DeKalb

Coal Tower, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The long-disused Chicago and North Western coal tower in DeKalb, Illinois. This tower straddles what was CNW's main line from Chicago to Omaha. It's still a major route for the Union Pacific today, although coal fired freights and streamliners no longer stop here to fill up.

The Egyptian

The Egyptian, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Some more TtV goodness of the Egyptian Theater in DeKalb, IL.

The Egyptian

The Egyptian, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The historic Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb, Illinois. Opened in 1929 at the height of the public's fascination with Egyptian culture and at the beginning of the Depression, it's one of six similar theaters from this time period that are believed to still exist. Originally hosting silent films and vaudeville, the Egyptian eventually moved over to films full time, and remained a popular venue until the late sixties.

By the early 70's the theater was in some disrepair, with plaster flaking off the walls and fading paint on it's exterior terra cotta. The owner handed the building over to the city of DeKalb, and in 1978 a group of citizens banded together to save and restore the building. The theater's placement on the National Register of Historic Places helped this cause, and the Egyptian stands today as an excellent example of this style of movie house.

The DeKalb

The DeKalb, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Closed for movies but open for other stuff, the DeKalb Theater still has this awesome, if inoperative, sign out front. I don't know how long it's been out of the movie business, but there's a beauty school there now.

Sullivan's

Sullivan's Drive-In, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Sullivan's Drive-In has been a fixture in DeKalb, Illinois since....well since sometime, I'm not sure exactly when this place opened. Judging from this classic slab I'd guess sometime in the sixties. Sadly, there's some broken glass to this baby. It's been that way for a while too-note the spotlights set up to illuminate that which used to light up.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

Lothson's Karry Out-DeKalb, IL, originally uploaded by William 74.

It's the end of the week, and that means another Neon Friday, folks! This week we're in DeKalb, Illinois. Best known as the home of Northern Illinois University, DeKalb was also a fairly major stop along the Illinois stretch of the Lincoln Highway, and still features a few old businesses along the main drag.

One of them is Lothson's Karry Out, which specializes in fried chicken. They've been in business since 1949, and are rightfully called a Lincoln Highway classic. They also feature this cool vintage sign over the door. Chaser bulbs aside, it even works (although I still haven't managed to get a decent photograph of it at night. Must work on that).

The food's pretty good, too!