I’ve always been drawn to old things—the worn, the distressed, the forgotten, of my fascination for old advertising signs. Many of the signs I’ve photographed are virtually invisible to most people. They pass them every day but they don’t really see them. Their colors have faded, their paint is peeling and they can’t compete with all the new, shiny things around them.
These signs take us back to the beginning of advertising, to the consumer culture of the fifties and sixties with its still undelivered promise of prosperity. My search took me across the whole of Southern California, where I captured signs from old gas stations, motels, diners, and burger bars. Authentic symbols of the American way of life.
Removed from their urban context they become visible again, a fascinating array of classical typography and retro-design. I strive for a sense of hyperrealism and a graphic feel in my photographs, wanting the signs to be larger than life, appearing much bigger and important than they do in real life. People can see the colors and details as if they were standing just a few feet away.
246 Sixth Street, Oxnard, CAArchitect S. Charles Lee
1014 North Western Avenue,Los Angeles CA
9023 Washington Blvd.,Pico Rivera, CA
1622 Wilcox Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
800 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV
12430 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, CA
2540 Rosemead Blvd.,South El Monte, CA
255 Atlantic Avenue,Long Beach, CA
724 West Holt Blvd., Ontario, CA
322 N. Arlington Avenue,Reno, NV
10801 W Pico Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
426 North Harbor Blvd.,Santa Ana, CA
233 Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA
8536 W Pico Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
1828 Victorian AvenueSparks, NV
222 East Foothill Blvd., Pomona, CA
455 N. Arlington Avenue,Reno, NV
West 2nd Street,Reno, NV
Petaluma, CA
2765 East Olympic Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
19322 Vanowen Street,Reseda, CA
624 South Oxnard Blvd.,Oxnard, CA
2025 Broadway,Oakland, CA
In the alley behind 484 East Main Street at South California Street,Ventura, CA
6710 La Tijera Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
The oldest operating McDonald's restaurant, since 1953.10207 Lakewood Blvd., Downey, CA
5745 Old Redwood Hwy.,Penngrove, CA
1473 North Motel Drive,Fresno, CA
232 North Brand Blvd.,Glendale, CA
739 Truman StreetSan Fernando, CA
7830 Crescent Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90620
1393 University Avenue, Riverside, CA
20122 Vanowen Street, Canoga Park, CA
1121 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
107 South Adams Street,Anaheim, CA
928 North Euclid Street,Anaheim, CA
518 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
2650 East Olympic Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
943 North Citrus Avenue,Covina, CA
630 West 3rd Street,Los Angeles, CA
1441 North Motel Drive,Fresno, CA
1441 North Motel Drive,Fresno, CA
126 North Citrus Avenue,Covina CA
137 West San Bernardino Road,Covina, CA
10421 South Western Avenue,Los Angeles, CA
10399 West Pico Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
3471 West 5th Street,Los Angeles, CAArchitect S. Charles Lee
4545 Sepulveda Blvd.,Culver City, CA
1420 H Street,Fresno, CA
4545 Sepulveda Blvd.,Culver City, CA
6138 Franklin Avenue,Los Angeles, CA
3835 West 8th St.,Los Angeles CA
6500 Yucca Street,Los Angeles, CA
4017 Sepulveda Blvd.,Culver City, CA
579 Howard Street,San Francisco, CA
10403 South Western AvenueLos Angeles, CA
2522 Main Street,Santa Monica, CA
111 National City Blvd.,San Diego, CA
39 East 7th Street,National City, CA
529 Avenida Pico,San Clemente, CA
3201 Buck Owens Blvd.,Bakersfield, CA
2877 University Avenue,San Diego, CA
2911 University Avenue, San Diego, CA
141 West Inyo Avenue, Tulare, CA
609 East Divisadero Street,Fresno, CA
4215 MacArthur Blvd.Oakland, CA
710 West Olive Avenue,Fresno, CA
1325 North Motel Drive, Fresno,CA
1434 East Tulare Avenue,Tulare, CA
3393 North Parkway DriveFresno, CA
505 North Fulton Street,Fresno, CA
1800 South Brand Blvd.,Glendale CA
100 Madonna Road,San Luis Obispo, CA
601 North Mountain View Avenue,San Bernardino, CA
424 West Foothill Blvd.,Azusa, CA
5585 Carpinteria AvenueCarpinteria, CA
6010 W Pico Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA
Shanghai Low Restaurant861 Palm Street,San Luis Obispo, CA
906 North Ventura Avenue,Ventura, CA
16533 South Western Avenue,Gardena, CA
9821 Garden Grove Blvd.,Garden Grove, CA
333 North Lewis Road,Camarillo, CA
418 Avenue Of The Flags,Buellton, CAClosed?
435 East Thompson Blvd.,Ventura, CA
815 Palm Street,San Luis Obispo, CA
287 San Luis AvenuePismo Beach, CA
2801 Wagon Wheel Road,Oxnard, CA
San Luis Obispo, CA
1955 Theatre Drive,Paso Robles, CA
939 Spring Street,Paso Robles, CA
216 West Cabrillo Blvd.,Santa Barbara, CA
425 Bell StreetLos Alamos, CA
621 Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA
1540 Pacific Coast HighwayLong Beach, CA
520 North Glendale AvenueGlendale, CA
510 North Pacific Coast HighwayRedondo Beach, CA
15111 Ventura Blvd.Sherman Oaks, CA
8822 Garden Grove Blvd.,Garden Grove, CA
1240 West 17th StreetSanta Ana, CA
15300 Amar Road,La Puente, CA
565 North Dudley Street,Pomona CA
9891 Garden Grove Blvd.,Garden Grove, CA
7401 Telegraph Road,Montebello, CA
468 East Holt Avenue,Pomona, CA
18001 Ventura Blvd.,Encino, CA
998 East Holt AvenuePomona, CA
760 East Foothill Blvd.,Pomona, CA
2401 Arrow Highway, Pomona, CA
2401 Arrow Highway, Pomona, CA
1490 North Garey Avenue,Pomona, CA
1074 North Garey Avenue,Pomona, CA
963 North Garey AvenuePomona, CA
aka Lopez Liquor1922 Fairplex DriveLa Verne, CA
aka Fairplex Liquor1922 Fairplex DriveLa Verne, CA
2975 Foothill Blvd.La Verne, CA
Triptych Signage119 West California AvenueGlendale, CA
4331 West Adams Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
Tetraptych SignageRear of building2281 Honolulu AvenueMontrose, CA
2501 South Flower StreetLos Angeles, CA
12744 Ramona Blvd.Baldwin Park, CA
638 South Alvarado StreetLos Angeles, CA
Trailer Village sounds so upscale!Located between El Monte & Monrovia4849 Peck Road, El Monte, CA
4264 Peck RoadEl Monte, CA
40 East California Blvd.Pasadena, CA
Chinatown969 North BroadwayLos Angeles, CA
Chinatown969 North BroadwayLos Angeles, CA
Chinatown946 Yale StreetLos Angeles, CA
450 North Rossmore AvenueLos Angeles, CA
491 North Lake AvenuePasadena, CA
Actually 11.6 miles away from Beverly Hills.801 South Los Angeles StreetLos Angeles, CA
112 West 5th StreetLos Angeles, CA
City Club / The Primrose Design Building833 South Spring StreetLos Angeles CA
Santa Monica, California
11020 Valley MallEl Monte, CA
1633 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
1835 East Walnut StreetPasadena, CA
187 North Sierra Madre BoulevardPasadena, CA
1208 West Magnolia Bvld.Burbank, CA
6720 West Sunset Bvld.Los Angeles, CA
19616 Ventura BoulevardTarzana, CA
Ventura Blvd, Encina CA
3958 Sepulveda Blvd.Culver City, CA
Morgan Camera Shop6262 West Sunset Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
926 South Beach Blvd.Anaheim, CA
1515 East Colorado StreetGlendale, CA
11155 Washington PlaceCulver City, CA
5329 Sepulveda BoulevardCulver City, CA
5329 Sepulveda BoulevardCulver City, CA
3850 Sepulveda BoulevardCulver City, CA
3868 Sepulveda Blvd.Culver City, CA
3967 Sepulveda BoulevardCulver City, CA
845 South Beach BoulevardAnaheim, CA
11231 Beach BoulevardStanton, CA
913 South Beach BoulevardAnaheim, CA
1215 East Walnut StreetPasadena, CA
13107 Valley BoulevardIndustry, CA
32 North Sierra Madre Blvd.Pasadena, CA
1978 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
1845 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
19348 Ventura Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
5332 Stevens PlaceCommerce, CA
1633 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
1530 West San Bernardino RoadCovina, CA
Ave 34Los Angeles, CA
9355 Sepulveda Blvd.Sepulveda, CA
4211 West Riverside DriveBurbank, CA
5303 Lankershim Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
10001 Riverside DriveToluca Lake, CA
3700 West Riverside DriveBurbank, CA
805 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
123 South Los Robles AvenuePasadena, CA
592 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
916 So. San Fernando RoadBurbank, CA
6700 San Fernando RoadGlendale, CA
3000 Los Feliz BoulevardLos Angeles, CA
905 East Las Tunas DriveSan Gabriel, CA
8318 Foothill BoulevardRancho Cucamonga, CA
3210 Glendale BoulevardLos Angeles, CA
The Unknown Liquor Store2135 North San Fernando RoadLos Angeles, CA
T & A Hobby Lobby3512 W Victory BlvdBurbank, CA 91505Closed
Driftwood Dairy10724 Lower Azusa RoadEl Monte, CA
Karate Studio1705 East Walnut StreetPasadena, CA
Historical Royal Laundry443 S. Raymond AvenuePasadena, CABuilt in 1922 and now leased to Disney Stores
6852 Foothill Blvd.Tujunga, CA
2930 Fletcher DriveLos Angeles, CABuilt in 1930 by architect J. Edwin Hopkins
260 East Rowland StreetCovina, CAClosed
501 North Azusa AvenueWest Covina, CA
215 S. San Gabriel Blvd.San Gabriel, CA
5604 North Figueroa StreetLos Angeles, CA
Rear Entrance5621 1/2 N Figueroa StreetLos Angeles, CA
3172 Los Feliz Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
3101 Los Feliz BlvdLos Angeles, CA
1400 East Chevy Chase DriveGlendale, CAOpened in 1946
Don't pass up the purple pickled eggs!1001 North Alameda StreetLos Angeles, CA
2330 West Chapman AvenueOrange, CA
1523 East Colorado StreetGlendale, CA
2003 Rosemead Blvd.South El Monte, CA
14748 Whittier Blvd.Whittier, CA
4660 Gage AvenueBell, CA
1701 Potrero Grande DriveRosemead, CA
14248 E Valley Blvd.La Puente, CA
865 East Las Tunas DriveSan Gabriel, CA
2295 Honolulu Ave.Montrose, CA
6021 Lankershim Blvd.North Hollywood, CA
Ernie Jr's Taco House2803 W BroadwayEagle Rock, CA
All Star Lanes4459 Eagle Rock Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
4604 York BoulevardLos Angeles, CA
4500 York Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
1669 Colorado Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
Casa Bianca Pizza Pie1650 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
2913 North BroadwayLos Angeles, CA
1460 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Arrow Hwy, Irwindale, CA
1060 W San Bernardino RoadCovina, CA
3673 San Fernando RoadGlendale, CA
Arrow Hwy & Morada Street, Irwindale, CA
R Place3739 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
3474 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA
5011 W Adams Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
10708 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood CA.
Fantasy Island11434 W Pico Blvd.Los Angeles, CA
Culver City, CA
15545 Whittier Bvld.Whittier, CA
1800 Colorado Blvd.,Los Angeles, CA.
The Cork4771 W Adams Blvd.Los Angeles, CA.
Silver Saddle Motel6235 Lankershim Blvd.North Hollywood, CA
Studio Self Storage6200 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
4600 W Adams Blvd.,Los Angeles CA
Westside Loan Office2117 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
1500 Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
The Safari Inn on Olive Ave. in Burbank, CA.
Outrigger Cocktails9007 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Sun Valley, CA.
Larry's Chili Dog in Burbank, CA.
Borrmann Steels in Burbank, CA.
One of my favorite places to look for electronic junk is now closed.
Is it real or a Hipstamatic?
In Highland Park, CA. This is where I bought my first film SLR.
In South Pasadena, CA.
Leucadia, CA.
My Uncle in North Hollywood, CA.
Oceanside, CA.
Sun Valley, CA.
Sun Valley, CA.
Cadillac Jacks in Sun Valley, CA.
On Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock, CA.
