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California Signs (page 6)

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Covered Wagon Motel
Buena Park, CA
2013: 2017:
The Covered Wagon Motel and sign have been around since the 1950s. This photo is from 2013. In 2017, the sign was remodeled for the Westward Wagon Inn. The sign was repainted and the neon was replaced with backlit plastic letters. For more, see this website.

Smoke House
Burbank, CA
The Smoke House was established in 1946. The restaurant moved to its current location in 1955. These signs are probably from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Veterans of
Foreign Wars
Burbank, CA		 Safari Inn
Burbank, CA
This Veterans of Foreign Wars post is named after the submarine USS Gudgeon which was lost during World War II. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

The Safari Inn was built in 1955 as the Safari Motor Hotel. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Lakeside Car Wash
Burbank, CA
The Lakeside Car Wash opened in 1956. I assume that the pole sign had neon originally. In 2023, the car wash closed. There are plans to demolish the building for a condos and retail space. The pole sign may be adapted. There is another car wash in New Brunswick, NJ with a very similar sign. I don't know if either one was inspired by the other or if there was a relationship between the two businesses. For more, see this website. [map]

Baron Hats [gone]
Burbank, CA		 Valley Rubber
Stamp Co. [gone]
Burbank, CA
The Baron Hats sign is believed to be from 1942. In 2018, the store moved to Los Angeles and the sign was removed. The business was applying for a permit to display the sign at the new location. However, as of 2021, that has not happened.

The Valley Rubber Stamp Co. sign was built in 1946. This photo is from 2012. By 2015, the store had closed and the sign was gone. For more, see this website.

Larry's Chili Dog
Burbank, CA

2013:
2024:
The Larry's Chili Dog pole sign features a neon Dachshund lying in a bun. The dog's neon tail wags in two-part animation. The painted metal pole sign is about fifteen feet tall and was installed when this small walk-up stand opened in 1953. The wooden sign on the roof with the sitting hound dog was installed at the same time. The wooden dog on that sign was missing by 2021. It had fallen off and was lying on the roof. Larry's Chili Dog originally sold just hot dogs and chili dogs. Over the years, the menu expanded to include burgers, other sandwiches, and salads. In 2024, both signs were completely restored by Paul Greenstein and Richard Ankrom. The wooden dog was rotten and was replicated. [map]

Starlet Apartments
Burbank, CA
2008: 2013:
The Starlet Apartments were built in 1958. I don't know if this was originally a motel or always apartments. This sign was refurbished sometime after 2011. For more, see this website. [map]

Blue Room
Burbank, CA		 Don's Restaurant and Coffee Shop
Burbank, CA
The Blue Room bar opened in 1947. This sign might be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

This Don's Restaurant and Coffee Shop sign is now installed inside the Gordon R. Howard Museum. The other panel is located at the Valley Relics Museum. The restaurant opened in 1947 as a drive-in with carhops. These signs may be from the 1950s. Don's closed in 2002.

More Burbank:
Handy Market: 1, 2 [map]
Samuel's Florist
Sou's Shoe Repair

Burlingame:
Broadway-Burlingame Arch
Preston's Candy & Ice Cream

Rex Club
Burney, CA
The Rex Club was built in 1938. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

More Burney:
Burney Bowl
Liquor Store
Sleepy Hollow Motel

Border Motel
Calexico, CA		 Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs
Calistoga, CA
The Border Motel might have been built in 1930. This sign appears to be from the late 1950s or 1960s. The arrow is animated. For more, see this website. [map]

Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs opened in 1952. I believe this sign was built then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Calexico:
Hotel De Anza
J.C. Penney [gone]

El Tecolote Cafe
Camarillo, CA		 PDG Auto Parts [gone]
Campbell, CA
The El Tecolote Cafe opened in Moorpark, CA in 1946. The restaurant moved to Camarillo in 1948. It then moved to this building in 1952. This sign is probably from then. [map]

PDG Auto Parts was operated by Paul Del Grande. He worked at this store in the late 1950s when it was known as Bev Arntzen Auto Supply. Around 1964, he bought the business and renamed it PDG Auto Parts. This sign is probably from the 1950s and it was most likely adapted when the name was changed. The store closed in 2013 and the building is still vacant. The sign was sold to a private collector in 2018. For more, see this website.

Ladin's Liquor Delicatessen [gone]
Canoga Park, CA
The Ladin's Liquor Delicatessen signs appeared to be from the 1950s. These photos are from 2012. By 2014, these signs had been replaced with plastic panels.

Green Thumb
Hardware
Canoga Park, CA		 La Casa del Sol Motel
Carpinteria, CA
The Green Thumb Hardware sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

The La Casa del Sol Motel sign is probably from the 1950s. [map]

More Canoga Park:
Canoga Park Bowl [gone]

Alameda Albany -
Apple Valley		 Arcadia -
Barstow		 Bakersfield Bay Point -
Beverly Hills		 Big Bear Lake -
Bridgeport		 Buellton
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

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