Motel Monday - The Blue Angel

The Blue Angel Motel signage as seen from Fremont Street. A separate sign welcomes visitors from East Charleston Boulevard. 

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting several like minded photographers in Las Vegas for a sign geeks meet up. We toured the Neon Museum and the town, seeing as much of the vintage, googie and kitsch as possible.

The most fantastic part for me was being surrounded by people who share my passion for vintage neon, and the amount I was able to learn from them in less than 48 hours was extraordinary. I learned about bygone signs in Portland and Reno and giant signs still standing in the bay area. Sadly I also learned that the Blue Angel Motel on Fremont Street is to be demolished in the near future. A new development is set to be built in the Blue Angel's place, and the Para-A-Dice motel across the street has already been razed. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony in December 2011 Las Vegas Weekly posted this article about the fate of the iconic Blue Angel, designed by the sign geek famous Betty Willis. Ms. Willis is deserving of her own post, so I'll have to share more about her later.

Since the ribbon cutting ceremony the Blue Angel Motel has been vacated and now sits with the windows boarded and a chain link fence circling the building. Despite this, it seems that the development project has now stalled without any visible progress. According to this Las Vegas Weekly article update, there are still plans to save the Blue Angel herself if the project moves forward. I'm hoping the additional signage is part of the preservation and restoration plans. I love those giant neon arches.

I think perhaps my favorite photograph of the motel on our trip was taken by Lost San Jose. You can find it here... 

Happy Monday,

Stefanie

   

Motel Monday - Loop de Loop

Most of my road trips are centered around groupings of signs I want to photograph that can be found within a city or general area. This makes my trips more efficient, allowing me to capture as many signs as possible and attempt to save gas in the process. But every once in a while I'll stumble upon a vintage sign that is so extraordinary I will drive well out of my way just to photograph it and nothing else. That one sign is the trip.

Perhaps it's just a function of it's location, but the Loop Motor Lodge in Venture was one of those signs for me. I've had it on my maps for years, and with every trip to Los Angeles I'd wish I'd made it farther north and west. A few weeks ago I finally took the trip and was thrilled to finally see it in person.

I love the neon details that adorn the outside of the sign, and I bet it looked amazing when fully lit. A vintage postcard I found of the motel shows that some changes have been made to the sign over the years, but the core remains unchanged. The design is so classic and simple it makes me smile. 

Here's hoping that smile lasts all week!

Happy Monday!

- Stefanie

Motel Monday - The Sun and the Sand

Today's feature is by far one of my favorite photographs ever, in part because this sign is no longer the one that got away.

The Sun 'n Sand Motel sits on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The first time I spotted this sign was from afar during the summer of 2009. We'd stopped for gas in the midst of our cross country road trip and the motel was just down the street. For the life of me I cannot figure out why I didn't photograph it then... whatever reason I had for not getting out of the truck, putting on my shoes and walking the few blocks in the late July heat with my camera became completely feeble and inexcusable just a few hours later.

I've been kicking myself ever since that summer and with every disappearing sign I read about I kicked myself even more. Thankfully when I made it back to Santa Rosa last year the Sun 'n Sand was still standing as beautiful as ever. Apparently the sign was restored sometime before June 2006, and you can definitely spot it from Interstate 40. Take the exit into Santa Rosa and you'll drive right by the motel.

The motel also has it's own restaurant but it was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. The restaurant comes complete with it's own great vintage googie inspired signage. I'll save it for a Foodie Friday feature.

Here's to checking this one off my list!

Happy Monday!

- Stefanie

Motel Monday - Awaiting Restoration

A few weeks ago I featured the Route 66 Motel of Needles, California. Ed Klein of Route 66 World is in the midst of restoring the sign and last I heard all that is missing is the new neon tubes. Our course the Route 66 is not the only motel sign in Needles in need of help. Just down Broadway street is the Sage Motel and it's sign that has certainly seen better days.

Most of the neon tubes are completely gone, the few remaining letters to spell vacancy are hanging cattywampus, and the only portion that seems to still be in place is the tip of the arrow. On the plus side, the sign is still standing and the property appeared to be in the midst of a restoration. I can't find any additional information about the property or who might be fixing it up, but I did come across this undated vintage postcard.

 The property looks much different now and is completely fenced in with a rolling gate and a decorative cement tile wall. I seem to remember a pool too, but perhaps I just imagined it.

The next time I'm in Needles I'll definitely check up on this place. Maybe I'll have more to report... 

Happy Monday!

- Stefanie

Motel Monday - Just After Dusk

I'm posting today's Motel Monday a bit later than usual so I thought an evening motel shot would be more appropriate. Lucky for me I've got just the thing...

The same day that I photographed the Supai Motel in Seligman, I spent the night in Flagstaff. Also part of Route 66, Flagstaff has kept it's historic downtown area and several vintage motels, motel signs, and cafes. The Hotel Monte Vista sits on the corner of Aspen Avenue and San Francisco Street, one block north of Route 66 itself. The hotel actually predates Route 66 as it was built in 1926. I guess it was just in the right place at the right time.

The Monte Vista has had quite a few famous guests including Bob Hope, Michael Stipe, Bing Crosby, Michael J. Fox, Jon Bon Jovi, Clark Gable, and my personal favorites John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and Freddie Mercury. The hotel is reportedly haunted by several friendly ghosts as well, but I'm going to leave the supernatural out of this.

During my brief stay in Flagstaff I ate dinner at the Galaxy Diner, which I highly recommend, before driving to the downtown area to take a walk around. I was serendipity that I took this photo of the Hotel's vintage rooftop signage just after dusk had fallen and I love the colors. Maybe next time I'll check out the interior.

Happy Monday!

- Stefanie

Retro Roadside Photography's New Look

In case you haven't noticed, my Retro Roadside Photography shop is rocking a new look these days. The amazing logo is the creation of my good friend Nicole, who happens to be one heck of a graphic designer.

No shop overhaul is complete without a new banner and avatar which you can find here. Purchase a print and you'll get to see my new business cards too! Subtle, right? 

Cheers!

- Stefanie

Motel Monday - Googie Spectacular

One of the most brilliant signs you'll see driving down Route 66 through Grants New Mexico is for the Sands Motel, directing travelers a half block to the actual Motel itself. The sign, with it's red flags, giant arrow and beyond amazing lettering will grab even the most distracted driver's attention.  The 1/2 block in neon just makes me smile. 

The Sands Motel was established in 1950 and has had a few famous guests in it's 62 years of business. Room 123 is known as "The Elvis Room" and the motel has Elvis memorabilia including a copy of his marriage certificate. After reading this I'm sure my grandma will want to know why I didn't take more pictures. Oopsy daisy...

Happy Monday!

- Stefanie