Tagus Theatre

Charlie's Shoe Shop (Gone)
Visalia, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Around Visalia, check out the old sign for Charlie’s Shoe Shop. This was the kind of neighborhood repair place where a worn pair of shoes could get another chance instead of heading straight for the trash. Early advertisements promised “Shoes Repaired While You Wait” with all work guaranteed.

The Charlie behind the sign was Charles Z. Steinman, a Visalia native and World War II Army veteran. After returning home, he established himself as a local cobbler and operated the shop for many years. The business began downtown on North Court Street before later appearing along Mooney Boulevard.

Charlie also knew how to do more than replace a heel or fix a sole. He was a well-known Central Valley trumpet player who led Charlie and Friends and continued performing into his 90s. Not a bad second act after spending the day repairing shoes.

UPDATE: Charlie’s Shoe Shop has closed, and Charles Steinman died in 2016 at the age of 96. Neither the original downtown storefront nor the later Mooney Boulevard location still displays the vintage sign, and its current whereabouts remain unknown. 09-26

Dailey's Camera (Gone)
Delano, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Along busy Main Street in Delano, check out the sign for Dailey’s Studio & Camera Shop. Cameras and photographs were the daily business at Dailey’s, so the name provided a little roadside wordplay for anyone paying attention.

Canadian-born photographer Nick C. Dailey established the shop in 1945. For decades, local customers could stop in for cameras, photography supplies, portraits, and other studio services. Nick remained part of the Delano community for most of his long life, passing away in 2011 at the age of 99.

UPDATE: Dailey’s Studio & Camera Shop has permanently closed. The building was later repurposed for other retail uses, including La Veracruzana, and the old camera shop sign has disappeared from the storefront. 09-26

Trailer Park
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Check out this rather lonely Trailer Park sign standing by itself in an open Bakersfield lot. Perhaps trailers once gathered around it, but by the time of this photo, the sign looked like it was waiting for company. A few empty spaces and plenty of Central Valley sky only added to the deserted roadside scene.

Bakersfield once had numerous trailer courts along Union Avenue, Edison Highway, Golden State Avenue, and the other old routes leading through town. They provided inexpensive places to stay for highway travelers, farm workers, and oilfield families arriving in Kern County.

UPDATE: It is unknown whether the trailer park or its lonely sign still survives. 09-26

Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

The neon sign still stands outside Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Bakersfield. Its lettering and cross have guided generations of worshipers toward the church along California Avenue.

Founded in 1886, Mt. Zion is the oldest African American Baptist congregation in Kern County. The congregation moved to its present location in 1954 after an earlier sanctuary was damaged in the 1952 earthquake.

UPDATE: Mt. Zion remains active, and its mid-century roadside sign still stands outside the church. It is unclear how often the neon is illuminated. 09-26

Seabreeze (Gone)
Bakersfield, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

The flowing neon script for Sea Breeze added a little seaside style to downtown Bakersfield. The business began as a fish and poultry market in the 1940s, providing fresh seafood long before it became common in local supermarkets. Sea Breeze later added a delicatessen and became especially popular for its fried shrimp, clam chowder, and English-style fish and chips.

UPDATE: The original Sea Breeze market and its later location are closed. The downtown building survives with a new use, but the neon script sign has been removed. 09-26