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California Signs (page 3)

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Surf Bowl
Oceanside, CA
Catalina Pools
La Mesa, CA
Chico Club
La Mesa, CA
Aztec Bowl
San Diego, CA
Majorette
San Diego, CA
Surf Bowl has been here since at least the early 1960s. The sign has been updated but is still lit at night. For more, see their website.

The Catalina Pools sign is located alongside I-8 but is fairly concealed behind trees at this point. I don't believe this business exists any longer.

The Chico Club has been around since 1940. Their sign is lit at night. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Gregory May]

The Aztec Bowl operated from 1959-2001. This sign was installed on the roof. When the bowling alley was demolished for a housing development, the sign was preserved and reinstalled at the site. The houses have entrances made of wood from the bowling lanes. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

This 46 foot tall Majorette sign came from the former Campus Drive-in Theatre which opened in 1947. The baton-twirling San Diego State University drum majorette was part of an 80 foot long neon mural on the backside of the screen. The mural also depicted the San Diego State University campus with mountains, a football goalpost, a building and a bell tower. The majorette sign was taken down and put into storage in 1983 when the drive-in was demolished. The sign was restored in 1985 and reinstalled here in 1988 at the College Grove Shopping Center, near the site of the former drive-in. The sign is lit at night and the animated baton twirls. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [photos thanks Gregory May]

Chito's Shoe Repair
San Diego, CA
Jimmy Wong's
Golden Dragon
San Diego, CA
Pacific Liquor
San Diego, CA
Aero Club
San Diego, CA
Lindy's Auto Upholstery
San Diego, CA
The Chito's Shoe Repair sign was created in 1949 for Wink's Shoe Repair. It features an animated hammering elf. The sparks flying from the shoe fly into the elf's eye, causing him to wink. Wink's was a 30-store chain in the 1950s. This sign was moved here in 1960. For more, see this website.

Jimmy Wong's Golden Dragon opened in 1946. The restaurant is now the Asian Bistro but the sign has been restored and will remain. For more, see this website.

The Pacific Liquor sign is lit at night. The bulbs once created the effect of pouring alcohol. Apparently, only two of these bulbs are lit now. For more, see this website.

The Aero Club opened in 1947. The sign is lit at night and the jet's exhaust flashes on and off. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This Lindy's Auto Upholstery sign is probably from the early 1960s. I don't know if it is lit at night but the neon appears to be in good shape. [photo thanks Gregory May]

The Flame
San Diego, CA
Turf Supper Club
San Diego, CA
City Dye Works
San Diego, CA
The Flame sign is lit at night. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Gregory May]

The Turf Supper Club opened in 1950. It was updated in 2008. Both signs are lit at night. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Gregory May]

City Dye Works dry cleaners was established in the early 1920s. The revolving neon sign was created later. It read City Dye Works on one side and Dry Cleaners on the other. The building recently housed the Airport Lounge. The El Camino restaurant has been here since 2009. The lettering on the unrestored sign was added at that time. The sign still revolves. For more, see this website. [photos thanks Gregory May]

Armed Services
San Diego, CA
Fisherman's Landing
San Diego, CA
This Armed Services sign is on the roof of the San Diego Armed Services YMCA Building. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Gregory May]

I'm not sure if this Fisherman's Landing sign is modern or a restored vintage one. I assume it is lit at night.

More San Diego Signs:
The Boulevard
Tower Bowl: 1, 2 [gone?]
various signs

Oak Park Motel
Monrovia, CA
Simon
Equipment Rentals
Monrovia, CA
Levitz Furniture [gone]
Huntington Beach, CA
The Oak Park Motel's original sign featured a representation of a giant oak tree which was located on the property. This sign is probably from the 1950s. It is lit at night. For more, see this website.

Simon Equipment Rentals was established in Wichita, KS in 1946. This location opened in 1956 and the sign appears to be from then. It is lit at night. For more, see this website.

These photos of the Levitz Furniture signs were taken in 2008. The signs were removed in 2009. Levitz declared bankruptcy in 2008 and all of the locations have closed. The company's giant sign towers featured spinning neon logos. The company was founded in 1910 and had about 80 locations throughout the West Coast, Southwest, and Northeast. Here are some of their other locations which had older signage: Mesa, AZ, Fresno, CA, Glendale, CA, Sacramento, CA, and San Leandro, CA. For more, see this website.

Holiday Wine Cellar
Escondido, CA
Tahiti Motel
Stanton, CA
Sahara Motel
Anaheim, CA
Robin Hood Motel
Anaheim, CA
The Holiday Wine Cellar opened in 1965. Their towering sign is hard to miss.

The Tahiti Motel features a fun star-topped sign.

I believe the Sahara Motel sign is still lit at night. Its letters are a near match of of the old Sahara Hotel sign in Las Vegas, CA.

I believe the Robin Hood Motel sign has always been this mix of plastic, metal and neon.

Linbrook Bowl
Anaheim, CA
La Habra 300 Bowl
Anaheim, CA
Doll Hut
Anaheim, CA
Americana Motel
Anaheim, CA
The Linbrook Bowl opened in 1958. Their sign is still lit at night and the pin revolves. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The La Habra 300 Bowl sign was repainted green and yellow in 2008 about a month after this photo was taken. It is lit at night. This place still retains much of its original exterior. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The Doll Hut sign is lit at night. The plastic piece protects the neon from vandals. For more, see this website.

The Americana Motel sign seems to be missing a piece out of the middle. Unless that was an abstract, cheese hole variation.

La Palma Chicken Pie Shop
Anaheim, CA
Benkey Pool Center
Anaheim, CA
The La Palma Chicken Pie Shop opened in 1956. This sign is probably from then. This photo is from 2008. The sign was repainted and the neon restored in 2012. For more, see this website.

The Benkey Pool Center sign is topped with a metal Sputnik-like element. I don't know if it was purely decorate or if there were ever bulbs in the tips.

Anchor Motel
Anaheim, CA
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, CA
Sire Bar & Grill
Riverside, CA
Donahoo's Golden Chicken
Riverside, CA
San Gorgonio Inn [gone]
Banning, CA
The Anchor Motel has a giant of a sign. The neon seems to be in good shape. For more, see this website.

The Angel Stadium baseball park was built from 1964-1966. This 23-story tall "Big A" sign was originally used inside the park as a scoreboard support. In the late 1970s, this sign was moved to the parking lot. The halo is lit at night when the Angels win a game. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Sire Bar & Grill has been here since at least the mid-1950s.

Donahoo's Golden Chicken also has a giant rooster on their roof. The restaurant has another location in Pomona, CA with a giant rooster perched on top of their sign. The Riverside sign appears to be older.

The San Gorgonio Inn was originally a stagecoach stop built in 1883. In recent years, the building served as a coffee shop and a gentlemen's club. The sign was built in the 1950s. This photo is from 2008. In 2011, the building was demolished and the sign was removed and put in storage. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

More Anaheim Signs:
Skyview Motel [vintage]
Wonder Bowl [vintage]

Lil Brown Jug
Clovis, CA
Peacock Market
Clovis, CA
Oasis Saloon
Sanger, CA
The Lil Brown Jug sign looks like it's in working order.

The Peacock Market sign is no longer lit. For more, see this website.

The Oasis Saloon sign is nicely maintained and lit at night.

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