Vintage neon signs

[Fading Fast]

Most film noir movies have a few daylight scenes either because it's easier to see the cockroaches scurry when the lights are shined or to show contrast to the usual night / rain / fog / heavy overcast / or claustrophobic indoor settings of most noir scenes.

This looks, to me, like one of the few "brighter" daylight scenes from a noir movie.

I can see Mitchum - fedora pitched at just the right angle and with a cigarette dangling from his mouth - chatting up a wall-eyed blonde for information off to the right of the car wash.

Plus I love the overhead support and copious rigging to support the sign. And good Deco door handle on 541.

 

[1mach1]

Most film noir movies have a few daylight scenes either because it's easier to see the cockroaches scurry when the lights are shined or to show contrast to the usual night / rain / fog / heavy overcast / or claustrophobic indoor settings of most noir scenes.

This looks, to me, like one of the few "brighter" daylight scenes from a noir movie.

I can see Mitchum - fedora pitched at just the right angle and with a cigarette dangling from his mouth - chatting up a wall-eyed blonde for information off to the right of the car wash.

Plus I love the overhead support and copious rigging to support the sign. And good Deco door handle on 541.

View attachment 120116

Perfectly stated my man.

 

[Fading Fast]

The best thing - away from this great sign - is the boring modern Burger King sign ironically peaking in at the bottom which only serves to emphasize how much cooler the Royal Castle burger sign is.

 

[Frunobulax]

The best thing - away from this great sign - is the boring modern Burger King sign ironically peaking in at the bottom which only serves to emphasize how much cooler the Royal Castle burger sign is.

View attachment 120196

And they likely have a less creepy mascot, as well.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Fading Fast]

And they likely have a less creepy mascot, as well.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

How could they not.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Royal Castle was one of the many White Castle clones that erupted across the country in the 1930s, specializing in the same type of pocket-sized hamburger. Despite the name they never really went in for the kind of King Friday XIII architecture that White Castle emphasized -- their buildings were either boxy and plain without a lot of embellishment or rented storefronts. Some of the latter got a snazzy alumimum Deco facade, but most of these had disappeared by the time the chain fell apart in the '70s.

"Cool."

 

[2jakes]

When I see one like that I'm always a little sad that I missed its heyday.

If you had grown up when these signs were everywhere, most likely you would not have paid much attention.
With the exception perhaps when your dad came home with "new wheels" (mostly a new used car)
not much fuss was made about the
things around us. A gas station with
all the services that was provided
along with the building with all the
neon, porcelain and billboard signs
was something we took for granted.
It's today that I recall with nostalgic fondness and a little sadness that they are no longer around.
I grew up when they were around and could kick myself for not paying more attention to the things around me.

I think of all the "Golden Age" comics and baseball cards I used to owned,
my childhood pals and my limitless imagination that transformed a piece of stick into a baseball bat, pony or rifle while listening to my favorite radio programs, music or baseball games.

 

[2jakes]

We did stop for an ice cream. I had a hot fudge and caramel sundae which I consumed with the gusto of a hound dog.
My wife, being a little more restrained, had a kid size berry something Blizzard.
The arthritis is currently staying in remission. Her Austrian doctor is her hero.

Sending well wishes to you and your family.

Iowa.

 

[Frunobulax]

Well, since we're on the subject of burger joints, this is still standing, and still intact in downtown Dayton. Up to, say, ten years ago, it was still a diner. Then it became more of an eclectic place called "Olive's" (I think). Now it's called "Arepas" and serves Colombian food. Fortunately, all markings are still intact, but I haven't been inside the place for a while.

http://www.arepasandco.us/ (Some more up-to-date photos here).

 

[Frunobulax]

Also (no neon, sorry), this is still standing and open for business.

Here's what it looked like 10-15 years ago...

 

[3fingers]

Sending well wishes to you and your family.
View attachment 120232
Iowa.

Dats the place. Thanks for finding that.

 

[BobHufford]

I was reminiscing about this store in another thread. I think the chain was based in Kansas City. The building here in Springfield, Missouri is still around, but is now a CVS.

 

[1mach1]

Cool and creepy all at the same time

 

[1mach1]

Cumberland, Maryland

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[Fading Fast]

If you had grown up when these signs were everywhere, most likely you would not have paid much attention.
With the exception perhaps when your dad came home with "new wheels" (mostly a new used car)
not much fuss was made about the
things around us. A gas station with
all the services that was provided
along with the building with all the
neon, porcelain and billboard signs
was something we took for granted.
It's today that I recall with nostalgic fondness and a little sadness that they are no longer around.
I grew up when they were around and could kick myself for not paying more attention to the things around me.

I think of all the "Golden Age" comics and baseball cards I used to owned,
my childhood pals and my limitless imagination that transformed a piece of stick into a baseball bat, pony or rifle while listening to my favorite radio programs, music or baseball games.

This is true, but there are a few caveats - at least from my experience. Growing up in the ugly design '70s, but with still a lot of '20s-'60s buildings, signs, architecture, etc., around, I noticed and appreciated the pre-'70s details, buildings, etc., a lot.

And I am not just saying this as my father grumbled, all the time, about how "it's all garbage today;" hence, I had his view calling my attention to the difference. I absolutely remember preferring to go to the old Dairy Queen with its warm and inviting '50s architecture and signage versus the brand spanking new Carvel with '70s signage, plate glass windows and drop ceiling as it felt cold and ascetic. Also, I loved when we went to the main branch of The New Brunswick Saving Bank (a bank right out of "Road to Perdition") versus the boring, in a a strip mall branch of the same bank that looked like a carpet store.

This is when I first started to develop a love of the GE. The other caveat is that there have been times when the public got excited about design and architecture. When skyscrapers were first going up, they where covered like new technology is today and seen as cutting edge, exciting - people would line up to see it. The same happened in the streamline era when "unveiling" a newly streamlined train was a cultural event.

Overall, yup, as 2Jakes said, we tend not to notice the regular stuff around us, but there have been some exceptions.

 

[2jakes]

I never made a big deal out of all the things you pointed
out that you like because it never occurred to me that
one day it would all change.
By late 60s coming back from my stint with Uncle Sam is
when I began to notice and appreciate what I had
but was changed forever.
I was made more aware by the "ugly design 70s" as you
pointed out so well. I also had my uncles who were
there to tell me how bad things were and this was when
I was a kid growing up in the "fabulous 50s".
I guess every generation feels the same about how it was
better in the past in some parts. Perhaps they only see what
they want to and block out the negative aspects. I know I do
when I think of my youth. It wasn't all that "fabulous" in the
50s... but I'm the type that always looks on the bright side of
things in life especially having experience on a daily basis that
my life could be over any second while in the military.

I do have a consolation of knowing that I have vivid
memories and there's still small towns which I visit on
weekends that take me back which is very nice.
At times I throw my old Schwinn on the pickup to cruise
around and talk with folks at the hardware or
barber shops. I don't want to live in the past, I just
enjoy some of the things from my youth. And riding a
bike is very healthy.... at least that's
what the doc told me after my physical checkup
recently.

 

[1mach1]

I would shop here!

 

[Fading Fast]

This one combines two of my favorite Golden Era things - neon signs and pawnshops (which have all but disappeared from NYC, still a few around, but nothing like the robust network that existed during the GE.)

 

[Ghostsoldier]

Good food... and apparently, coffee, too.

Rob

 

[3fingers]

No neon, but a couple more old Dairy Queen shops..