Glass Sign
Oklahoma City, OK
Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb

This weather-beaten sign once advertised a neighborhood glass business in Oklahoma City. Most of the paint has long since disappeared, but the sturdy steel frame managed to survive decades of Oklahoma sun, wind, and storms. It's the kind of roadside survivor that's easy to drive past but hard to forget once you notice it.

Back in the mid-century years, independent glass shops relied on signs like this to grab the attention of passing motorists. Whether you needed a new windshield or a broken window replaced, businesses wanted their message to be simple and easy to spot from the road. Thousands of these commercial signs once lined city streets, but very few remain today.

I don't know much about the business itself, but the sign tells enough of the story. Even faded and worn, it stood as a reminder of a time when local businesses invested in sturdy, eye-catching roadside advertising instead of plastic storefront signs. 10-10

UPDATE: The vintage roadside sign has since been removed from the property. After years of exposure to the elements, the weathered structure was dismantled, leaving only photographs to preserve this small piece of Oklahoma City's roadside history. 06-26

Jewelers
Lawrence, KS
Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb

This eye-catching sign belongs to an unidentified jewelry store in downtown Lawrence. While time has made the business name difficult to read, the sign itself still stands out with its classic neon tubing and one of its best features—a little clock hanging beneath the marquee. Whether it's still keeping perfect time is anyone's guess.

For generations, jewelry stores often included clocks as part of their roadside advertising. Besides selling jewelry, many shops also specialized in watch sales and repairs, making a working clock the perfect way to show off their craftsmanship. Signs like this once served as both advertisements and landmarks for people walking or driving through town.

Lawrence has long been home to independent jewelers, some dating back well into the 19th century, making a vintage sign like this feel right at home among the city's historic downtown storefronts. Even without knowing exactly who it advertised, it's a nice reminder of the era when businesses invested in custom neon instead of standard plastic signs. 11-10

UPDATE: The current status of this sign is unknown. It was still standing when photographed, complete with what appears to be much of its original neon tubing. If the business has changed hands over the years, the old marquee remains a distinctive piece of downtown Lawrence's commercial streetscape. 06-26

Moody's Jewelry
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The colorful neon sign at Moody's Jewelry has been catching the attention of Tulsa motorists for generations. Founded in 1944 by Ernest Moody Sr. as a watch repair shop, the family-owned business gradually grew into one of the city's best-known jewelry stores while remaining at its longtime Harvard Avenue location.

The sign is a great example of classic mid-century roadside advertising. Multi-colored neon lettering is topped by three sparkling diamond outlines that are hard to miss after dark. It's the kind of sign that reminds you when jewelry stores invested as much in their curb appeal as the merchandise inside.

Although not directly on Route 66, Moody's sits just a few blocks from the Mother Road's path through Tulsa. Between the vintage storefront and the glowing neon, it's an easy stop for anyone exploring the city's collection of classic roadside signs. 04-17

UPDATE: Moody's Jewelry remains family owned and continues to operate from its original Tulsa location while also serving customers through several additional area stores. The Harvard Avenue neon sign is still standing and continues to light up the block each evening. 06-26

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Skateland (Gone)
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

If you grew up in Tulsa, there's a good chance you spent a few Friday or Saturday nights under the glowing neon at Skateland. Opened on October 23, 1968, by Ed and Wanda Enlow, the family-owned roller rink became a favorite gathering place for generations of skaters. Sitting just off historic Route 66 along 11th Street, its colorful roadside sign welcomed visitors for more than 50 years.

The sign was every bit as memorable as the rink itself. With its bright neon and classic mid-century styling, it captured the fun waiting inside long before you laced up a pair of skates. Even as roller skating's popularity faded after its heyday in the 1970s, Skateland continued rolling along, becoming Tulsa's last remaining roller rink.

For many people, Skateland was more than just a place to skate. It was where birthday parties were held, first dates happened, and countless kids learned to skate while the latest hits echoed across the maple floor. The sign became a familiar landmark for anyone traveling Tulsa's stretch of Route 66. 08-17

UPDATE: After more than 52 years in business, Skateland closed in March 2021 when the Enlow family retired and sold the property. The building remains standing under new ownership, and the iconic neon sign was carefully removed and preserved rather than scrapped, ensuring a piece of Tulsa's skating history lives on. 06-26