| Super Signage |
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| MICHIGAN (page 2) |
| Macomb Mall Roseville, MI |
Sam's Auto Parts Hazel Park, MI |
Smith's Motel Briggs Lake Brighton, MI |
Bowledrome Howell, MI |
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Macomb Mall opened in 1964 and has over 100 stores. Sears is the only store in the mall that has been there from the beginning.
Sam's Auto Parts opened here in 1931 and is still in business. The sign looks like it's from the 1950s. Smith's Motel Briggs Lake features the huge sign. The motel is right next to Briggs Lake which offers swimming, fishing and boating. The Bowledrome opened in 1950. |
| Capitol Fur Co. Lansing, MI |
Holiday Lanes Lansing, MI |
Zoobie's Old Town Tavern Lansing, MI |
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Capitol Fur Co. has been around since 1922. The name is a reference to Lansing as Michigan's state capitol. The Holiday Lanes has 40 lanes and features great mid-century architecture as well as this great sign. The sparrows were actively nest-building in the concrete screen wall when I was there. For more, see these websites: this website. Zoobie's Old Town Tavern features a satellite style sign. For other examples, see this page. |
| Huron Camera Battle Creek, MI |
Stardust Lanes Saginaw, MI |
State Lanes Saginaw, MI |
Aubry Cleaners Saginaw, MI |
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In 2005, Huron Camera became the Image Gallery and the camera sign was altered slightly (the lens cover). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Stardust Lanes, probably from the 1950s, owes its name and sign's inspiration to Las Vegas' Stardust Hotel's old signage. For more, see their website. The State Lanes is another hold-out on a busy commercial strip. Aubry Cleaners is gone but the non-working, neon sign will remain hanging. The building was renovated in 2004 and became home to AKT Peerless Environmental Services with three apartments above. |
| former Twilite Drive-in Listening Room Saginaw, MI |
Bean Bunny Saginaw, MI |
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The Twilite Drive-in was built in Saginaw in 1948 and closed in 1991. It was one of the largest drive-in theaters in Michigan. When it was demolished, the marquee letters were saved and restored. The letters were installed and integrated with a memorial mural on the side of the Listening Room (audio/video store) building in 2002. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Bean Bunny neon sign was built in 1947. It is 35' tall, 50' wide, with 12' tall letters. The sign is mounted on the Klein-Berger grain elevator. The giant pink jackrabbit was the symbol of the Michigan Bean Company's Jack Rabbit Beans. The sign had been dark since 1985 and was relit in 1997. In 2006, the building was sold and the new owner says that the sign will stay. For more, see this website. |
| Texan Family Restaurant Saginaw, MI |
Texan Family Restaurant Bay City, MI |
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| Texan Family Restaurant has locations in Saginaw (3), Bay City, Essexville, and Midland. I don't know if they all have these great old signs. |
| Henry Ford Museum Dearborn, MI |
| Douglas Auto Theatre |
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| Holiday Inn | Howard Johnson's |
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| McDonald's | |
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Among the incredible cars and other historical exhibits, The Henry Ford Museum has a nice collection of roadside neon signs.
The Douglas Auto Theatre was once in Kalamazoo, MI. It opened in 1955 and closed in 1985. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. This Holiday Inn "Great Sign" is typical of those used by the chain from 1952-1982. For more, see this website. This Howard Johnson's Simple Simon & Pieman was restored by Len Davidson. There were once hundreds of these signs but, in the late 1970s, they were taken down in an attempt to modernize the restaurants. For more, see this page and these websites: 1 and 2. This giant, animated McDonald's "Speedee" sign is from the 1960s. For more, see this page and this website. |
| Henry the Hatter Detroit, MI |
Crow's Nest Ferndale, MI |
Kowalski Sausage Hamtramck, MI |
Zehnders Frankenmuth, MI |
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Henry the Hatter was founded in 1893. This store and sign have been here since 1952. They have two other locations: in Hamtramck and Southfield.
The Crow's Nest was erected in 1920 as a traffic signal. This busy intersection was too narrow to risk a policeman standing there to direct traffic so this tower was devised. When the road was widened in 1928, the Crow's Nest was removed. In 2006, this replica was installed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. The Kowalski Sausage neon sign is 30' tall. The company has been producing "Kowality" products since 1920. Their advertising includes Super K Dog (a superhero sausage cartoon character). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Zehnders was originally built as the Exchange Hotel in 1856. In addition to their restaurant, they have a golf course, hotel, waterpark, and shops. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photo thanks Mark Comstock] |
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