite.
Inside, it was like going back to the 50's. It was clean and appeared freshly painted inside. Yet everything was just like time stood still, 50's. Most people we know would never have stopped. They're all used to names like Hilton and Holiday Inn, with a gym, a pool, and a bar. Me, I wanted to finish my junk food meal and sleep.
We liked it and everything we needed was there. A small table where we could finish the fast food that we were trying to eat in the truck, bought not long ago at the edge of Montgomery. Plus there was, at extra cost, a king sized bed and old style TV, both looking like they belonged in an old movie set.
For some reason visions of the horror film motel with 'The Bates Motel', flashed thru my head. After driving 700 miles a few murderers didn't stop me from sleeping, after peeking out the window again at that blinking neon sign.
So, at least for us, a simple flashing neon sign was enough to draw us in to an otherwise old motel in the middle of nowhere.

Around 25 years ago while at a large Florida flea market I found and bought a rare red neon beer sign with our last name on it. I'm guessing it's maybe 14"-16" long. I paid $100 for it. Friends and relatives thought I was crazy. It sat for much of 20+ years on our fireplace mantel in Florida, rarely turned on. Sadly I haven't hung it up in the 1 1/2 years we've been relocated. Someday I will. To us that $100 neon beer sign is worth a small fortune. We've never seen another.

 

Old neon does it for me as well Mr T. My parents took us on holidays and camping as far back as I can remember. I remember going to Florida in the early 70's, all the cool old signs are long gone. Here are a few pieces of artwork I've done on the doors of my summer home - cottage.

 

Those are great Islander. Any old signs, neon or not, are fun to see.

 

Maybe, he should take up neon glass blowing. It still was a trade you could learn, here, 20 years ago. I don't know if it's become extinct like leading sheet metal where old timers one by one take their knowledge to the grave

There you go. That's Mondays project, hanging it outside your window, so that you'll never forget that motel and all the murderers who spent the night there. Nighty night. Sleep tight, Sir

 

Back when I carried a film camera (my dad's 70's Minolta) I used to take pictures of just about everything interesting, cars, people, buildings... Somewhere packed away I have pictures of neon signs, if I ever find them I should scan them in and post them up here.
They where all vintage from the 20's on, probably all torn down now.

 

Not neon. Rather, hundreds of bulbs. But, still cool. Making and wiring those signs wouldn't have been the worst job to have. Talk about having fun and simultaneously getting paid to have it

 

Unfortunately, a still photo does this marquee no favors, as the neon 'chases:'



This is the Spreckels Theater, downtown San Diego, and likely the best design I've seen so far. It's a city treasure, and I believe on the National Register of Historic Places.