"Stand Out Signs"
PHOTOS BY IRA WEXLER, JIM
CLARK, RICK KULACKI, JR., and ADAM PAUL
THANKS GO OUT TO DANIEL
GIBBS
"Stand Out Signs"
PHOTOS BY IRA WEXLER, JIM
CLARK, RICK KULACKI, JR., and ADAM PAUL
THANKS GO OUT TO DANIEL
GIBBS
Any good ad man knows that visibilty is important, particularly for the impulse buy. Putting oneself in the motorist's shoes in search of vittles, fuel, or lodging, the business would often go to the merchant who first gets his attention. Businesses, knowing this, often constructed elaborate and flashy stand out signs to attract passing motorists to their place of business (or remind them of their products available elsewhere). The practice, while still used today, has often been downplayed by local zoning laws and statutes. However, a handful of the larger type signs do survive in spots, and are spotlighted here...
SURVIVORS:
CLICK ON ANY OUTLINED PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE
Among the more discreet of the stand out signs is this one for the North Avenue Motel just West of Maryland Avenue, which still fully lights.
CLASSIC!!! The Roost sign at Reisterstown Road and Hayward Avenue still retains many clues of its Burger Chef past, including the 15¢ sign, and the outline of the chef at top. The little 'dots' along the frame once carried dozens of tiny lights. PHOTO COURTESY OF IRA WEXLER.
Another Burger Chef conversion exists further out Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, where this one rests. Interestingly, the 15¢ sign and the Chef have been converted to a small tree in a pot!
Perhaps the most beloved of all Stand-Out Neons in the city is this massive jewel visible from most places around the Inner Harbor. The Domino Sugars Sign has lit the waterfront at night for many years.
While the whereabouts of the old ESSKAY meats sign is a mystery to local Ghost hunters, there is a great old Stand Out meats sign that still does call East Baltimore its home: the Goetze's Meats sign on Sinclair Lane East of Belair Road is still impressive, despite its rustiness and all but gone tubing. Many Thanks to Daniel Gibbs for refreshing my memory on this one!
One half backlit, one half classic Neon is the "Mr G's Hamburgers" sign on Rt. 40 West at Johnnycake Road. The backlit portion once contained neon to match the lower portion.
Though now unique, this Standout Neon for the Freedom Shopping Center was once typical of Shopping Center signs throughout the area. This beauty can be found on Erdman Avenue just above Freedomway.
For slower thorofares, smaller signs would suffice, such as this streamlined beauty on Harford Road below Northern Parkway, advertising the McInnes Laundry and Dry Cleaning. Art, Form, and Function at it's best!
As you get away from Baltimore, it's possible to find even more and better Stand Out Signs. This pure Neon gem stands on Route 3 in Bowie, and is certainly a treasure! PHOTO BY JIM CLARK.
Though of a backlit display, this Car Wash sign in Towson's dual indication OPEN-CLOSED neon sign really does have it's merits. PHOTO BY RICK KULACKI, JR.
Bowling anyone? Once quite common, standout signs like this one on Loch Raven Boulevard above Joppa Road are getting more and more scarce!
True, the new Montgomery Park neon sign is not vintage, but it has been carefully crafted with styling true to the original Montgomery Ward's sign that once occupied this site!
SEEN ANY OTHERS?!? PLEASE CONTACT US!!!
