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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| California Signs (page 27) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Capri Motel Santa Clara, CA |
Western Motel Santa Clara, CA |
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The Capri Motel was built in 1958. This sign appears to be from then. The sign was restored in 2017. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]
The Western Motel opened in 1948. This sign was installed in 1958. This photo is from 2014. In 2015, the neon was removed and the sign was repainted with less detail and changed text. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map] |
| Fireside Inn Motel Santa Cruz, CA |
Peter Pan Motel [gone] Santa Cruz, CA |
Pacific View Court Santa Cruz, CA |
Beach Hill Court Santa Cruz, CA |
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The Fireside Inn Motel was known as the Paradise Inn by the Beach for a while. It is now called the Fireside Inn. This sign appears to be from the 1960s. [map]
The Peter Pan Motel sign was probably from the 1960s. This photo is from 2014. The motel and sign were demolished in 2016. The neon on the Pacific View Court sign was repaired around 2012. This photo is from 2014. The sign was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. [map] The Beach Hill Court sign may be from the 1940s or 1950s. The top panels are identical to the one on the Imperial Hotel in Lodi, CA and on other signs elsewhere. There is an Electrical Products Corp. badge on the bullnose end of the sign. [map] |
| Jury Room Santa Cruz, CA |
Ideal Bar & Grill Santa Cruz, CA |
Islander Motel Santa Cruz, CA |
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This Jury Room sign detail is probably from the 1960s. It is perched on top of a plastic box sign. [map]
The Ideal Bar & Grill sign appears to be modern. If it is vintage, then it has been reworked quite a bit. The text is obviously new. The fish had much less airbrushing until around 2012. For more, see this website. [map] The Islander Motel was built in 1963. This sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Santa Cruz Hotel Santa Cruz, CA |
former Clearview Court Santa Cruz, CA |
Green Frog Market Santa Cruz, CA |
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This Santa Cruz Hotel was built in 1877. It no longer operates as a hotel. The ground floor was occupied by Planet Fresh Burritos in 2017. That business was closed in 2018. The sign indicates there was originally an Italian restaurant here. The "Italian" text has been painted over and that neon was removed. The sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]
The Clear View Court operated as a mobile home park. There are still a few hold-outs. The sign has been moved from the road to further back on the property. It was probably built in the 1940s or 1950s. This Green Frog Market sign is located next to a yoga studio. I don't know where it was located originally. The sign has ripple tin panels. There was a twin sign in Bakersfield which has been restored and is now located at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA. [map] |
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More Santa Cruz:
Del Mar Theatre Santa Cruz Roller Palladium Santa Fe Springs:
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| Laura Lodge [gone] Santa Maria, CA |
Santa Maria Inn Santa Maria, CA |
Louie B's Santa Maria, CA |
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This Laura Lodge sign was originally a Travelodge sign. It was gone by 2021. I believe these signs were built in the 1960s, possibly into the 1970s. For more, see this website.
The Santa Maria Inn was built in 1917. The Tap Room opened in 1941 and this sign might be from then. The sign has painted ripple tin panels. For more, see this website. [map] Louie B's may have opened in 1990. [map] |
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More Santa Maria:
Bill's Take Out W.A. Haslam Company |
| Bill's Liquor Santa Monica, CA |
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| The Bill's Liquor sign panels are made from ripple tin. This sign is probably from the 1930s. It would have been pole mounted originally. [map] |
| Harvelle's Santa Monica, CA |
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| Harvelle's was established in 1931. I don't know how old this neon sign is. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Tinder Box Santa Monica, CA (now Glendale, CA) |
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The Tinder Box opened this shop in 1928. This location was the original in the chain which now has more than 100 stores nationwide. The pole sign shown in the top row above was built around 1953. In 2017, it was announced that the store was closing. The pole sign was removed and is now displayed at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA.
I suspect that the larger sign mounted near the ground (bottom row) was the original from the late 1930s or early 1940s. I have no idea what the paint job looked like originally but it was repainted sometime between 2008 and 2012. I don't know if this sign was saved or destroyed. The museum does not have it. |
| Rest Haven Motel Santa Monica, CA |
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| The Rest Haven Motel was built in 1938. The second sign shown above is believed to be the original. [map] |
| Busy Bee Hardware Santa Monica, CA (now Glendale, CA) |
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| The Busy Bee Hardware sign was built in 1963. The store closed and the sign was removed in 2018. The neon bee panel is now displayed at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA. The neon was restored by Roxy Rose. The bee's wings are animated. |
| Father's Office Santa Monica, CA |
Cora's Coffee Shoppe Santa Monica, CA |
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The Father's Office bar and restaurant opened in 1953 and this sign is probably from then. The flashing bulb arrow was probably added in the 1960s. These arrows were mass-produced by Superior Electrical Advertising in Long Beach, CA. The rectangular framed panel may also have been added then. For more, see this website. [map]
Cora's Coffee Shoppe has been here since the 1920s. The sign is probably from the 1950s and is lit at night. It is a very unusual three-sided sign. [map] |
| Santa Monica Ford Santa Monica, CA |
The Joker [gone] Santa Monica, CA |
Seaview Motor Hotel Santa Monica, CA |
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This Santa Monica Ford sign is probably from the 1950s. The dealership is still operating. [map]
The Joker bar had been around since at least the 1960s. This photo is from 2008. By 2013, the bar was closed and the sign was gone. The Seaview Motor Hotel was built in the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica, CA |
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| The Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and quickly grew into an amusement center. The arch to the pier was built in 1939. This neon sign was installed in 1941. Although there is no longer a "Yacht Harbor," the words on the sign were never changed. [map] |
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More Santa Monica:
Buffalo Club Rae's Restaurant Maya Shoe Repair Santa Monica Liquor |
| Alameda |
Albany - Apple Valley |
Arcadia - Barstow |
Bakersfield |
Bay Point - Beverly Hills |
Big Bear Lake - Bridgeport |
Buellton |
Buena Park - Carpinteria |
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Catheys Valley - Corona del Mar |
Cotati - El Centro |
El Dorado - Escondido |
Eureka - Garden Grove |
Fresno |
Gilroy - Harbor City |
Hawthorne - Lakeport |
Hayward & San Leandro |
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Lakewood - Live Oak |
Lodi - Lynwood |
Long Beach | Los Angeles |
Macdoel - Mendota |
Merced - Monte Rio |
Monterey Park - Oceanside |
Oakland |
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Ontario - Palo Alto |
Pasadena - Petaluma |
Pico Rivera - Pomona |
Porterville - Redondo Beach |
Redwood City - Richmond |
Rio Nido - Roseville |
Sacramento |
Salida - San Bernardino |
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San Bruno - San Luis Obispo |
San Diego Area | San Francisco | San Jose |
San Mateo - Santa Barbara |
Santa Paula - Stanton |
Stockton |
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Suisun City - Ukiah |
Upland - Vernon |
Victorville - Wilmington |
Woodland - Yuba City |
Museum of Neon Art |
Valley Relics Museum |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |