Signs Of The Times

[br1078lum]

Roanoke is known for many things, one of them being it's array of outdoor advertising.  Some signs are so iconic, they have been lovingly restored to past glory, and placed in prominent positions.  Others are newer, but mimic the style of yesteryears.

Shot with a Konica C35EF3 on expired (12/2009) Fuji Superia 200.  Commercially developed and scanned, with post processing in PSE8.



Skyline by br1078phot, on Flickr
Rushing home before the rain, folks are presented with an array of advertising, old and new.


Uneeda by br1078phot, on Flickr
Roanoke has a program to renew the old painted on brick signs from yesteryear.  Looks like Pepsi hasn't coughed up their donation yet.  Over the top of the lot attendants shack you see a sign for Ewald-Clark Photography.  They had a wonderful shop in this building, and an amzing camera collection on display, with the star being an Ur Leica.  The founders of the company turned the business over to their sons, who eventually sold the chain to Ritz, but the collection was still under family ownership.  A few years ago, Ritz found themselves in dire straights, and pulled out of Roanoke.  The camera collection was sold off at auction, as the family no longer had an interest in keeping them.


Dr. Pepper No 3 by br1078phot, on Flickr
One of the two iconic signs that define Roanoke is the Dr. Pepper Lighted Cap.  It, and the H&C Coffee sign were removed from the buildings they were on due to a demolition project, and placed on other buildings after being rebuilt.  It was quite a job, and the original company that installed them is still around, and did the restoration work also.


Community High School by br1078phot, on Flickr
CHS had been housed in the basement of one of the downtown office buildings, and needed some better space.  This old warehouse was rehabbed for the school, and apartments were also added to the top two floors.  Big Lick is the original name for Roanoke, VA.  It came from the fact that the areas lower places were salt licks frequented by deer and other creatures.  The flat where the N&W East End Shops were built (just behind here) was known as East Lick.


City Market by br1078phot, on Flickr
The City Market signage was added to the Coca-Cola sign that already existed, and is actually a very nice dark green that unfortunately doesn't show well in this photo.


Overhang by br1078phot, on Flickr
This building has seen many businesses come and go, but through them all, the overhang advertising the address has been a constant.


NS East End Shops by br1078phot, on Flickr
Even the railroad got into the act, erecting this large sign on the side of the steam plant.  Highly visible from downtown and I-581, it was a show of pride for the many thousands of men and women who worked for NS over the years.  It replaced the original N&W sign that was built on a latticework frame.  But now many of the jobs are gone, either moved to other locations, or outsourced to other companies.  Still, the Roanoke Shops are the best on the system for what they do.


Rolling Billboard by br1078phot, on Flickr
Nice way to keep an old antique busy.  Missing the bowtie, but this Chevy is looking good.  '65 I think.

PF

[radiophoto]

Phil, this is an awesome photo essay.  I have always liked classic advertising icons, and Roanoke's displays (and their efforts to maintain them) are truly wonderful.  Thanks for the pics and the stories!

I could see the forest green very well in the Coca-Cola/City Market sign, on my monitor.

[Philip]

As Pete said, this is a fine essay, Phil.  I have a soft spot for mural ads like these.  Good for Roanoke to recognise their heritage value. And good for you using that Konica 35EF3 -- it's a beauty of a little camera.

[lesged]

Phil,

I agree with the compliments Pete and Philip made re your outstanding photo reportage of Roanoke's "Signs of the Times."  
  
I shout, " three cheers!"  One for the theme's concept itself, a second for the quality of execution and the third for your continual support for using cameras that have been considered "passe' " by the largest majority of photographers.

You have presented many interesting threads and primed the pump by leading the way with excellent examples that fit the assigned theme. I feel this one is extra special. It is spellbindingly beautiful.

Bravo, Phil!

[jamesmck]

Phil - This is truly a wonderful presentation and set of images.  Good for Roanoke, and good for you for documenting.  Rich colors and compelling compositions.  Right on!

James

[LarryD]

I bow to you.... Wonderful.

[br1078lum]

Thanks, everyone.  I should mention that there are a number of stores around here that sell replicas of the Dr Pepper and H&C Coffee signs.  There are two versions.  One is like an ornament, and will plug into your holiday light string, with the light animation controlled by a micro-chip.  The other is a scale model of the signs on their latticework frames, suitable for a model train layout, again with the animated lights.  They also do the same thing with the Roanoke Star.

I should really stick to using 400 speed film in these p&s cameras, unless it is a very bright day.  I might not have had such a tough time balancing out the light and dark areas in the photos.  And the camera was probably shooting close to wide open most of the time, so they might not be as sharp as possible.  But it is a neat camera.

PF

[LarryD]

I think your photo may help when they try to restore the one here..
Going down by inetjoker, on Flickr

[Olypen]

Phil,

Great photos and narrative.  Happy to hear that Roanoke values these survivals.  Your comment that Roanoke actually restores old wall signs answered a question for me; several times in small towns I've seen what look like brand new signs for vanished products (at least I think that 5¢ fine cut chewing tobacco has vanished)-- maybe these are also restored.  Here in St. Paul I occasionally catch an old wall sign when the building is being remodelled and then they're covered up again or gone.  Just this week I put sign photos into a separate file and I was surprised at how many I found. 

Bill

[Hoosier_Rich]

Very nice Phil, I always enjoy your wanders about town. I've always enjoy seeing those old signs restored to their former glory. We have a few redone and undone downtown here that I really need to get to shooting, unfortunately they've planted trees in front of a couple. Silly city planners.  :rolleyes:

[br1078lum]

Very nice Phil, I always enjoy your wanders about town. I've always enjoy seeing those old signs restored to their former glory. We have a few redone and undone downtown here that I really need to get to shooting, unfortunately they've planted trees in front of a couple. Silly city planners.  :rolleyes:

Know what you mean, Rich.  The folks who are in charge of the Blue Ridge Parkway have been complaning for years about a lack of money in the budget to keep the overlooks from becoming overgrown and useless (especially with all the invasive plant species).  But some group wanted to plant trees on the parkway to replace the ones they were tearing out for a developement ( kind of an environmental trade-off), and so they put them at...an overlook.  Dumb.

PF