Disneyland Marquee (2nd Generation)

Printing
San Bernardino, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Faded lettering still points the way to an old Printing business in San Bernardino. The sign has weathered enough years that the shop’s identity is harder to make out than the service it offered. Before online ordering, a neighborhood print shop was the place to bring a stack of flyers, business cards, or stationery to life. Signs like this helped customers find their way to the counter, sometimes remaining long after the paint had lost its color. Whether the presses were still running when this photo was taken is another question, but the old advertisement remained on duty. 11-05

UPDATE: The shop’s name and exact address have not been established, leaving its history and the sign’s present whereabouts uncertain. The faded lettering offers few clues to the people who worked here or how long the business served the neighborhood. For now, this photograph preserves a small piece of San Bernardino’s commercial past, when even an everyday printing job could lead you to a distinctive roadside sign. 10-26

Santa Monica Radiator (Demolished)
Santa Monica, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The old sign for Santa Monica Radiator recalls the days when automotive repair shops were a familiar sight along Lincoln Boulevard. Standing above the garage between Broadway and Colorado Avenue, the sign advertised a place where motorists could bring a leaking radiator for another chance at life. It’s a fitting piece of roadside advertising for a boulevard long associated with the automobile. 03-06

The shop opened in 1923 and later became part of the Perliter family’s radiator business. Chuck Perliter joined the operation in 1986, continuing a family trade that stretched back to his grandfather. As inexpensive replacement radiators reduced demand for repairs, the shop expanded into general automotive service. Some employees stayed for decades, including a manager who worked there for 50 years.

UPDATE: The sign has survived the continuous development as well as the Santa Monica sign ordinance thus far. 10-10

UPDATE: Santa Monica Radiator closed on September 25, 2015, with plans to lease the property to a BMW motorcycle dealership. The Santa Monica Radiator Works sign and separate “Radiator Service” gateway sign were included on the city’s 2000 List of Meritorious Signs, recognizing their contribution to the boulevard’s character. The location appears to have closed around and demolished around 2022. 10-26

San Bernardino High School
San Bernardino, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

A school sign gets its turn in the roadside spotlight at San Bernardino High School. This campus marker offers a change of pace from the motel, restaurant, and repair shop signs found along the city’s streets. For generations of students, a sign announcing their school can be just as familiar a landmark as anything along the highway. 11-05

Established in 1892 at Eighth and E streets, the school moved to a larger campus at 18th and E streets in 1915. Its “Cardinal City” identity grew from a student government charter approved in 1956 and received recognition from Governor Edmund G. Brown in 1963. Cardinal City signage was added for the campus’s 50th anniversary in 1965.

UPDATE: San Bernardino High School continues to operate at 1850 North E Street. A historical marker dedicated in 2015 commemorated the campus’s centennial, while the Cardinal City name remains part of school life. The present condition of the sign pictured here has not been confirmed. 10-26

Auto Park Sign
Los Angeles, CA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

Finding a parking space comes with a little roadside character at this Los Angeles lot. The old Auto Park sign spells out its purpose with a blade-style advertisement that catches the eye along the street. Even an everyday stop to leave the car could have a memorable sign, especially when drivers needed to spot an entrance while watching the traffic ahead. This one sure beats a plain plastic panel. 03-06

Parking signs belong to the working scenery of Los Angeles, guiding motorists between the boulevard and their final destination. While restaurant and theater signs tend to get more attention, an old parking sign can say just as much about the way a neighborhood once looked. Its simple message needed little explanation: pull in here, leave the car, and continue on foot.

UPDATE: The lot’s exact address has not been identified, so the sign’s current status remains unconfirmed. The original photograph records its appearance in 2006, but does not establish whether the sign or parking operation survives today. For now, it offers a look at the character that an otherwise ordinary parking entrance could bring to a Los Angeles street. 10-26

Henry's Floor Tool (Closed)
Monterey Park, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the old sign for Henry’s Floor Tool in Monterey Park. Once upon a time, neighborhood shops like Henry’s were a common sight, with signs that became familiar to anyone driving through town. You might not have needed floor tools, but after passing the place enough times, you knew where to find them. By April 2006, Henry’s had been closed for about five years and a flower shop had moved in. The tools had given way to flowers, and another longtime business name had become part of Monterey Park’s past. 04-06

UPDATE: A recent trip past the property confirms that the Henry’s sign is gone. The location has been home to another business for many years, so don’t head over expecting to find the old tool shop or its sign. Fortunately, this photo takes us back to when the Henry’s name was still there to catch your eye. It’s another reminder of how much the familiar scenery can change, one neighborhood storefront at a time. 10-26