Savoring the Old

Savoring the Old
In the post-war years, exuberant entrepreneurial efforts to attract customers manifested in the erection of ever larger and louder signs.  Skylines were crowded out by proprietor's names, offers of cheap services, directions to "Stop Now" or "Come In", and features to be found inside - "Air Conditioned".

Residents and their municipal governments became concerned with the proliferate signage and curtailed roadside advertising. Existing signs could stay, but new ones had to fit within a narrowly defined sign ordinance.  If a business changed hands and the sign was altered, the sign had to comply with the ordinance.  The skyline changed as the old signs came down.

Remnants of the old can be found in today's cities.  In some instances a sign becomes a beloved artifact of days gone by and a source of pride.  Here's one in Chico.  I found this interesting because the blandness of today's standard sits at the foot of a magnificent bird hovering over the block.