| Super Signage |
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| SOUTH CAROLINA |
| Sundae House Florence, SC |
Simple Simon Shoppes Spartanburg, SC |
Papa Joe's Fireworks Hardeeville, SC |
Grand Motel Columbia, SC |
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The Sundae House opened in 1964. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Robby Delius]
Simple Simon Shoppes is now known as the "Judy's Simple Simon" coffee shop. Judy's also has this Sputnik-style sign on the roof. Originally, the restaurant was located up the block and when they relocated here sometime after 1968, they brought the sign with them. I believe "Shoppes" refers to the fact that they had three other locations in Spartanburg at one time. Papa Joe's Fireworks sign is topped with a star that was sold as the C-152 Lectra. These were produced in the 1960s. For more, see this website. The Grand Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. The neon still works. The animated star on top was not part of its original design. [photo thanks Robby Delius] |
| Coburg Milk Charleston, SC |
Tellis Pharmacy Charleston, SC |
Berlins for Men and Women Charleston, SC |
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The Coburg Milk sign has been a local icon since the 1960s. The cow is painted and dressed up for holidays. I'm told that the platform with the cow and carton of milk still revolve but it wasn't spinning when I was here in 2007. For more, see 1 and 2.
The Tellis Pharmacy opened in 1952 and this sign is still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Berlins for Men and Women clothing store has been here since 1883. Their sign is also still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| mini golf North Myrtle Beach, SC |
Gay Dolphin Gift Cove Myrtle Beach, SC |
Dynamite Fireworks North Myrtle Beach, SC |
Mr. Fireworks North Myrtle Beach, SC |
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This old sign still stands for now at an abandoned mini golf course.
The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove opened in the 1960s on Ocean Blvd., just north of the Pavilion, in the heart of Myrtle Beach. The Gay Dolphin features nine floors of souvenirs and arcade games. Its large, rooftop sign with wooden dolphins is just across the street. It was erected in the 1970s and has had the City’s shorts in a knot ever since. Zoning law changes in 1979 mandate that the sign cannot be replaced even if removed for repairs. The sign's facing (but not the underlying structure) was removed in 1989 as Hurricane Hugo prepared to land. The sign went back up in 1994 and the City served papers to have it removed. Nevertheless, the sign survives – a kind of historical souvenir of what Myrtle Beach used to be like before the invasion of the beachwear chains, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Café, etc. (Note the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not theatre sign/façade just behind the Gay Dolphin sign.) Along the North Myrtle Beach strip of Kings Highway, among the beachwear shops, restaurants, and miniature golf courses, are more than several fireworks shops. Dynamite Fireworks has five locations in North Myrtle Beach – each one with these nice working neon signs. Mr. Fireworks seems to have just one location. For more, see this website. For more about Myrtle Beach, see my motel page. |
| South of the Border Dillon, SC |
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South of the Border started out as a beer stand in 1949 and has grown into a 135-acre tourist trap par excellence. Situated just south of the NC border, halfway between the Northeast and Florida on I-95, it is packed with souvenir and fireworks shops, statues, restaurants, arcades and kiddie rides. South of the Border also features the nearly 200' tall Sombrero Tower which has a glass elevator to an observation deck. You also can't miss the nearly 100' tall statue of Pedro, SOB's mascot, which is the largest neon sign east of the Mississippi. Sadly, it seems the Golf of Mexico miniature golf course is now Pedro's Concrete Bazaar (the lawn statuary is plunked right down on the greens). I find the place more exciting at night when the neon comes alive like a mini-Las Vegas.
Since the 1950s, South of the Border has understood the importance of advertising. SOB spends over $40,000 a year on approximately 200 billboards along I-95 between NJ and FL promoting the place. A typical sign reads "You Never Sausage a Place!" and has a giant tacked-on pink sausage. All the signs are different and each one tells you just how many miles remain to get there. Ace-Hi Advertising is SOB's very own advertising agency which develops not only their billboard campaign but also publishes their own line of postcards. Behind their office is a "boneyard" (see the last three photos above) which has cast-off Pedro sombreros, old signage, and a shoe that was used at the Silver Slipper (now Silver Arcade). For more South of the Border attractions, see my other pages: the Dinosaur, the Jackalope, the Giant Burger, and Peddler's Steakhouse (the sombrero-shaped restaurant). For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
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