PHOTOS BY IRA WEXLER, JIM CLARK, RICK KULACKI, JR., and ADAM PAUL
THANKS GO OUT TO DANIEL GIBBS
Any
good ad man knows that visibility 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...
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.
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A former Burger Chef sign that has undergone conversion exists on 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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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 COURTESY OF JIM CLARK.
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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.
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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.
Thanks to a viewer tip, it is now known that this sign is no longer in this
condition, having had a Murray's Steaks sheet metal sign affixed to the portion
that once held the channel letters. :(
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Though of a backlit display, this Car Wash sign in Towson's dual indication
OPEN-CLOSED neon sign really did have its merits. PHOTO BY RICK KULACKI,
JR.
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Bowling anyone? Once quite common, standout signs like this one on
Loch Raven Boulevard above Joppa Road are getting more and more scarce!
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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!
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Certainly one not to be missed is this old Standout for the Beltway
Cleaners on Harford Road in Parkville, glowing richly in the twilight.
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GOT MORE? CONTACT ME!!!
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