Daylight Donuts (Rem.)
Tulsa, OK Photo courtesy Charles Brock
One of the great roadside signs along Tulsa's stretch of Route 66 belongs to Daylight Donuts. With its bold yellow and red color scheme, sweeping Googie angles, and shooting star accents, the towering marquee looks more like a classic 1950s motel sign than the headquarters of an international donut company.
Founded in Tulsa in 1954 by Tommy and Lucille Day, Daylight Donuts grew from a small operation selling donut mix from the trunk of a car into one of the world's largest independently owned donut chains. Today, the company's headquarters and baking mix facility remain in Tulsa, supplying hundreds of Daylight Donuts locations across the United States and beyond.
For many years, the sign carried an endearing mistake that became part of its legend, spelling the product as "DOUNUTS" instead of "DONUTS." Rather than rushing to fix the error, the company left it in place for decades, making the quirky typo almost as famous as the sign itself.
UPDATE: The Daylight Donuts closed at this location sometime after 2023 and became a Livi Lee & Co. Coffee & Donuts. 06-26
Donutland (Gone)
Iowa City, IA Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The oversized Donutland rooftop sign made this Iowa City shop easy to spot. Opinions on breakfast might vary, but the marquee certainly knew how to attract attention.
Founded in Cedar Rapids in 1971, Donutland expanded into a regional chain with more than sixty locations at its peak. Iowa City’s earlier shop eventually closed, taking this familiar advertisement out of service.
UPDATE: The original location and vintage sign are gone. Following a revival of the brand, Donutland returned to Iowa City at a different location in 2022. The name still offers another reason to stop for a dozen. 06-26
Kaisers Ice Cream
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Chris Small
Here is a vintage ice cream shop called Kaisers Ice Cream in downtown Oklahoma City. It's on the National Registry of Historic Places. Kaisers is also known as the Grateful Bean Cafe. Many thanks to Chris Small for info. 05-08
Swiss immigrant Tony Kaiser founded the business in 1910 and moved here in 1917. The ceramic-tile fountain, pressed-tin ceiling and decorative mirrors give visitors plenty to admire while deciding what to order. Sometimes the surroundings deserve as much attention as the ice cream.
Kaisers Ice Cream
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Chris Small
The building joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Ownership changed over the years, but its historic character survived while countless other soda fountains disappeared. Its preservation also helped keep a familiar piece of Midtown in place as the neighborhood changed around it.
UPDATE: Kaiser’s Grateful Bean Cafe continues serving ice cream, burgers and sandwiches in the historic building. The restored fountain and familiar “Kaiser’s Home Made Ice Cream” signage remain part of the attraction. A worthwhile stop for something sweet and a seat in an earlier era. 06-26
Paradise Donuts
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Paradise Donuts sign adds some colorful roadside character to Tulsa. Its mid-century styling gives passing motorists something worth noticing before they even start thinking about breakfast. A good sign can do quite a bit of work on an empty stomach.
The business grew from a donut mix developed in the late 1950s into a regional franchise in 1967. From its Tulsa roots, Paradise expanded across Oklahoma and neighboring states, becoming a familiar alternative to the larger national chains.
Tulsa-area shops became neighborhood stops for pastries and coffee, with some also serving burgers, fries and onion rings. The location near the University of Tulsa attracted students, commuters and regulars looking for more than a box of donuts. Apparently, paradise could include lunch, too.
UPDATE: Paradise Donuts continues operating around Tulsa. Individual stores have changed ownership or branding over the years, but the name remains part of the city’s longtime donut tradition. The vintage sign recalls when even a quick breakfast stop came with a little roadside personality. 06-26
Daylight Donuts (Rem.)
Donutland (Gone)
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Paradise Donuts
