email: roadarch@outlook.com

California Signs (page 11)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Oaks Motel
Gilroy, CA		 El Rio Motel
Glendale, CA		 Glen Capri Motel
Glendale, CA		 Levitz Furniture [gone]
Glendale, CA
The Oaks Motel sign is probably from the 1960s. [map]

The El Rio Motel sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Glen Capri Motel was designed by Armet & Davis and built in 1949. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

This Levitz Furniture chain filed for bankruptcy in 2008. All the stores have closed and I believe all the signs have been removed or adapted. The chain was well-known for its gigantic, revolving pole signs. This sign shown here in Glendale was typical of the company's signs. This photo is from 2008. By 2009, this sign was gone and the pole sign was adapted for Expendables Plus and Cinelease with backlit plastic letters. For more, see this website. [map]

Seeley's Furniture
Glendale, CA
The Seeley's Furniture building was constructed in 1925. The exterior was remodeled in the 1940s to its current look. The store closed in the late 1990s. It remained vacant after that. The building has been restored and is now leasing space for residential, office and retail space. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Zinke's Shoe Repair
Glendale, CA

Central Avenue Pharmacy
Glendale, CA
The Zinke's Shoe Repair chain was established in 1919. This location opened in 1941. This 27-foot-long animated sign is from the 1950s. The store closed in 2014 and moved to Pasadena, CA. The sign was donated to MONA (Museum of Neon Art). In 2017, the sign was installed on the exterior of the museum in Glendale. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

There was another Zinke's sign in Glendale which was donated to the Museum of Neon Art in 1983. That sign was destroyed in a car accident. There was another Zinke's sign in Pasadena, CA. There is another sign in a private collection in Lynn, MA. There was another location in Sacramento, CA.

This Central Avenue Pharmacy sign was built and installed in 2015 at the previous location of Zinke's sign. It was built in same shape as the Zinke's sign. I don't believe the sign is animated. [map]

More Glendale:
Clayton Plumbers
Museum of Neon Art

Golden Spur Restaurant
Glendora, CA
2008: 2013:

2017:
The Golden Spur Restaurant opened in the 1920s as a "ride-up" hamburger stand. This sign was built in 1954. It was repainted around 2010. In 2017, the neon was removed and replaced with LED rope. In 2018, it was announced that the restaurant was closing. In 2019, it was announced that Easterseals had bought the building and will be adapting the sign. [map]

The Wheel
Glendora, CA		 S&H Green Stamps
Goleta, CA		 Pepe's Mexican Food
Goleta, CA
The Wheel bar opened around 1957 and this sign is probably from then. [map]

This S&H Green Stamps sign hangs at the Santa Cruz Market. These embossed plastic signs were mass-produced and hung at stores that gave out redeemable stamps with purchases. Only a few of these signs are still on display. [map]

Pepe's Mexican Food opened in 1958 and this sign may be from then. The sign was restored by Dave's Signs around 2021. [map]

Everhart Hotel
Grass Valley, CA		 BPOE
Grass Valley, CA		 Knights of Columbus
Gridley, CA
The Everhart Hotel was built in 1929. The building was supposedly not used as a hotel until the 1940s. This sign appears to be from the 1920s or 1930s. It may have been adapted from a previous business name. The Everhart panel seems to be covering something up. [map]

The BPOE, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, was established here in 1900. This chapter has been at this location since 1913. This sign might be from the 1950s. [map]

The Knights of Columbus signs are probably from the 1950s. [map]

Greenville:
Pioneer Cafe [gone]

More Gridley:
Colusa Plumbing

La Simpatia Cafe
Guadalupe, CA		 Gustine Club
Gustine, CA		 The Pastime Club
Gustine, CA
The La Simpatia Cafe opened in 1944. The sign appears to be from the 1960s. It was restored around 2016. The top and bottom panels were originally corrugated plastic with letters applied on top. For more, see this website. [map]

The Gustine Club sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. It obviously had neon originally. [map]

The Pastime Club sign also appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

More Gustine:
Russian River Realty

Barbara's Fishtrap
Half Moon Bay, CA		 Rice Bowl
Hanford, CA
Barbara's Fishtrap opened in 1971. This sign is probably from then. For more, see this website. [map]

The former Rice Bowl canopy sign appears to be from the 1940s. The building is vacant now. I don't know when the business operated but there is a modern restaurant going by the same name just a few blocks away. [map]

Chinese Pagoda
Hanford, CA
The Chinese Pagoda restaurant opened in 1937 and closed in the 1970s. The building remains vacant but these signs and details are still there. [map]

Forest Lodge
Happy Camp, CA		 Steve's
Drive-in Liquor
Harbor City, CA
The Forest Lodge was built in 1965 and this sign appears to be from then. [map]

The Steve's Drive-in Liquor sign is probably from the 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

Alameda Albany -
Apple Valley		 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 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

Main Signs Page