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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Fresno Signs |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Welcome Arch Fresno, CA |
Ashlan Park Shopping Center Fresno, CA |
Levitz Furniture Fresno, CA |
La Fiesta Nightclub Fresno, CA |
Tecolote Cafe Fresno, CA |
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The Fresno Welcome Arch was constructed of steel in 1917. It spans Van Ness Street which used to be the main route, Highway 99, from the south. The sign's neon is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Ashlan Park Shopping Center was built in the late 1950s. The strip mall was remodeled in the 1990s but the sign remains intact. This Levitz Furniture sign dates from about 1967. The furniture store chain folded in 2008 and their signs will all be gone soon. For other examples of these signs, see this page. [photo thanks Daniel F.] The La Fiesta Nightclub has been here since at least 1949. The sign is only partially lit at night. Around 2008, the neon was removed from the text part of the sign. The sign has been partially repainted. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Tecolote Cafe sign looks like it might be in working order. For more, see this website. |
| Sparky Electronics Fresno, CA |
Leilani Restaurant [altered] Fresno, CA |
Luau Restaurant Fresno, CA |
Baskin's Auto Supply Fresno, CA |
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In 2006, Sparky Electronics moved and has a new sign for now. They opened in 1963 and this sign appeared to be from that time. The old sign is being restored and the owners plan to install it at their new store soon. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Daniel F.]
The Leilani Restaurant opened in the late 1950s and closed in 2005. The neon once extended down the trunk of the palm tree. The restaurant originally had a tiki theme. In 2006, a new restaurant moved in, painted the tree black, and added their name in neon. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Daniel F.] The Luau Restaurant opened in the late 1950s with a tiki theme. There was a separate building with a bar known as the Tiki Room which closed in 1994. The Luau was the sister restaurant to the Leilani (owned by the same brothers). In 2013, the Luau closed and became a Chinese restaurant. The sign was significantly altered. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Baskin's Auto Supply installed this sign in 1956. It was refurbished in 2002. The sign was added to Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [night photo thanks Daniel F.] |
| Tokyo Garden Fresno, CA |
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| Tokyo Garden opened in the late 1950s. It now features live bands in addition to the restaurant. For more, see their website. [night photo thanks Daniel F.] |
| Big Star Motel Fresno, CA |
Halwood Automotive Service Fresno, CA |
Big G Fresno, CA |
Happy Liquor Store Fresno, CA |
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The Big Star Motel was constructed in 1938 as an office complex and was remodeled as a motel in 1955. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Halwood Automotive Service sign features the cute slogan "No Idle Boast". [photo Daniel F.] The Big G sign is on roof of the Guarantee Bank Building, now the Mattei Building, which was built in 1921. In 1961, Fresno Guarantee Savings and Loan became the ground floor tenant and installed this giant weather beacon. The giant "G" had three different neon colors that changed according to the weather forecast (green meant cooler, white meant no change, and red meant warmer). If the "G" was flashing, that meant rain. In 1994, the sign went dark when the building's owner found it too costly to operate. In 2003, power was restored to the sign and it was lit solid white. I'm not sure if it is still lit today. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [left photo Daniel F.] For more weather beacon signs, see this website. The Happy Liquor Store appears to be closed but this rooftop sign above the entrance remains. |
| Lamp Post Fresno, CA |
Lum's Chop Suey Fresno, CA |
Eagle Café Fresno, CA |
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The Lamp Post was once Ted's Lamp Post but that part of the name has been painted over. In 2010, after this photo was taken, the neon was removed and the sign was painted brown. For more, see this website.
Lum's Chop Suey is still open but I don't think the sign works. The Eagle Café is now a BBQ restuarant. The eagle's flapping wings and the clock haven't worked for years. |
| Fresno Motel Fresno, CA |
Storyland Inn Fresno, CA |
7-Up Fresno, CA |
7-Up Fresno, CA |
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The Fresno Motel, with its classic diving woman sign, is located on the once popular Motel Drive.
The Storyland Inn is located a few blocks north of the Storyland amusement park. There are two giant soldiers to catch the motorist's attention. For more, see this website. Fresno has two old 7-Up neon billboard signs. Although the first one shown here was completely restored in the mid-1990s, it has been abandoned again and no longer works. These signs were produced by the Hamlin Neon Sign Co. in the 1940s. There were four other signs in town, since demolished. There are other old 7-Up signs in Madera, CA and Bakersfield, CA. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Maxwell Studio Fresno, CA |
Refrigeration Supplies Distributor Fresno, CA |
The Brig Fresno, CA |
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Maxwell Studio was founded in 1890 and is one of the oldest businesses in Fresno. The stick figure photographer holds a birdie to get his subject's attention. The neon is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Refrigeration Supplies Distributor is a chain with 60 locations in nine western states. I don't know if this Fresno sign ever included neon. The Brig must have originally been called the Captain's Brig which is painted on the side of the building. For more, see this website. |
| Cedar Lanes Fresno, CA |
Paradise Center Fresno, CA |
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The Cedar Lanes opened in 1959. This photo is from 2008. By 2010, the plastic balls on this sign were gone. For more, see their website.
Paradise Center sign is lit at night. The yellow plastic balls look identical to those used in the Cedar Lanes sign. Most likely, the same sign maker made them both. For more, see this website. |
| Me N Ed's Pizza Parlor Fresno, CA |
DiCicco's Fresno, CA |
Pep Boys Fresno, CA |
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The Me N Ed's Pizzeria chain was founded in 1958 and I believe this is their original location. By 2002, there were 62 Me N Ed's with the majority of them in central CA. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
DiCicco's has 19 locations now, most of them in the Fresno area. This is their original location on Blackstone which opened in 1956. I believe some of their other old locations have functioning neon signs as well. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. This Pep Boys plastic signage is lit at night. For more, see this website. For more Pep Boys signs and history, see this page. |
| Bekins Moving and Storage Fresno, CA |
Electric Motor Shop Fresno, CA |
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This Bekins Moving and Storage building was constructed in 1921. In the 1920s, the company built other locations in Berkeley, Sacramento, Pasadena, and West Hollywood. I don't know if this sign still works, but the bottom part of the sign appears to alternate between "Moving" and "Storage". For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Electric Motor Shop was founded in 1913. The sign's neon appears to be in great shape and the sign is probably lit at night. For more, see their website. |
| Town House Motor Hotel Fresno, CA |
Del Mar Motel Fresno, CA |
Annie's Hollywood Inn Fresno, CA |
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I'm not sure if the Town House Motor Hotel is still open. The faded sign probably indicates that it isn't.
The Del Mar Motel sign is nicely lit at night. For more, see this website. Annie's Hollywood Inn is a bar not a motel. Their sign is partially lit. For more, see this website. |
| Mendes General Store Fresno, CA |
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| The Mendes General Store sells Western clothing and features three rearing horse and rider signs. The pole sign, two photos at the left above, was originally located at the Hacienda Motel in town. This motel was owned by the Hacienda Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV which also had locations in Bakerfield and Indio. I know the Bakersfield Hacienda Motel also had this horse and rider sign. I assume the two smaller signs on the storefront, at right above, were from the same place. As far as I know, the signs are not lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Angelo's Drive-in Fresno, CA |
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| Angelo's Drive-in opened in 1954. The neon is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Econo Inn Fresno, CA |
Dale Bros. Coffee Fresno, CA |
Astro Motel Fresno, CA |
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The Econo Inn features this great freestanding arrow sign.
The coffee-can shaped Dale Bros. Coffee sign was built around 1937 and once revolved. It is a registered local landmark. The local company's logo included a hooded monk. I believe the Astro Motel sign is only partially lit at night now. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Sunlite Market Fresno, CA |
San Francisco Floral Fresno, CA |
Rainbow Ballroom Fresno, CA |
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The Sunlite Market sign is missing quite a bit of neon now. The store and sign are from the 1950s.
San Francisco Floral was founded in Fresno in 1913. This downtown location came later. For more, see their website. The Rainbow Ballroom featured big bands in the 1930s and 1940s. It continues to be used as a music venue. The building was constructed in 1918 and used as a natatorium. After a fire, the pool was filled in and turned into a dance floor. The sign is lit at night. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Midway Liquors Fresno, CA |
Sequoia Motel Fresno, CA |
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The Midway Liquors sign is still lit at night. For more, see this website.
The Sequoia Motel sign appears to be well-maintained. |
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More Fresno Signs:
El Patio Club Sands Motel Vagabond Motor Hotel various: 1, 2 |
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