December15_2011

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - L-R - Williams Piano house Sign from 809 Seymour Street (circa 1956)

The Apostolic Faith Sign as part of the permanent collection in the Vancouver Museum. This impressive sign was mounted on the front of the Apostolic Faith Church on Kingsway just before Boundary Road until 2001 when the church moved to Langley. The sign was commissioned in 1946 for the church’s first location at 675 East 15th Street and moved with the congregation in 1955 to Kingsway. It was not the only use of large scale neon in evangelizing passersby: a large Jesus Saves sign in the shape of the cross hung on West Broadway at about Pine in the 1970s. Commercial promoters of neon argued that the bright coloured lights would attract impulse buyers as they motored past. The use of neon to advertise religion seems odd on the surface (isn’t this a considered choice, one rooted in tradition?). But evangelicals believed that one could be struck by the bright light of the spirit at any moment (Paul on the road up Kingsway?). What better than neon to aid the spirit?

The Star Weekly (location unknown - circa 1935 to 1950s) is a miniature neon sign typically for inside a corner store or news shop with a window facing street side.

Photos - Frames left and center: A Wurlitzer Juke Box with a Palm Dairy Ice Cream sign above - Permanent collection of Vancouver Museum

Frame right: The Silver Grill Sign also part of the permanent Vancouver display.

Photos - Frames left and right: Garage Parking, Repairs, and Gas sign - in the permanent collection of the Vancouver Museum.

An old power pole with Dominion Glass Insulators below the Loggers Employment Agency sign - Part of the permanent collection at Vancouver Museum.

Click here for more photos of Vancouver Neon Signs for this day.