San Francisco Neon

Tours, talks, books, and symposiums on the creative legacy of neon signs of small businesses in San Francisco and beyond.

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Mystery on Grant Ave: The whereabouts of the iconic Radio-TV neon sign of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Does anyone know who took it down and if it will be restored?

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NEON TOUR PASSPORT

Purchase a 4-tour gift certificate passport booklet for friends or yourself. 1 person for 4 tours or 2 people for 2 tours, etc. Passports will be officially stamped at the end of each tour.  Find out more...

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Post-it rally of love letters to Britex Fabrics, hoping for legacy business status for this San Francisco store and the iconic neon sign. We got a surprise visit from Emperor Norton who made a declaration: Britex Forever!

[sfneonbook]

This 1957 Kearny Street photo features a remarkable collection of iconic neon signs: Pastine’s, Iron Horse Restaurant, Brooks Camera, Selix Formal Wear, Sherman Clay Steinway Pianos, Oyster Loaf Restaurant, and Top Hat Cocktails. All of these signs have disappeared. Photo courtesy @SFMTAPhoto | sfmta.com/photo. #sfmuni This is the last daily photo for the Neon Icons exhibit @SFPublicLibrary, thanks for following and for all the comments and love. Join us tonight for a SF Neon exhibit/book talk at 6pm, SFPL 100 Larkin. Free. RSVP: www.neonbook.xyz

[sfneonbook]

Three gems of Art Deco neon design in San Francisco. The Vogue was built in 1912, as the Rex, then renamed the Vogue in 1939. The Bridge Theatre was built the same year, named for the brand new Golden Gate Bridge. The Vogue and The Bridge were saved from the wrecking ball by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation. The Vogue shows first run and classic movies, the Bridge is home to a baseball academy (hopefully it will be relit this year). The astounding Alhambra Theatre opened in 1929, designed in the Moorish Revival style. It was fully restored in 1988. Re-born as an exercise gym, it still lights up Polk Street. 2011 photos by Al Barna from San Francisco Neon.

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Come on down on Wednesday 9/22 for a neon exhibit/book talk @SFPublicLibrary. Historic neon photos & home movie @footage from the #Prelingerarchives of lost #SFNeon landscapes... RSVP neonbook.xyz/events.html  #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #signatures #transporting #signaddict #signhunters #typevstime #vintagesanfrancisco #signcollective #signofgrime #sfhistory

[sfneonbook]

Original Joe's, moved to 601 Union Street. The flames of the Tenderloin location spared the original neon signs which followed the business to North Beach. The maniacally happy neon chef still greets visitors outside, but look for the classic Joe’s lettering (with possessive apostrophe!) in the restaurant’s private dining room.—Eric Lynxwiler. 2012 photo by Al Barna from San Francisco Neon. #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #signatures #transporting #signaddict #signhunters #typevstime #vintagesanfrancisco #nightart #signcollective #the_Home_Front  #country_features #gas_food_lodging  #rous_roadsigns #signofgrime

[sfneonbook]

This blue moon looks like an add-on to the tilting letters that spell Nite Cap, a well-loved cocktail lounge in the heart of the Tenderloin District. The long-time owner is gone, but the new owners reopened with the neon sign restored. 2012 photo by Al Barna, from San Francisco Neon.  #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #typevstime #vintagemoon #vintagesanfrancisco #nightart

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The Greyhound bus depot was on Seventh Street near Market when this now-extinct sign was photographed. A similar sign can be viewed on Market Street in photos from the 1950s. 1978 photo by Al Barna, from the San Francisco Neon book. #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #typevstime #greyhoundbus #vintagebus #retrobus #oldbus

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The Palace Theater, located at Powell Street and Columbus Avenue, was renamed the Pagoda Palace in 1974. The Pagoda Palace went dark in 1994. The building stood vacant for 20 years until it was torn down in 2013 to make way for an extension to the Muni Metro light rail system. The National Trust for Historic Preservation cited the site as one of ten historic sites lost in 2013. 1964 photo by Alan J. Canterbury. San Francisco History Center @SFPublicLibrary  #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #typevstime

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The Golden Star Chinese Hour, established in 1939, was the first Chinese language radio station (Cantonese) in North America. The station was operated by Tommy and Mary Chinn Tong. The radio studio was located in the basement of the Tong’s Appliance shop. They provided Chinatown with the latest news and entertainment every weeknight on KBRG. Golden Star Radio, Clay Street at Spofford Alley. 2014 photo by Al Barna, from San Francisco Neon. #chinatownsf #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf  #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #signporn  #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns  #typevstime #radio #vintageradio

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The Owl Drug Company at Powell and Market Streets was one of 19 Owl branches in San Francisco. This cursive neon sign made a cameo appearance in the 1947 noir thriller "Dark Passage", starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. This 1940 photograph shows cable car #510 being pushed off the turntable for it’s next trip to Fisherman’s Wharf. Photo by John Gerrard Graham, courtesy of San Francisco History Center @SFPublicLibrary #illuminatesf #alwayssf #sf #vintageneonsigns #signgeeks #neon #sfneon #signage #signcollective #everything_signage #ig_signage ‪#‎retrosigns #owldrugstore #cablecars

[sfneonbook]

The Lexington Club was a Mission District die-hard hub for sex-positive and women’s rights activists. The original owner described the clientele as “dykes, queers, artists, musicians, and neighborhood folks”. Anyone who restores this neon sign and its legacy would be an instant neighborhood hero. 3464 19th Street, 2011 photo by Randall Ann Homan, from San Francisco Neon. #lexingtonclubsf  #lexingtonclub  #missionsf  #vintageneonsigns #Neon #alwayssf #illuminatesf #vintagesanfranicsco #SanFrancisco #signgeeks #signs #vintage

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United Nations Theatre: Oscar award went to 'The Best Years of Our Lives' as 1946 best picture, San Francisco movie patrons were crowding United Nations Theater for premiere of the picture here, held for benefit of Call-Bulletin Welfare Fund for Children. Call-Bulletin, courtesy of San Francisco History Center @SFPublicLibrary #sf #typographye #neon #everything_signage #signgeeks #signcollective #retrotype #cinematreasures #sfneon #cinema #neonsigns

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The Ocean Park Motel sign was designed by the motel’s owner, Mark Duffett. This 1937 stream-lined landmark is one of the best motels in San Francisco and one of the first. 2690 46th Avenue, 2014 photo by Al Barna from San Francisco Neon. #sf #typographye #neon #everything_signage #signgeeks #signcollective #retrotype #motel #motelcalifornia #oceanparkmotel #wanderlust #illuminatesf #alwayssf #vintageneonsigns #neon

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Newscopy: "Market Street entrance of new Manning's restaurant and bakery storer at 5th and Market Streets, one of the largest of its kind in the world." Call Bulletin, courtesey San Francisco History Center @SFPublicLibrary. #vintageneonsigns #neon #coffeeshop #sf #vintage #signgeeks #illuminatesf #sf #typographye #everything_signage  #signcollective #retrotype  #sfneon

[sfneonbook]

The Lafayette Coffee Shop sign is restored and glowing again on Hyde Street! The new owners wanted to restore it because they thought “it would be nice to preserve some of the city's history. The Lafayette sign features a classic design that cannot be replicated.” The previous tenants of the iconic Tenderloin coffee shop at 250 Hyde Street have relocated their restaurant with the same name and menu to 611 Larkin Street. 2016 photo by Al Barna. #tenderloinsf #vintageneonsigns #Neon #alwayssf #illuminatesf  #vintagesanfranicsco #SanFrancisco #signgeeks #signs #vintage