email: roadarch@outlook.com

California Signs (page 1)

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California has more vintage signs left than any other state. However, there are dozens of losses each year either through removal or bad remodeling. There are 61 pages and about 2,000 photos in this section, organized alphabetically by city. The page links at the bottom may help you navigate to the cities that you are looking for (major cities with their own pages in green). Of course, you can also use the white keyword search box near the top left of any page to find specific cities or business names. That method will also lead you to other signs that are in other sections and other things that might interest you.

Club Mallard
Albany, CA
Club Mallard opened in 1945. This sign may be from then. [map]

Max's Liquor
Albany, CA
The Max's Liquors signs are probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

Hotsy Totsy Club
Albany, CA
The Hotsy Totsy Club opened around 1939. The sign was restored in 2008. This photo is from 2014. For more, see this website. [map]

Ivy Room
Albany, CA
The Ivy Room opened in the 1940s. This sign is probably from the 1950s. Around 2006, the sign panels were extended on top for the name Kingman's. This addition has now been painted over. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Albany:
Albany Bowl

Twohey's
Restaurant [gone]
Alhambra, CA
Sahara Motel
Anaheim, CA
Robin Hood Motel
Anaheim, CA
Twohey's Restaurant was established in 1943 in Pasadena. The original sign featured the spelling of the name as "2 EE's". The mascot known as "Little Stinko" had animated tears. The restaurant moved to this Alhambra location in the 1950s. This three-sided sign was built in 1990. Twohey's is famous for its Stinko Burgers which are smothered with onions. The restaurant had car hop service until 1977 when the building was remodeled. In 2019, the sign was removed and put in storage as the restaurant prepared to move to a new location in South Pasadena, CA. The owner will display the sign at new location. It's not clear if that will be outside or inside. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

The Sahara Motel was built in 1959. The sign was built by Santa Ana Neon. It has been repainted over the years but the shapes and font have not changed. It appears that the globe on top originally revolved. From the perforations, it appears it was probably backlit as well. The first photo above is from 2013. At the end of 2015 or early 2016, the sign was repainted. The second and third photos are from 2017. The name and font must have been inspired by the former Sahara Hotel sign in Las Vegas, NV. For more, see this website. [map]

I believe the Robin Hood Motel sign is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. It is virtually the same as it was originally. The first photo is from 2013. The second and third photos are from 2017 after the sign had been repainted and the plastic panels had been replaced. For more, see this website. [map]

More Alhambra:
Bun-N-Burger

Alturas:
Niles Theatre

Anchor Motel
Anaheim, CA
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, CA
Americana Motel [gone]
Anaheim, CA
Linbrook
Family Billiards [gone]
Anaheim, CA
The Anchor Motel was built in 1954. The original sign was replaced with this one in 1959. This photo is from 2013. Around 2015, the neon was removed and the sign was repainted. For more, see this website. [map]

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. The text panel in the middle now advertises for Coca-Cola. The bottom panel now has an electronic message board. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

The Americana Motel was built in 1958 and this sign was probably from then. The hole in the middle originally had a backlit plastic panel that read Swim Pool [scan thanks Heather David]. The motel was demolished in 2021. The sign was accidentally destroyed then.

The Linbrook Family Billiards sign might have been from the 1960s or 1970s. The business closed around 2022 and the sign is gone. There is an identical sign in Westminster, CA.

Paul Kott Realtors
Anaheim, CA
Ben-Key
Pool Center
Anaheim, CA
Paul Kott Realtors was established in 1982. This sign originally advertised for Tom Key Realty. It might be from the 1960s. The photos above are from 2013 and 2020. Around 2022, the plastic panel had been replaced with a more modern font. [map]

The Ben-Key Pool Center sign is probably from the 1960s. This photo is from 2013. The building was demolished in 2015. In 2016, the sign was adapted for a Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles. [map]

La Palma Chicken Pie Shop
Anaheim, CA (now Glendale, CA)
2013: 2022:
The La Palma Chicken Pie Shop opened in 1956. This sign is probably from then. The sign was repainted and the neon repaired in 2012. These photos are from 2013. In 2016, the business closed. The top part of the pole sign with the chicken and the panel with the "La Palma" text was saved and is now displayed by the Museum of Neon Art. I don't know what happened with the rest of the pole sign or the sign over the entrance. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

More Anaheim:
Doll Hut
Linbrook Bowl
Original Pancake House
Prestige Hobbies [gone]
Skyview Motel [vintage; gone]
Wonder Bowl [vintage; gone]

ABC Rendezvous
Antioch, CA
Buffalo Trading Post [gone]
Apple Valley, CA
The ABC Rendezvous bar sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

The Buffalo Trading Post sign was built in 1960. It was originally installed much closer to the ground. The sign later advertised for Dr. Yoonho Chang. This photo is from 2015. The sign was restored in 2019. By 2022, it was gone.

More Antioch:
Mac's Old House

Alameda Arcadia -
Barstow
Bakersfield Bay Point -
Beverly Hills
Big Bear Lake -
Bridgeport
Buellton Buena Park -
Carpinteria
Catheys Valley -
Corona del Mar
Cotati -
El Centro
El Dorado -
Escondido
Eureka -
Garden Grove
Fresno Gilroy -
Harbor City
Hawthorne -
Lakeport
Hayward &
San Leandro
Lakewood -
Live Oak
Lodi -
Lynwood
Long Beach Los Angeles Macdoel -
Mendota
Merced -
Monte Rio
Monterey Park -
Oceanside
Oakland
Ontario -
Palo Alto
Pasadena -
Petaluma
Pico Rivera -
Pomona
Porterville -
Redondo Beach
Redwood City -
Richmond
Rio Nido -
Roseville
Sacramento Salida -
San Bernardino
San Bruno -
San Luis Obispo
San Diego Area San Francisco San Jose San Mateo -
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara -
Santa Monica
Santa Paula -
Stanton
Stockton
Suisun City -
Ukiah
Upland -
Vernon
Victorville -
Wilmington
Woodland -
Yuba City
Museum of
Neon Art
Valley Relics Museum

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