| Super Signage |
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| ALABAMA |
| Goodyear Shoe Hospital Birmingham, AL |
Vann Thomas Motel Anniston, AL |
Wikle Drug Anniston, AL |
Bynum Drug Inc. Eastaboga, AL |
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The Goodyear Shoe Hospital looks like it's been here for quite awhile. It has four locations in Birmingham. These metal/neon shoe signs were once ubiquitous advertising for shoe repair shops. For more, see this website.
The Vann Thomas Motel has been here since at least 1958. However, a postcard of the place from then showed it with a different sign. Wikle Drug, in a well-preserved part of town, has nice glazed tile Rexall signage. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, however, as of 2007, the store was vacant. [first photo thanks Tim Ross] Bynum Drug Inc. features another nicely preserved Rexall sign. [photo thanks Tim Ross] |
| Pell City Drug Co. Pell City, AL |
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| The Pell City Drug Co. was established in 1903. However, I'm not sure if it is still open. [first photo thanks Tim Ross] |
| Taylor Motel Mobile, AL |
Kelly's Cleaners Mobile, AL |
H.M. Freeman Motors Gadsden, AL |
Pell City Steak House Pell City, AL |
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I'm not sure if the huge Taylor Motel sign still works. The pulsating circle must really have been an eyecatcher in its day.
Kelly's Cleaners has been around since 1947 and has five other locations in Mobile. I don't know if any of the others have this nice old sign and building. H.M. Freeman Motors is a still operating used car lot. The Pell City Steak House features this wonderfully literal sign. For more, see this website. |
| Buster Miles Ford Chevrolet Heflin, AL |
Anniston Alignment Anniston, AL |
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Buster Miles Ford Chevrolet was founded in Anniston, AL in 1947. Buster Miles was originally known as Miles Motors and sold used cars. In 1952, Buster bought this Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealership and kept the signs. For more, see their website. [first photo thanks Tim Ross]
This midget racer hangs above Anniston Alignment. It has been there for several decades and was used for racing when the business was known as Jerry Lindsey Front End Alignment Shop. |
| Warren's Goal Post Bar-B-Q Anniston, AL |
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| Warren's Goal Post Bar-B-Q has an amazing sign. The animated kicker sends a football over the goal post and along a wire all the way to the restaurant. The lighting works perfectly on both sides of the sign. A similar idea used on a smaller scale is the animated bowling sign at the Sheridan Lanes in Tulsa, OK. The Goal Post moved into this pre-existing building around 1961. [first photo thanks Tim Ross] |
| Alabama Power Company Attalla, AL |
drug store Attalla, AL |
Hospital Discount Pharmacy Cullman, AL |
Plamor Lanes Huntsville, AL |
Lozahatchee Masonic Lodge Piedmont, AL |
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The Alabama Power Company features this old sign with a Reddy Kilowatt figure. The Reddy character was created by the company in 1926. Attalla was the first U.S. city to have electric street lights and was the birthplace of the Alabama Power Company. For more, see this website.
The Attalla drug store sign is still beautiful even in its rusty condition. The Hospital Discount Pharmacy features a nice old plastic sign. The Plamor Lanes features a classic giant pin sign over its entrance. The Lozahatchee Masonic Lodge features a beautiful neon sign. |
| Von Bayer Masonic Lodge Tuscaloosa, AL |
Leland Lanes Tuscaloosa, AL |
Alberta Baptist Church Tuscaloosa, AL |
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The Von Bayer Masonic Lodge is another nice example of neon Masonic signs.
Leland Lanes features an impressive 1950s-looking giant pin sign. For more, see this website. The Alberta Baptist Church globe sign looks very much like a Norge Village sign turned sideways. For more, see their website. |
| Moon Winx Lodge Tuscaloosa, AL |
Bel-Aire Motel Tuscaloosa, AL |
Hunter Furniture Birmingham, AL |
Candlelight Motel Ozark, AL |
Bee Line Motel Dothan, AL |
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The Moon Winx Lodge sign is from 1957. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Bel-Aire Motel is just down the road from the Moon Winx. It is probably from the 1950s as well. Hunter Furniture was founded in 1920 and is still in business. Their 1950s-looking neon sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. The Candlelight Motel and the Bee Line Motel are both still in operation. Does anyone know if their signs still work? |
| Jefferson County Truck Growers Association Farmers Market Birmingham, AL |
Penny Dog Food Birmingham, AL |
Andrew's Bar-B-Q Birmingham, AL |
Prince Hall Grand Lodge Birmingham, AL |
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The Jefferson County Truck Growers Association Farmers Market has been here since 1956 and the sign would appear to be from then. For more, see these websites: 1and 2.
The Penny Dog Food sign is from the 1950s. Penny Dog Food was once produced by Gold Seal Products which operated in building below the sign. Around 2005, the sign was restored so that the tail wags and the eyes move. However, it was not functioning when I was there in 2007. For more, see this website. Andrew's Bar-B-Q opened in 1947 and this sign is probably from then. The building is now vacant. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge features this nice neon Masonic sign. They still hold meetings here downtown. For more, see their website. |
| Motel Birmingham Birmingham, AL |
Archie Phillips Taxidermy Fairfield, AL |
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The Motel Birmingham opened in 1954. It is now known as the Delux Inn & Suites but this sign is still there. [photo thanks Joel Calvin]
Archie Phillips Taxidermy has the largest freshwater taxidermy studio in the U.S. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Philco Abbeville, AL |
Buster Brown Shoes Abbeville, AL |
Red Goose Shoes Abbeville, AL |
Poll Parrot Shoes Abbeville, AL |
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| Case Abbeville, AL |
Rexall Drugs Abbeville, AL |
storefronts Abbeville, AL |
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| United Motor Services Abbeville, AL |
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These antique signs hang above replica storefronts. They belong to Jimmy Rane and are part of his effort to revitalize his hometown of Abbeville. Since 1996, Rane and his company "Great Southern Wood" have spent more than $1 million into local projects. Nearly every building downtown is filled with memorabilia that Rane has collected over the years. Huggin' Molly's restaurant opened downtown in 2006. It contains a replica soda fountain as well as more of Rane's collection. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
I have seen other Philco signs before but not like this one. For more, see this website. In Abbeville, this sign hangs above a simulated Philco TV and radio dealer. Buster Brown Shoes, Red Goose Shoes, and Poll Parrot Shoes were all mass-produced signs for shoe stores. Here in Abbeville, the Buster Brown sign hangs outside the simulated shoe store while the other two signs are in the display window. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The Case Corporation has been producing farming equipment since 1831. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. All blue Rexall Drugs signs are much rarer than the orange and blue ones. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. United Motor Services was created in 1916 to handle sales for the United Motors Corporation, an accessories and parts manufacturer. They established service branches nationwide and later became part of General Motors. Here in Abbeville, this sign hangs above a false front garage that serves as a parking lot. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More AL Signs:
Brite Star Restaurant (Bessemer) Barber's Milk: 1, 2 (Birmingham) [in storage] Birmingham Electric Battery Company (Birmingham) Bogue's Restaurant (Birmingham) Uniform House of Dixie (Birmingham) various (Birmingham) Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q (Decatur) Chat-N Chew Drive-in (Florence) Physicians Apothecary (Gadsden) Pancake House (Selma) various: 1, 2 |
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