Signs Of The Times
Yeah, it’s been interesting to see boomers and the younger generations teaming up to save retro carhops, coffee shops and roadside motels. As a recent piece in the Times puts it, this architectural style originated in Southern California and is defined by "a futuristic, space-age look, with loud signs and dramatic rooflines to grab the attention of people driving by in cars.” LBJ called it “commercial clutter.” Hey, Gin Bottle Garvey, what does a buckaroo in a ten-gallon hat know about good design?
Here are a few good examples:
Unfortunately, you don’t see much of it in today’s homogenized greyscape where everything looks the same. Too many squelchers with their strict sign codes and height limits. The usual bullwinkle. These bums have even banned neon in a lot of places. It’s too bad. This style of design is fun and represents the optimism America was feeling back then.
Hey, locally we still have Donut Dip keeping the retro look going while they serve up the best donuts in New England. And who can forget the old Abdow’s Big Boys? Hopefully the younger generation revitalizes some of this stuff and we can lighten up and start having some goddamn fun again.
Keep your dukes up.
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