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California Signs (page 2)

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The Derby
Arcadia, CA
2015: 2020:
The Derby was established in 1922 as the Proctor Tavern. It moved to this location in 1931. These signs appear to be from the 1950s or 1960s. Around 2016, they were painted red. Around 2021, the "DERBY" letters on the sign on the upper right were replaced with backlit plastic. In 2023, it was announced that the restaurant was closing and would be demolished for an apartment complex. The signs will supposedly be installed in front of the new building. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Toby & Jack's [gone]
Arcata, CA		 Sidelines Sports Bar
Arcata, CA
The Toby & Jack's sign was probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. It was removed around 2017. For more, see this website.

The Sidelines Sports Bar sign probably projected from the building rather than being mounted flat against it. It appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

More Arcata:
Everett's Club

Happy Hour Club
Auburn, CA		 California Club
Auburn, CA		 Izy's Corner Pub
Auburn, CA

The Happy Hour Club opened in 1933 but has been gone for years. This sign which is probably from the 1950s remains. [map]

The California Club sign was probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Izy's Corner Pub sign is probably from the 1950s. The peeling paint reveals that the sign was red at one time. The font style on this sign does not look original. This bar may have gone by a different name originally. For more, see this website. [map]

Foothills Motel
Auburn, CA
The Foothills Motel was designed by Armet & Davis and built in 1955. The firm designed the Denny's coffee shop (now the Beach Hut Deli) next door at the same time. These signs may be from then. The red sign on the right had panels below it and an arrow above it originally. The signs were restored around 2006. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

former Lou La Bonte's Restaurant
Auburn, CA

2014:
2017:
Lou La Bonte's Restaurant opened in 1946. This sign may be from then or from the 1950s. The "Breakfast" panel was added later. The restaurant closed in 2014. In 2015, the sign was adapted for Awful Annie's with backlit plastic letters. The chef detail remains. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Drive-in Liquor [gone]
Auburn, CA
This Drive-in Liquor store might have been owned by Lou La Bonte's. It was located directly behind the restaurant and I could find no other business name for it. This sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The skiing bird appeared to be copied from Heckle and Jeckle cartoons. This sign was removed in 2015 when Awful Annie's moved into the restaurant.

Tomer Drugs [gone]
Avenal, CA		 Avenal Sporting Goods
Avenal, CA		 Avenal Hotel
Avenal, CA
The Tomer Drugs sign might be from the late 1940s or 1950s. Around 2021, a different drug store had taken over the space and this sign was gone.

The space below the Avenal Sporting Goods sign now houses the Avenal Outlet department store. This sign might have advertised for something else originally. [map]

The Avenal Hotel sign looks like it's from the late 1940s or 1950s. [map]

La Tolteca
Azusa, CA		 Palm Cafe [gone]
Barstow, CA		 Torches Motel
Barstow, CA
La Tolteca opened at this location in 1967 and this sign appears to be from then. For more, see this website. [map]

The Palm Cafe opened in 1960 in a converted gas station. This sign was likely from then. The cafe closed in 2013 and the sign was gone by 2015.

The Torches Motel was built in 1960 and this sign appears to be from then. I believe the top "Motel" portion of the sign revolved. The sign originally had individual, vertical letters panels that spelled out "Motel" above the current "Torches" part of the sign. Around 2020, the top and bottom panels were replaced with plainer versions and the neon letters were replaced with backlit plastic. A torch was added to the top of the sign which was never there before. By 2022, the torch and the MOTEL panel were gone. [map]

More Azusa:
Azusa Foothill Drive-in

Baldwin Park:
In-N-Out Burger

Cactus Motel
Barstow, CA		 Village Hotel & Cafe
Barstow, CA
The Cactus Motel sign has been here since at least the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Village Hotel & Cafe rooftop sign has been there since at least the 1950s. The "Village" sign might have been built later. I believe the hotel was built in the 1930s. [map]

Tom's Welding & Machine Shop
Barstow, CA
Tom's Welding & Machine Shop has a large collection of local and gasoline-related signs. [map]

More Barstow:
B&B Plumbing Supply & RV Center
El Rancho Motel

Alameda Albany -
Apple Valley		 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 Gilroy -
Harbor City		 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