New Blog for all things Retro Roadside Photography

Hello folks!

I realize I've been blogging here on Blogger for a good number of years. As fun as it's been, it's a lot harder to incorporate into a new word press website. So, with retroroadsidephoto.com going live a few months ago, all blogging is now happening there. Please visit retroroadsidephoto.com/blog for all things Retro Roadside Photography, including the Chasing Neon project and its progress.

Cheers from the road!

- Stefanie

Cue Fanfare, It's the BIG Announcement

Five years ago my Retro Roadside Photography project was born. My camera met the Supai Motel, and I fell madly in love. There was no recovering. In the time that has passed I've devoted countless hours and miles to chasing vintage neon signs.

   

As I've invested more into the project my passion has grown from the mere appreciation of sign aesthetics to a desire to artistically document every vintage sign I can find. This is more than just art, it is history and Americana. This is an era that shouldn't be forgotten; this is an era I want to help preserve. It is this desire that fuels my latest project.

In late June I'll embark on a four month road trip across the United States photographing every sign possible. I'll share my progress from the road through social media and my trip blog at retroroadsidephoto.com, the new website which will be launching in the next few days.  

Also launching in the near future is the Kickstarter project I created to assist with the trip's funding. The funny thing about driving a Winnebago around the country is you have to put gas in it. Our estimated trip length of 21,000 miles means a lot of gas. Some additional funding will ultimately ensure the trip's duration and success. 

I cannot begin to express how excited I am to take this journey and share these signs with you. 

Save the signs,

- Stefanie 

Seen Better Days... 32 of 365

Virgie's was one of those unexpected finds on my Route 66 trip a few Thanksgivings ago. I did enough research to know I needed to drive through the main drag in Grants, New Mexico but didn't find photos of every sign. It was part of the fun really.  

I looked up Virgie's after I returned home and discovered it used to be a bit more impressive back in it's glory day. That arrow used to be a large semicircle, not just a straight line, and there was neon. Oh the neon...

The sign geeks keep talking about a time machine. I seriously hope someone's working on one.

Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining... 31 of 365

Yes, I'm a sucker for song lyrics. I'm also a big fan of neon thunderbirds. I have no idea what a thunderbird actually is... I think cars first and my brain jumps from thunderbird to fire bird to fire chicken... but that's another story. But somehow these colorful, hawk-like birds have made their way into vintage neon culture and I adore them.  

This one sits atop his perch in Riverside, California. There are several more I need to photograph, but he was my first thunderbird and for that, he's a little special. 31 down.... way too many more to go!

Abbreviations FTW... 30 of 365

This poor 66 Motel in Holbrook must feel like it gets no love... it's on the other side of the freeway from the more popular side of town and I'm guessing it's less well known than say, the Wigwam Motel. But the sign is beyond amazing. I love the graphic details, the colors, and the faded Bank Amercard lettering is the cherry on top.

I'm not going to lie, I stayed at the Wigwam Motel, but the next time I'm in Holbrook this place is the first one on my list.

How I Miss You Goody's... 29 of 365

I've shared one of my photos of the Goody's sign before, but I'm in a nostalgic mood this evening and I still can't quite accept the fact that Goody's is gone. 

Jeff's Sporting Goods tried, I know they did. They used a similar font for the letters, kept the base and just painted it green. But no matter how much I love green... it is my favorite color after all... there's just nothing like this sign. 

Boomerang "G"s should have never gone out of style. 

Tomorrow's post makes this an even 30. Who knew it would be so challenging to do this every day for a month...

It's that Time of Year... 28 of 365

I photographed this sign in a rougher part of Los Angeles a few years ago. I usually study my signs, walking around, searching for different angles and selecting the one I like best. Photographing this sign was different, even with a friend nearby I felt uncomfortable and rushed myself. There was no study, no observation. This was snap and run, quite literally. 

For some reason after I made it home to upload photos and edit, I didn't given this one a second look. I ignored it simply because I didn't think it was the shot I wanted. What a difference a few years makes...

As a side note, I hate corrugated cardboard, but man do I love that texture when it's part of a sign. So hypocritical of me, I know.

Happy Sunday!