America’s vintage road signs: neon blasts from the past
The Palace Shoe Service, Rockford, Illinois: Debra Jane Seltzer is the author of new book "Vintage Signs of America" -- a guide to the neon and plastic signs lining the highways of the USA. This Illinois sign was built in 1950, the cobbler on the right is modeled after the then-owner John Antunicci.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Knapp Motel, Elko, Nevada: Seltzer has spent years documenting the signs and researching their history. "They are unique and fun -- part of an era that needs to be preserved on our streets," she tells CNN Travel. This motel sign advertises lodgings set back from the road in Nevada.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Pete's Kitchen, Denver, Colorado: Seltzer's vast online collection is the focus of the new book. "I think it's a great introduction and I try to squeeze in information," she says. This Pete's Kitchen sign dates from the 1950s -- but the restaurant has gone by many names since it first opened in 1936.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
McDonald's, Downey, California: Mid-20th century road signs are a uniquely American phenomenon. "America was developing like crazy in the 50s and that's kind of when neon signs were just everywhere," says Seltzer. "If you had a business you had to have a neon sign, period." This McDonald's is the oldest operating outpost of the chain, featuring the original branding.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Elephant Car Wash chain, Seattle, Washington: The development of road-sign culture went hand-in-hand with the development of the American highway. "When you think about distances, it's a huge country," says Seltzer. This eye-catching sign dates back from the 1950s. Seltzer say it's the biggest and most elaborate sign left in the USA.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Dairy Queen in Grafton, West Virginia: "The American highway development and car culture -- all of that contributed to the quality of the signs," says Seltzer. This Dairy Queen sign was built in 1957. Seltzer says the company's executives would prefer that the sign be taken down -- it does not fit with current branding.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Branding Iron restaurant, Merced, California: Seltzer is on a quest to photograph all the signs in the USA. "I'm constantly researching, finding out about new things," she says. This animated sign was designated a historical landmark by the city of Merced in 1988.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Wendover Will Sign, Wendover, Nevada: "On average I probably hit about 100 places a day," says Seltzer. "Sometimes more if it's a dense city, sometimes less if there's lots of highway and miles between stuff." This sign was built for the Nevada's Stateline Hotel and Casino, originally both of the cowboys' arms moved up and down.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Pueblo Hotel & Apartments sign, Tucsan, Arizona: "I don't use [photograph] filters. I don't do anything like that. I want to make the most important thing the sign," says Seltzer. This striking image portrays a sign that was restored by law firm Piccaretta Davis when they bought the former hotel building in 1991.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
La Fiesta Nightclub in Fresno, California: When Seltzer began documenting the vintage signs, she realized others shared her passion. "There are a lot more people who take pictures of signs -- and are interested in signs -- than there are buildings," she says. This dance club signs dates from the 1940s -- but the neon has not operated for decades.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Carousel Skate, Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Seltzer researches the signs carefully. "I read everything I possibly can [...] sometimes it's nothing but dead ends," she says. "I just call everybody and try to leave no stone unturned." Seltzer also photographs the groovy signs of the 1970s -- such as this Dakota skate rink.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Hotel Jayhawk, Topea, Kansas: "The original owner might have changed hands 10 times. The libraries may not have kept any records," explains Seltzer. Thanks to her research, Seltzer discovered that this Kansas sign didn't originally feature a jayhawk -- the hotel was renamed in 1980s and the bird was added then.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Schmidt's Super Market, Okemos, Michigan: Other signs have also changed over the years. This sign was originally created for a 1950s grocery store. When the shop became a Barnes and Noble in the 1980s, the sign was repainted with books in the basket. Now it's a shoe store, but the cart still holds books.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Greyhound bus station, Pocatello, Idaho: Seltzer also advocates the protection of original signs, which are dwindling in numbers. "They're all so vulnerable out there to the elements," she says. This 1946 Greyhound sign may have been one of a kind. In 2015 it was restored with funds from the Relight the Night organization in Pocatello.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Striper Cafe sign in Rio Vista, California: It's important that fans of road signs make their voices heard, says Seltzer. "Tell a business owner how much you love their sign and they might find more value in it," she says. This 1950s sign was restored by an anonymous donor in 2015. The cafe no longer serves alcohol but the martini glass was left intact.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
The Sheridan Lanes sign in Tulsa, Oklahoma: "When [the owners] talk about how they are thinking about getting it repainted, you tell them, 'no - don't, don't cheese it up. It's historic the way it is,'" says Seltzer. Case in point: this Claude Neon-built sign dates back to the 1950s. In 1998, the bowling alley was purchased by the AMF chain and the sign was taken down. After pressure from the community, the sign was reinstalled.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Winchester Drive-In, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Seltzer wants the signs to stay in their original context. "Most preservationists would like them to either stay right where they were originally installed," she says. This sign at Winchester Drive In Theatre in Oklahoma opened in 1968 -- the paint and neon color is original.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
K's Coin Laundry sign, Yakima, Washington: If they can't stay in their original spot -- Seltzer says there are other solutions. "Certain cities are having little sign parks built," she says. "If a sign needs to be moved - where can it go, but still be outside for people to see it as a night tourist attraction?"
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
M&T Donuts, Compton, CA: If the sign has to be altered, it should be subtle, argues Seltzer. "If they're just going to alter some tiny little corner on the sign and throw their name on it, and it doesn't destroy the original aesthetic of it -- fine," she says. This sign, built in 1959 for Norman's Donuts, changed to M&T in 1978 when the owners changed.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Skateland, Bakersfield, California: Seltzer encourages others to follow in her footsteps to admire America's signs. "Some people just like driving around and discovering stuff," says Seltzer.
Courtesy Debra Jane Seltzer/Amberley Books
Giles & Ransome, Bensalem, Pennsylvania: "When you're trying to document as much as possible before it's gone, I think you take a different approach," she says. "But for some people it's just the joy of bumping into things."