Disneyland Marquee (2nd Generation)

Ed Manning & Son Beef (Gone)
Pico Rivera, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The old sign for Ed Manning & Son Beef once marked a spot off Beverly Boulevard near the 605 Freeway in Pico Rivera. This was no hamburger stand, though the beef connection might have caught the attention of a hungry motorist. The sign belonged to the area’s working landscape of meat processing, warehouses, and industrial yards. Both the sign and the business shown here had been removed several years before this original update. 01-07

Then came a story that sounded more like a movie scene than an ordinary evening in the neighborhood. In June 2021, dozens of cattle escaped from the facility and scattered through Pico Rivera’s residential streets. News footage of cattle running past houses brought national attention to a business many viewers had never heard of. No ghost story was needed to make that night memorable.

UPDATE: The later Manning Beef operation closed, and in June 2026 the Pico Rivera Planning Commission permanently revoked its operating permission. That action came long after the disappearance of the Ed Manning & Son sign pictured here. The old roadside advertisement and the facility’s later history belong to different chapters of the Manning story, so the 2026 closure should not be used to date the loss of this sign. 10-26

Bendix
Los Angeles, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's the old rooftop sign for the Bendix Building in the fashion district of Los Angeles. The three-sided sign was relit in 2003. The Bendix Building remains one of Los Angeles's historic sites. 04-08

Built in 1929, the building was developed by Florence Casler and designed by architect William Douglas Lee. Located at 1206 Maple Avenue near 12th Street, it recalls the city’s aviation connections and later became part of the garment district’s working landscape.

UPDATE: The Bendix Building remains in use, with galleries, artist studios, and creative businesses occupying its historic spaces. Gallery nights bring visitors upstairs, while the familiar rooftop sign keeps the Bendix name in view. There’s something fitting about finding new artwork inside a building with such a recognizable piece of old Los Angeles overhead. 10-26

The Tinder Box (Gone)
Los Angeles, CA
Photo courtesy Scott Strickland

A pipe makes a fitting roadside advertisement for The Tinder Box on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. The playful sign introduced passing motorists to the shop below, where pipes, cigars, and tobacco were the specialty. You didn’t have to be a customer to appreciate this one. Its unusual shape made it easy to remember on the next drive through town. 10-09

Opened in 1928, the shop attracted neighborhood regulars and Hollywood celebrities. Founder Edward Kolpin Sr. supplied conversation along with the merchandise, while the Tinder Box name eventually spread through a national franchise business. After his death in 2007, the family honored his wish to keep the Santa Monica store open another ten years.

UPDATE The shop closed in May 2017, ending nearly nine decades in business. Fortunately, its sign escaped the scrap pile. Removed by crane, it went to the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale for restoration and preservation. The shop’s lights went out, but its familiar pipe sign received another chance to shine. 10-26

Werk Bros Garage
Pasadena, CA
Photo courtesy John King

The old garage name still gets a little attention at Werk Bros Garage in Pasadena. Located on West Green Street, the building recalls a time when automotive shops occupied more of the neighborhood now known for restaurants and shopping. The sign gives passersby a reason to pause and look at what this storefront used to be. 09-10

Built in 1926, the garage at 136 W. Green Street is associated with Cadillac and La Salle service. Those names place it firmly in an earlier chapter of motoring, when a local specialist could keep a prized automobile on the road. The garage lettering helps tell that story without needing a car parked out front.

UPDATE: Historical documentation identifies the sign above the entrance as a reproduction of the original. So while it looks back to the garage’s early years, it should not be mistaken for an untouched surviving sign. The recreated lettering keeps the Werk Bros name associated with the building and gives Green Street a visible reminder of its automotive past. 10-26

Toy Boat (Gone)
Corona del Mar, CA
Photo courtesy John King

A neon toy drum shows the way to Toy Boat in Corona del Mar. Along busy Coast Highway, it gave families a landmark to watch for—and children another reason to ask for a stop. Even before reaching the door, the sign promised something more entertaining than an ordinary shopping errand. 09-10

Owners Mike and Lori Curtin worked to keep the store afloat through difficult retail years. In July 2012, KFI Radio organized a “cash mob” that brought roughly 300 customers through the doors. The turnout helped carry the shop through the holidays, but community support couldn’t overcome its continuing financial troubles.

UPDATE: Toy Boat closed on March 15, 2013, bringing emotional goodbyes from owners and longtime customers. The drum sign’s whereabouts after the closure have not been confirmed. Here, it still marks the entrance, ready to catch the eye of the next young passenger riding down Coast Highway. 10-26