The marquee of the historic Globe Theatre in downtown Los Angeles was relighted during a ceremony Tuesday night. It reportedly was the first time in 30 years that the marquee has glowed. The theater is on 740 S. Broadway in downtown L.A., which served as the western terminus of Route 66 until it was stretched … Continue reading Neon restored on historic theater in downtown Los Angeles
Category: Preservation
La Posada owner commits to buying Plaza Hotel
Allan Affeldt, co-owner of the historic La Posada hotel in Winslow, Arizona, announced Tuesday night in a Facebook post that he signed a contract to buy the historic Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico. Affeldt's wish to own the Plaza Hotel had been known for weeks. He had said owning the Plaza would … Continue reading La Posada owner commits to buying Plaza Hotel
Boots Motel adds new supplementary sign
The historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Missouri, added a new "Air Conditioned" supplementary sign that's a faithful re-creation of one that hung from the main sign decades ago, along with the "Radio in Every Room" sign installed last year. I failed to notice the "Air Conditioned" sign in old postcards of the 1939 motel, which … Continue reading Boots Motel adds new supplementary sign
Family of owls holds up relighting of Whiting Bros. sign
The last Whiting Brothers gas station still in operation on Route 66 had hoped to relight the neon for its refurbished signs during a ceremony last weekend. However, a family of owls recently took up residence in one of the signs, delaying the neon installation at the station in Moriarty, New Mexico. Roger Holden at RETRO … Continue reading Family of owls holds up relighting of Whiting Bros. sign
Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena on the market
The historic but shuttered Rialto Theatre of South Pasadena, California -- after sitting in limbo for many months -- finally will be put up for sale. According to a Facebook post Monday by Escott O. Norton of Friends of the Rialto: BIG NEWS! The Rialto will be going up for sale! It was announced today … Continue reading Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena on the market
Hi-Way Tavern being revived at old Edwardsville location
The Hi-Way Tavern and Cafe, which began on Route 66 in Edwardsville, Ill., in 1934, will be revived at its old site in a tavern and eventually will serve food again, reported the Edwardsville Intelligencer. The building at 463 E. Vandalia was occupied by Neumann's Bar and Restaurant for 25 years. However, the newly reverted … Continue reading Hi-Way Tavern being revived at old Edwardsville location
Nice neon addition, but is it vintage?
The Marty Rivers Building in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, recently touted the addition of a neon sign on its roof. The building is on East Hobson Avenue and North Water Street in Sapulpa (map here), which sits one block north of Dewey Avenue, aka Route 66. A short story about the sign in the Sapulpa Daily Herald … Continue reading Nice neon addition, but is it vintage?
East St. Louis bank building added to National Register
The Union Trust Bank Co. building in downtown East St. Louis, Illinois, recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The well-preserved structure at 200 Collinsville Ave. (map here) was listed May 27, according to an email last week from the National Park Service, which runs the National Register. The building was on … Continue reading East St. Louis bank building added to National Register
Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month
The historic Rock Creek Bridge, which has been closed to traffic since March 2013, may reopen to lighter vehicles sometime next month, according to a city official in nearby Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Suzanne Shirey, president of the Sapulpa Area Chamber of Commerce, revealed the plans for the 1921 bridge during an email a few days ago: We … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month
Couple buys and renames Royal Inn in Tucumcari
A couple from Dallas has purchased the Royal Inn motel along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and plans to restore its retro decor, reported the Quay County Sun newspaper, based in Tucumcari. The new owners are David and Amanda Brener, who renamed the motel the Roadrunner Lodge. They hope to have it reopened by July … Continue reading Couple buys and renames Royal Inn in Tucumcari