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Texas Signs (page 12)

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spinning sign [gone]
Thorndale, TX
This spinning sign was located at the HRH Garage. It was no longer spinning when I took this photo in 2018. It was gone by 2019. I don't know when this sign was installed or what business was there then. I believe these motorized, attention-getting signs were produced in the 1950s or 1960s. There are only a few of them left around the country. The two arms each had two discs on each end. The arms would spin in opposite directions. This video of a now-gone sign in Budd Lake, NJ shows what these signs looked like in motion.

Tye:
Truck Stop [gone]

Borden's [gone?]
Tyler, TX
Borden's bought this building from a local dairy company in 1944. This sign was built in 1945. This sign has been missing since 2022 but I'm not sure if that's temporary. The supporting poles are still there. There is a similar Borden's sign in Dallas, TX. There is also an old Borden's ice cream parlor in Lafayette, LA. [map]

Masonic
Lodge
Tyler, TX
Loggins Restaurant
Tyler, TX
Siesta Motel
Tyler, TX
Tyler Court
Tyler, TX
This Masonic Lodge was built around 1926. This sign is probably from the 1950s. White porcelain enamel Masonic signs like this are far less common than blue ones. [map]

The Loggins Restaurant opened in 1949. These signs may be from then. [map]

The Siesta Motel appears to be used for apartments now. The sign appears to be from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

This Tyler Court sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. The units appear to be used as apartments now. [map]

Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph [gone]
Tyler, TX
The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph sign might have been from the 1950s. It was gone by 2021.

Fuller's Fine Foods [gone]
Tyler, TX
The Fuller's Fine Foods signs are probably from the 1950s. These photos are from 2011. The restaurant had closed and the signs were gone by 2013.

Carpenter-Francis
Drugs
Tyler, TX
Progress Cleaners
Tyler, TX
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Tyler, TX
Carpenter-Francis Drugs is gone but this sign remains. It is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. [map]

Progress Cleaners was established in 1938. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This Independent Order of Odd Fellows building is from 1907. The Odd Fellows purchased in the building in 1912. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Gilbert's El Charro Cafe
Tyler, TX
Gilbert's El Charro Cafe was established in 1943. This location opened in 1952. These signs appear to be from then. The restaurant closed in 2013 and has been vacant since then. The letters on the building are falling over and the pole sign was leaning over severely. The pole sign was reported stolen in 2023. [map]

More Tyler:
Bergfeld Center
Deason Pharmacy [gone]
Lew's Welding Service
Star Donuts

Casal's Liquor
Uvalde, TX
Sands Motel [gone]
Van Horn, TX
Hotel Clark
Van Horn, TX
Rogers Pharmacy
Victoria, TX
Casal's Liquor was established in 1946. This sign may be from then but is more likely from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Sands Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. It was repainted between 2008 (first photo) and 2012 (second photo). In 2019, it was removed and is believed to have been destroyed. For more, see this website.

The Hotel Clark was built in 1910 as the Cox Building. It later served as a courthouse. Around 1919, it was converted into the Hotel Clark which operated until the early 1960s. In 2013, the 1930s sign was replicated by Dynamic Signs & Lighting of El Paso for the Clark Hotel Museum. The word "Museum" was added to the bottom of the sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Rogers Pharmacy sign looks like it revolved originally. By the mid-1960s, the building was housing the Victoria Pharmacy. This sign was probably built in the 1960s. [map]

More Van Horn:
Hotel El Capitan
Truck Stop

More Victoria:
The Corral

L.L. Sams & Sons Church Furniture
Waco, TX
Mardi Gras
Motel [gone]
Waco, TX
Hargis Company
Waco, TX
The L.L. Sams & Sons Church Furniture sign originally advertised for Miller Cotton Mills. When Sams moved into the building, the letters were replaced with these in 1946. The building has been converted into the LL Sams Historic Lofts and the sign remains. [map]

The Mardi Gras Motel sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. These photos are from 2006. The motel has changed names and the sign is gone now. For more, see this website.

The Hargis Company, an electronics distributor, was in business from 1944-2003. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

Waco Printing and Stationery Co. [gone]
Waco, TX
2011: 2020:
The Waco Printing and Stationery Co. sign appeared to be from the 1940s or 1950s. In 2018, the sign was covered up with "For Rent" signs. By 2020, the neon had been removed. The panels were covered up for the Cactus Rose women's boutique. By 2022, the sign was gone.

Leslie's Chicken Shack [gone]
Waco, TX
former Buzze
Music Co. [gone]
Waco, TX
Town House
Motel [gone]
Waco, TX
C.M.
Trautschold
Co.
Waco, TX
The Leslie's Chicken Shack chain was established in Waco in 1934. There were at least nine locations in Texas which are all gone. I assume this sign was installed at a Waco location. I don't believe the original Waco location had these horizontal "Leslie's Fried Chicken" text panels and I can't find any vintage photos or postcards showing these. In 2006, when these photos were taken, the sign was leaning against the fence in the backlot of the Green Fiber plant. By 2011, the sign was gone. There is another Leslie's Chicken Shack sign at Roadhouse Relics in Austin. They are definitely not the same signs since I first shot them at the same time. There is also a modern version of these signs in Corpus Christi, TX. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

The Buzze Music Co. store sold musical instruments. The company was established in 1942. The photo was taken in 2011 just after the store closed. In 2015, the neon was removed and the sign was reworked for the new tenant, Sacsee's restaurant. The letters below the musical note were removed. By 2017, the note sign was gone as well. It is now displayed with many other signs at Cook's Garage in Lubbock, TX.

The Town House Motel was vacant and boarded up when this photo was taken in 2006. By 2011, the sign was gone.

The C.M. Trautschold Co. was established in 1893. The millwork company is still in business. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. [map]

Reed's Flowers
Waco, TX
Reed's Flowers opened in 1930. The store moved to this location in the late 1950s. These signs are probably from then. For more, see this website. [map]

Viking Inn
Waco, TX
Watkins
Furniture
Waco, TX
The Viking Inn was originally part of the Best Western chain. There was a Best Western crown sign on top of this sign. The motel and this sign were probably built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The neon inside the channel letters has been replaced with LED rope. For more, see this website. [map]

Watkins Furniture is gone but this sign remains. It is probably from the 1960s. [map]

Genie Car Wash
North Valley Mills Dr.
Waco, TX
Genie Car Wash
Sanger Ave.
Waco, TX
2011: 2018: 2011: 2018:
Genie Car Wash
Hewitt, TX
The North Valley Mills Genie Car Wash location opened in 1964 as the first location in the chain. This neon sign and the one in Hewitt escaped updating since the locations are independently operated from the Austin locations. I believe these are the only neon Genie Car Wash signs still on public display. The North Valley Mills sign was repainted and the plastic panels replaced around 2013. The plastic Genie Car Wash sign on Sanger is probably from the 1970s. The colors are beginning to fade. For more, see this website. [Valley Mills map]; [Sanger map]; [Hewitt map]

More Waco:
Brookview Hills Shopping Center
Jack n Jill Donuts
Kim's Restaurant
Red Rooster Cafe [vintage; gone]
Texas Fireproof Storage Co. [vintage; gone]
Thunderbird Motel [vintage; gone]
Westview Village Shopping Center

Independent Order
of Odd Fellows Lodge
Waxahachie, TX
Studebaker [gone]
Weatherford, TX
Cochran Drugs [gone]
Wellington, TX
This Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

This Studebaker sign stood on a lot with about a dozen unrestored Studebaker cars and trucks. The sign was apparently part of a private collection belonging to the Studebaker Farm. This photo is from 2011. By 2012, the sign was gone. These signs were mass-produced and there are a handful of them still on display at dealerships around the country.

The Cochran Drugs store was gone but this sign was still there when this photo was taken in 2011. By 2013, the sign was gone. These Walgreen Agency signs were mass-produced but are very rare now.

Webster:
Mario's Flying Pizza [gone]

Frigidaire
West, TX
This Frigidaire sign hangs above the former F.G. Gerik Appliance Co. which was in business from at least the 1950s through the 1970s. These neon Frigidaire signs, especially those with embossed letters, are very rare now. [map]

Barbee
Electric Service
Wharton, TX
Bel-Air Hotel
Wichita Falls, TX
Catalina Motel
Wichita Falls, TX
YMCA
Wichita Falls, TX
Barbee Electric Service was established in 1946. This sign might be from then or the 1950s. [map]

The Bel-Air Hotel is long-closed but this sign remains. The four poles on top of the sign appear to be revolving light beacons. The missing text originally read "and" (middle line) and "Motor Lodge" (bottom line). [map]

The Catalina Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

These YMCA signs were mass-produced and there are several of them still scattered around the country. [map]

Gene's Tasty Burger
Wichita Falls, TX
Gene's Tasty Burger opened in 1959. This sign appears to be from then. Around 1969, it moved to its current location. It closed in 2023 but there are plans to reopen and refurbish the sign. For more, see this website. [map]

Triple DDD Motel & Cafe
Wichita Falls, TX
The Triple DDD Motel & Cafe have been closed for years. They are probably from the 1950s. The pole sign on the left only has part of the original star left. The Cafe sign was sold to a collector in 2021. For more, see this website. [map]

More Wichita Falls:
former Holt Hotel

More Wharton:
Tee Pee Motel

More Texas:
Rexall Drug Stores (various cities)
various theatres

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