| Super Signage |
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| IOWA |
| Ced-Rel Motel Cedar Rapids, IA |
Colonial Bread Des Moines, IA |
George the Chili King Des Moines, IA |
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The Ced-Rel Motel is way out west of town. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Colonial Bread sign is a local landmark. I believe the company was bought out by the Earthgrains bakery. [photos thanks Glenda Campbell] George the Chili King has been around since the 1950s. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Ricketts-All Parts Des Moines, IA |
Iowa Paint Des Moines, IA |
Travelers Insurance Des Moines, IA |
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Ricketts-All Parts sells appliance and heating equipment parts. [first photo thanks Glenda Campbell]
Iowa Paint has been around since 1952. In 2005, it was bought out by PPG Industries. The sign will remain as a local landmark. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] Travelers Insurance is another outdated rooftop sign. In 2006, Travelers Insurance became MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Latin King Restaurant Des Moines, IA |
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| The Latin King Restaurant opened in 1947 and has an Italian/American menu. For more, see their website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Kalbach Oil Menlo, IA |
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| The Kalbach Oil sign was built by the Nebraska Neon Sign Company of Lincoln, NE in 1936. It was restored in 2008 (bottom row of photos above). The 12 1/2 foot tall "Menlo Man" represents a service station attendant. He is outlined with neon and his mechanical arm moves up and down. The Kalbach Oil station was originally a Citgo station, then later a Cities Service station, and after that, it sold Mobil gas. For more, see see this website. [top row, middle photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Super Bowl Atlantic, IA |
Cadillac Lanes Waterloo, IA |
Mama Nick's Circle Pizzeria Waterloo, IA |
Little Girl with Torn Teddy Bear and Dalmatian Dunlap, IA |
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The Super Bowl is now known as the Super Bowl Sports Bar & Grill. This sign cleverly combines bowling and football graphics. My guess is that it's from the 1960s or 1970s.
This Cadillac Lanes sign was replaced with a plastic box sign in 2008. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] The Mama Nick's Circle Pizzeria sign is lit at night. For more, see see this website. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] Little Girl with Torn Teddy Bear and Dalmatian is a 16' tall painted plywood sign/artwork created by John Cerney in 1999. It was placed in a cornfield as a visual oddity for drivers. Cerney repaired the dog's broken leg in 2007. For more John Cerney signs, see these creations Arizona and California. |
| Busy Bee Cafe Dubuque, IA |
Miracle Car Wash Dubuque, IA |
Bridge Restaurant & Lounge Dubuque, IA |
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The Busy Bee Cafe opened in 1915. This sign is probably from the 1950s or so. The Busy Bee closed in 1998 and this sign was left behind. It is now on display at the Old Jail Musuem downtown. For more, see see this website.
The rooftop Miracle Car Wash sign probably from the 1950s. It is lit at night. For more, see see this website. The Bridge Restaurant & Lounge features a great 1950s-looking neon sign. |
| Murray’s Country Garden Guttenburg, IA |
Winsther Motel De Witt, IA |
H&N Chevrolet-Buick Spencer, IA |
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Murray’s Country Garden fish sign is probably an adapted sign. Does anyone know how long Murray's or the fish has been here?
The Winsther Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. I don't know if it is lit at night. H&N Chevrolet-Buick features these two vintage dealership signs. H&N Chevrolet was established in 1927. These signs were there by the 1950. For more, see see this website. |
| Mike's Shoe Hospital [gone] Clinton, IA |
Boegel's Men's Wear Clinton, IA |
F.O.E. Clinton, IA |
I.O.O.F. Decorah, IA |
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Mike's Shoe Hospital closed in 2009 just after this photo was taken and the sign was removed.
Boegel's Men's Wear opened around 1908. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see see this website. This Fraternal Order of Eagles sign appears to be unique. I have never seen one with this shape and with neon on the side like this. This Independent Order of Odd Fellows sign is probably doubled-sided and projected from the building originally. It looks like it might be from the 1940s. |
| El Mecca Shrine Club Waterloo, IA |
Rose Bowl Mason City, IA |
Hy-Vee Food Store Leon, IA |
Terrible's Lakeside Casino Osceola, IA |
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The El Mecca Shrine Club features a fez-shaped sign. I don't know of any other neon fez signs. Here are some other examples: Tacoma, WA, Wilmington, MA, Louisville, KY, and Denver, CO.
The Rose Bowl features a classic neon pin sign. This Hy-Vee Food Store has a sign with their old logo. I don't know of any others like this. I'm guessing this one is from the 1950s or 1960s. This Terrible's Lakeside Casino sign was built in 2005. It is 132 feet tall. There is another sign like this in St. Joseph, MO but I don't know if it is the same height. |
| A-1 Siouxland Lock & Key Sioux City, IA |
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| A-1 Siouxland Lock & Key features this key-shaped sign above their storefront. |
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More IA Signs:
Flamingo Motel (Marshalltown) Stone's Restaurant (Marshalltown) various signs (Marshalltown) |
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