Elks

Elks, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

One of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in America, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has lodges all over the country. This one's in Streator, Illinois, in a great old building downtown. It also has this excellent neon sign. I bet it works, too.

World Real Estate

World Real Estate sign, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This beauty must have looked great all lit up at night. Note the tree branch growing through it.

Seen on the north side of Chicago several years ago-I've no idea if it's still there.

GE Appliances

GE Appliances, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

A vintage GE neon sign, in the window of an appliance store in Morrison, Illinois. This is a classic hanging sign, and is still in great shape despite years of being out in the weather.

Robert's Western World

Robert's Western World, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Happy Neon Friday! Today we have a re-imagining of an old shot of Robert's, to make it look like....er....an older shot of Robert's.

Keller's Good Food

Good Food, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Vintage neon restaurant sign, in tiny Genoa City, Wisconsin. I think this building has been remodeled-that flagcrete facade doesn't look as old as the neon. Either way, I'm glad that Keller's has kept their sign intact.

Lake Aire

Lake Aire, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is located just over the border from Illinois, and has been a popular weekend retreat for many years. Lots of cool old buildings in the area, including the excellent, old-school Lake Aire Restaurant, with this fantastic slab over the door.

The place is packed all summer long. Naturally I went when it was rainy and cold-I'm kind of glad. The colors really popped.

Olympic Restaurant

Olympic Restaurant, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Olympic is a well known, classic restaurant in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Their sign has undergone some modifications-I'm pretty sure it said something other than "breakfast"-and Midwestern winters haven't done it many favors. But it still works, mostly, and the restaurant is still going strong in this fun little resort town.

I also have no idea what the Olympian Breakfast includes-I've never been there early enough!

Hotpoint

Hotpoint Appliances, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't often show window signs for Neon Friday, but this vintage Hotpoint sign is so charming I had to share it. It's a pretty well kept original, and is in the side window of an old school appliance store, just off the Lincoln Highway in Morrison, Illinois.

The Guest House

The Guest House , a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Classic fifties motel on the north side of Chicago. The various signs here used to rotate, and must have looked amazing at night. I wonder if it stopped in this position-it's perfectly done to face the street-or if, when it broke, they moved everything around.

It's double sided too-the back says "MOTEL" and seems to have had a marquee on it as well.

Liquor Store

Liquor Store-Aurora, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This old liquor store neon sign probably said something else before the Budweiser plastic was installed. I don't know if it's original to this place or not-I think it's a bar now, not a liquor store.

The Country School

The Country School, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Former neon sign in Rochelle, Illinois. Judging from the condition it lost it's glass a long time ago-I can't tell if it was just a neon version of this sign or if the design was different. Still, a classic.

Chicken's pretty good too.

North Shore Line

Old North Shore Line neon sign, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railroad was a Chicago-based interurban line that ran from 1916 to 1963. One of the Insull Lines (along with the Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin and the Chicago, South Shore, and South Bend), the North Shore initially only reached Evanston, running on a private right of way all the way to Beer City. In 1919, the road obtained trackage rights over the Northwestern Elevated, which allowed access to the Loop, and service between the North Shore's two namesake cities.

Despite entering receivership in 1932, the North Shore managed to survive the Depression, even going so far as to introduce a pair of streamlined articulated trains, the famed Electroliners that ran five runs a day between the Windy and Beer Cities. The North Shore also saw a steep incline in ridership during the Second World War, due in no small part to the road's service at both Great Lakes Naval Base and Fort Sheridan.

However, like most interurbans, it didn't last. The North Shore saw fairly strong ridership after the war, but increased automobile ownership caused traffic problems in areas where there was still street running. In addition, the new Edens Expressway took local riders on the Skokie Valley Route (in use since 1926), which put a serious crimp in profitability. But by 1963 ridership had decreased so much that the North Shore ceased operations, with a final Electroliner run between Chicago and Milwaukee.

I'm not sure where this North Shore sign once stood-it is currently at the Illinois Railway Museum and has been beautifully restored since I shot this.

The Friendly Confines

Wrigley Field-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The iconic neon sign at Wrigley Field, on the corner of Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. One of the few remaining "jewel box" style of inner city stadia, and a Chicago icon.

Taken during a night game, which lends a different feel to the place-all those lights aglow!

Authorized Service

Authorized Service, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I don't often shoot smaller neon signs-they're usually meant for wall or window display and the most common ones seem to be for beer or cigarettes. Once in a while, though, one pops up with some other subject matter.

This Buick is one such sign. Something like this would probably have hung in a showroom window, or maybe out by the service department. I don't know if this is original or a reproduction (or, really, if they used these back in the day), but it is gorgeous.

M.B. Union Church

Church Sign-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Neon church sign in Chicago, on the near West side. I spotted a couple of neon church signs in the city-it sort of makes me wonder how many are out there.

I also note that the Sears...er...Willis Tower is in the background-sometimes it's impossible to avoid catching it.

Colonnade Motel

Colonnade Motel, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

I've passed this sign dozens of times on my way west along the Lincoln Highway, and have only recently stopped to shoot it. The sky was perfect, the lighting just right, and the parking lot wasn't so full that people would stare.

I note that this sign looks like it was painted over at some point, which makes me wonder if it used to say something other than "Colonnade". The plastic sign on the side of the building, which clearly used to be in an illuminated fixture, makes me think this even more.

The Hub

The Hub, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

We've visited Rochelle's Hub Theater once before. Sadly, this vintage movie house has closed permanently, having had a brief reprieve last year. The building is, as of this writing, still for sale. Hopefully someone will buy it, and save this classic.

Gold Star Lounge

Gold Star Lounge-Chicago, IL, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Gold Star Lounge has a long history in Wicker Park. I like this sign a lot, and wish it was in better shape when I saw it-I bet this would look awesome at night.

I've never asked, though, do they still have rooms to let?

Pontiac Sports

Pontiac Sports, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Pontiac Sports, a sporting goods shop in Pontiac, Illinois, a town along historic Route 66.

I believe this sign has been rebuilt at some point-there are some stray outlets dotted around it.

Robert's Western World

Robert's Western World, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Aside from the now defunct Gilley's in Texas, Robert's Western World is probably the country's most famous honky tonk. Located along Nashville's famous Broadway (home of all sorts of venues, bars, and restaurants), there's always music playing (often live, even during the daytime) and it's always busy.

Anyway, here's a little bright-and-night show and tell of their excellent sign.