 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
 |
| Dairy Queen (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940 in Joliet, IL, serving only soft-serve ice cream. By 1947, there were about 100 stores. By 1955, there were 2,600. Today, there are more than 5,900 DQs worldwide. In the early 1950s, Dairy Queen developed its slanted roof, rounded corners walk-up building with the classic tilted cone sign. In 1960, the company dropped this design for its barn-like building. For more about Dairy Queen, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Dairy Queen Charlotte, NC |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| This Charlotte Dairy Queen was built in 1947. It is the oldest location left in NC and the third oldest in the Southeast. The awnings are original or close to it. The two-piece, original rooftop Eskimo sign has been repainted. The person (most sources say "girl") depicted on this sign is more realistic than the original signs. See the other Eskimo signs in Quincy, MA and Grafton, WV below which are also not as "goofy" as the original. For more, see these websites: this website. |
| Dairy Queen Charlotte, NC |
|
 |
 |
| This Charlotte Dairy Queen opened in 1950. The signs are obviously modern. This location probably had an Eskimo sign. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Gastonia, NC |
Dairy Queen Hickory, NC |
 |
 |
|
This Gastonia Dairy Queen opened in 1949. The neon is not original. This location had an Eskimo sign originally. For more, see this website.
The Hickory Dairy Queen appears to be from the late 1940s or early 1950s. There was an old sign which has been replaced with a modern plastic one. |
| Dairy Queen Salisbury, NC |
||
 |
 |
 |
| This Salisbury Dairy Queen opened in 1950. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Freeze Quincy, MA |
||
 |
 |
 |
| This Dairy Freeze must have originally been a Dairy Queen. The sign is either a repainted original from the early 1950s or a modern reproduction. |
| Dairy Queen Grafton, WV |
Circus Conies & Cones Seelyville, IN |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Grafton Dairy Queen also has an Eskimo sign. The style of this one matches the one in Quincy, MA shown above. The shape of the sign, particularly the ice cream cone, makes me think that both of these signs are modern reproductions. The originals also seem to have been larger and with two separate signs on a triangulated, rooftop display. However, a very similar sign that was in Wilmington, NC makes me wonder if there weren't two or more versions of these Eskimo signs. The original "goofy" sign in Gastonia looked like this. Another example of the Eskimo is here.
All that remains of Circus Conies & Cones is this sign. This sign was originally a 1950s Dairy Queen Curly the Clown sign. The cup label would have read "Dairy Queen" and there were strawberries, not syrup, on the ice cream. To notify passing motorists when the store was open, the clown's arm moved up and down and the light behind the cone in his hand was turned on. There was another one of these signs in Richland, MO (now gone). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Dairy Queen Shelbyville, IN |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The Shelbyville Dairy Queen features a Curly the Clown sign (see the description of the Seelyville sign directly above). This may be the only still-operating Dairy Queen with one of these signs. |
| Big Top Drive-in Evansville, IN |
 |
 |
| The Big Top Drive-in opened in 1950. A newspaper advertisement from that year shows roof top letters with that name. The clown sign must have been added later and been inspired by Dairy Queen's Curly the Clown sign (see the description of the Seelyville sign above). The clown's arm moved up and down until just a few years ago. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Pawcatuck, CT |
Dairy Queen Riverside, CA |
 |
 |
|
The Pawcatuck Dairy Queen has been here since 1954.
The Riverside Dairy Queen is from the 1950s. It sounds like their "sister" location in town from the same era will be demolished, if it hasn't been already. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Janesville, MN |
Dairy Queen Butler, PA |
 |
 |
|
This sign in Janesville appears to be old while the building itself seems to be modern (not the slant-roofed stand).
The Butler Dairy Queen looks like an oldie. |
| Dairy Queen Montvale, NJ |
|
 |
 |
| This Montvale Dairy Queen opened around 1951. There is a neon cone inside the store but I don't know if it's the one from this sign. For more, see this website. |
| Dairy Queen Bedford, NJ |
|
 |
 |
| This Bedford Dairy Queen is probably from the 1950s. |
| Dairy Queen (page 2) | Dairy Queen (page 3) | Dairy Queen (page 4) |
| Main Eateries Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |