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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| California Signs (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Sycamore Inn Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
Palm Café Barstow, CA |
Route 66 Motel Needles, CA |
Golden Spur Restaurant Glendora, CA |
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The Sycamore Inn was founded in 1848 and was originally a stage coach stop. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
The Palm Café looks like it is also from the 1950s. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Route 66 Motel is probably from the 1950s. It is now an apartment complex. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Golden Spur Restaurant opened in the 1920s as a "ride-up" hamburger stand. The sign is still lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [first photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| The Broadway Hollywood, CA |
Hollywood Premiere Motel Hollywood, CA |
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood, CA |
Cinegrill Hollywood, CA |
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The Broadway Hollywood was built in 1927. The sign was erected in 1931. It had been dark in recent years but was restored and relit in 2005. The department store closed in the late 1980s and was used as office space. The building now houses shops and condos. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The Hollywood Premiere Motel was probably built around the same time as the Downtowner. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel opened in 1927 and added this restaurant/nightclub, the Cinegrill, in the early 1930s. The Cinegrill sign has been recently restored. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [photos thanks Glenda Campbell] |
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More Hollywood Signs:
Hollywood Sign Hollywood Star Lanes: 1, 2, 3 [gone] Roscoe's House of Chicken |
| Eddie Crispell Hairstyling [gone] West Hollywood, CA |
La Fonda Restaurant West Hollywood, CA |
Virginia Court Motel West Hollywood, CA |
Earl Scheib Beverly Hills, CA |
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Eddie Crispell Hairstyling featured this barber shop pole sign. This photo is from 2006. By 2012, the shop and sign were gone. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
In 2010, the La Fonda Restaurant and Virginia Court Motel signs were installed in the median of Santa Monica Boulevard, formerly Route 66. The signs are owned by the Museum of Neon Art and are on temporary loan. They are lit at night. For more, see this website. The La Fonda Restaurant was built in Glendale, CA in 1945. The sign was probably built then as well. It was donated to MONA in 1984. The sign was on display at Universal Studios' CityWalk from 1993-2000. For more, see this website. The Virginia Court Motel sign is a replica of one that was previously in Meridian, MS. The motel built the sign in 1950 when a pool was added. When the motel was demolished in the 1990s, the sign was saved by a collector. He loaned the original sign to MONA which displayed it in the museum in downtown Los Angeles. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. This Earl Scheib sign is installed in the parking lot in front of Cafe Talesai. Earl Scheib Paint & Body was founded in Los Angeles in 1936 and had locations nationwide. The company folded in 2010. There are still many former locations still using the name. There was a shop on this lot before this restaurant and the other stores were built. The sign is lit at night. These signs featured neon cars revolving around a globe. As far as I know, the only other Earl Scheib sign like this is at the American Sign Museum. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Coates Cyclery Pomona, CA |
Pomona Fish Market Pomona, CA |
Carl's Do-Nut Shop Pomona, CA |
Mr. Milk Bottle Pomona, CA |
Pala Motel Pomona, CA |
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Coates Cyclery opened in 1934. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
The neon and bulbs of the Pomona Fish Market sign no longer work but the leaping fish is still a fun feature. Carl's Do-Nut Shop features a classic donut-shaped sign. Mr. Milk Bottle advertises for a dairy/convenience store. For more, see this website. The Pala Motel features a Norms-like sign. For more, see this website. |
| Frantz Cleaners Pomona, CA |
Di Carlo Liquor Pomona, CA |
La Paloma La Verne, CA |
Roy's Café & Motel Amboy, CA |
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Frantz Cleaners has been around since the 1950s. Their sign is still lit at night. For more, see this website.
The Di Carlo Liquor sign looks like it was probably updated somewhere along the line. At least they kept the bubbling champagne. The La Paloma Mexican restaurant opened in 1966. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Roy's Café & Motel were built around 1938 and closed in 2005. The complex, as well as the entire town of Amboy, is now owned by Albert Okura who plans to restore the buildings. However, as of 2006, everything is still closed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
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More Pomona Signs:
Ernie's (Pomona) Fun Zone (Pomona) [vintage] |
| Silver Tip Lodge Fish Camp, CA |
Frost Shop Drive-in Mariposa, CA |
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The Silver Tip Lodge burned down in 1981. As of 2005, this sign and one wing of abandoned rooms remain. [photo/info Daniel F.]
The Frost Shop Drive-in building was demolished in 2004 but the sign still remains in 2005. For more, see this website. [photo/info Daniel F.] |
| Branding Iron Merced, CA |
7-Up Merced, CA |
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The Branding Iron opened in 1952 and this sign is probably from then. The neon is animated and lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
This 7-Up sign is probably from the 1940s. There are two other old 7-Up billboard signs in Fresno, CA, one in Bakersfield, CA, and two others in Portland, OR (1 and 2). |
| Rice Bowl Merced, CA |
Freeway Lanes Selma, CA |
Well's Fine Cars Selma, CA |
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I believe the Rice Bowl used to be a Mexican restaurant. Does anyone know more about it?
The Freeway Lanes sign was restored in 2006. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Well's Fine Cars is now known as Wells Used Cars & Auto Wrecking. For more, see this website. |
| Phillips & Sons Pismo Beach, CA |
JJ's at the Beach Pismo Beach, CA |
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The Phillips & Sons flying duck sign remains although the business below it is something else now. [photo thanks Mark Comstock]
JJ's at the Beach has a nicely maintained neon sign. They have another similar whale sign on the side of their building with green neon. [night photo thanks Mark Comstock] |
| Mo's Smokehouse BBQ Pismo Beach, CA |
Brad's Restaurant Pismo Beach, CA |
Hot Shots Billiards Pismo Beach, CA |
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Mo's Smokehouse BBQ is a fairly new place but it has a nice neon sign which is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Brad's Restaurant has been here since the 1950s. It looks like a restored rather than a new sign and it is lit at night. For more, see this website. Hot Shots Billiards inhabits a former movie theatre. I believe the auditorium was converted into the pool hall in the 1990s. Please excuse the streaks in this photo. It was pouring rain at the time. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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