email: agilitynut@hotmail.com
Loading

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
Grafton, WV
I believe this Dairy Queen opened in 1945. This Eskimo sign is either original or a faithful reproduction. A similar sign existed in Wilmington, NC whos a two-piece triangulated sign. This Eskimo character also appeared on the company's cups. This item might also have been produced by Dairy Queen.

Dairy Freeze
Quincy, MA
This Dairy Freeze must have originally been a Dairy Queen. The Eskimo sign is either a repainted original or a modern reproduction.

Dairy Queen
Charlotte, NC
This Dairy Queen opened in 1947. It is the oldest location left in North Carolina and the third oldest in the Southeast. The awnings are original or close to it. The two-piece, rooftop Eskimo sign has been repainted and possibly refabricated. The shape is different from the ones in Grafton and Quincy shown above. The Eskimo is also more realistic looking than the original signs. It's possibly that this sign might be the original since the one in Gastonia (see description below) was also a different shape. For more, see these websites: this website.

Dairy Queen
Charlotte, NC
This 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 Dairy Queen in Gastonia opened in 1949. The neon is not original. This location had an Eskimo sign originally. I don't know what to make of the goofy paint job. I have not seen any other sign or advertising with such a depiction. The vintage photo appears to be from a Grand Opening so that would rule out a later eccentric repainting.

This Dairy Queen in Hickory 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 Dairy Queen opened in 1950. For more, see this website.

Circus Conies & Cones
Seelyville, IN
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 is another one of these signs in Richland, MO which has been repainted. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Dairy Queen
Shelbyville, IN
This 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 (page 2) Dairy Queen (page 3) Dairy Queen (page 4) Dairy Queen (page 5) Dairy Queen (page 6)
Main Eateries Page