Post #125268 by mrsmiley on Fri, Nov 12, 2004 3:26 PM

On 2004-11-11 20:11, christiki295 wrote:

[i]On 2004-11-11 12:27, tikijackalope wrote:

The clock is ticking on such places. When I was there last year, The Hacienda on Ocacle took down part of it's sign just as I was shooting it in order to come into compliance with a chain of extended stay places they had joined. The next day, instead of "Hacienda" it had a plastic banner for something like "USA Extended Stay."

Mahalo for the update. I understand, unfortunately - The Hanalei on Hotel Circle in San Diego, numerous mid-century marvels in Anaheim, all have suffered a similar fate.

It is really short-sighted and downright stupid to think that replacing a stylish neon sign with a bland flat plastic one is somehow an improvement! I believe Lady Bird Johnson somewhat started that fallacy with her "Highway Beautification Act" of the sixties which called for the removal of many old signs on the old highways. But I think she was going more for the clutter aspect as opposided to the neon=sleazy train of thought.
Ok everyone, yell this out loud with me, "neon is not sleazy, it is beautiful!"

How could anything think that a rectangular sign with block letters saying "Hacienda Motel" (or something like that) is an improvement over a stylish one of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco? (for example).
Cities are going to one day regret their wanting to remove neon signs, because in my opinion the cheap plastice ones add more to urban blight than the old neon ones.
Rant done for now. Always trust Mr Smiley!! :)