Wall Hotel (Gone)
Wall, PA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The vertical neon sign on the Wall Hotel really stands out against the old three-story brick building. Just the word “HOTEL” in glowing red letters was enough to guide travelers into this little Allegheny County borough near Pittsburgh. 01-08

The building originally served as a neighborhood hotel near Wall and Versailles avenues. Its final commercial chapter was rather different, when it operated as a local strip club before closing and falling into disrepair.

By early 2014, bricks were dropping from the roofline and traffic had to be restricted around the property. The crumbling landmark was eventually purchased at a sheriff’s sale for only $8,800.

UPDATE: The Wall Hotel is closed, and its neon blade sign has been removed. The old building was sold for redevelopment. 08-26

Steinway Pianos (Gone)
Boston, MA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The glowing vertical sign for Steinway Pianos was a classy sight along Boston’s old Piano Row. Red and white neon outlined the porcelain blade, advertising the M. Steinert & Sons showroom inside the six-story Boylston Street building. 02-08

The building dated back to 1896, but its biggest surprise was four floors underground. Hidden beneath the showroom was Steinert Hall, an ornate 650-seat concert hall built below street level to escape the noise of passing streetcars. It closed to the public after Boston tightened its fire codes in the 1940s.

UPDATE: The Boylston Street piano showroom has closed, and the old Steinway neon sign has been removed. M. Steinert & Sons continues at other locations outside downtown Boston. 08-26

Orr Cadillac (Gone)
Springfield, MA
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

The colorful script neon at Orr Cadillac was hard to miss along Mill Street in Springfield. This classy old sign advertised Cadillacs above a glass-fronted showroom built by the Orr family in 1957. 03-08

The family’s automobile business dated back to 1915 and moved to Springfield in 1921. Over the years, Orr sold everything from Nash and Studebaker automobiles to Pierce-Arrows, adding Cadillac to the lineup in 1940.

General Motors eliminated the dealership’s franchise in May 2010, ending nearly a century of family ownership. The showroom and equipment were later sold, along with the glowing neon sign.

UPDATE: The Orr Cadillac sign has been removed. After an extensive remodeling, the former dealership became the Springfield Rescue Mission in 2015. 08-26

Houser Buick (Gone)
Springfield, MA
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

The big red and white neon Houser Buick sign really lights up the Springfield sky. Its familiar Buick script was outlined in glowing neon and mounted high above South Columbus Avenue, where it could be spotted well before reaching the dealership. 03-08

Houser Buick operated at 683 South Columbus Avenue, part of Springfield’s longtime automobile row. The dealership later added GMC and Hyundai, but that towering old Buick sign remained the roadside attraction.

The independent dealership eventually closed as General Motors reduced its network of stand-alone franchises. Buick sales and service in the area moved to larger regional dealerships.

UPDATE: The former Houser Buick property has been remodeled and absorbed into the Balise Auto Group complex. The vintage Buick neon sign has been removed. 08-26

East Gate Plaza (Rem.)
Chelmsford, MA
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

Check out the towering old sign at East Gate Plaza in Chelmsford. The big oval at the top, starry decorations and individual tenant panels give it that unmistakable mid-century shopping center look. This one was built to catch the eye of motorists cruising Route 110. 05-08

East Gate Plaza opened during the suburban shopping boom of the mid-1960s. Its name fits the location, since the plaza sits near Chelmsford’s eastern edge along the Lowell city line.

Market Basket has long been the main draw here, joined over the years by a changing collection of shops and restaurants. Anton’s Cleaners is another familiar tenant, complete with its own vintage script sign nearby.

UPDATE: East Gate Plaza remains open. The old roadside sign has been replaced by a more modern tenant directory. 08-26

Citgo Sign
Boston, MA
Photo courtesy Rick Ibsen

The famous CITGO Sign has been glowing above Boston’s Kenmore Square since 1965. Its giant red triangle and animated neon lights are hard to miss, especially after dark when the sign flashes through its familiar sequence. 09-08

The sign stands close to Fenway Park and often appears beyond the Green Monster during televised Red Sox games. Over the years, it has become as much a part of the neighborhood skyline as the ballpark itself.

The landmark went dark during the energy crisis in 1979 and was nearly dismantled in 1983. Strong public opposition helped save it, and the sign was restored and relighted later that year.

UPDATE: The CITGO Sign still shines over Kenmore Square. A major restoration completed in 2018 replaced its old neon tubes with thousands of energy-efficient LEDs while preserving the classic animated display. 08-26