Alta View Motel Cafe – Sandy, UT – gone

I snapped this one several years ago on State Street, a major road that runs through Salt Lake City and points south. This one is in Sandy. There was no building at the time, just a bunch of trees and this sign. Last month I drove past again and now the trees are gone and they are clearing the land for some new development.

The utility pole was so close, there was no way to capture the sign alone.

Here is the back side of the sign

Sheet Metal Service – Oklahoma City, OK – Gone

Went to the Thunder game tonight and on the way we passed 10th & May. I was sad to see that the Sheet Metal Service sign was now a plastic imitation of its once glorious self. They have the same logo, but it just doesn’t pack the punch of this one. Nothing makes a great neon sign like a arm swinging a hammer.

Western Capri – Tulsa, Oklahoma – gone

Back in 2005 my family stopped in the western side of Tulsa, Ok on route 44 (also old route 66). I asked the owner of the Western Capri if I could snap a few pictures. He was somewhat hesitant because the sign was not working 100%. I spoke with him and convinced him to let me snap a few photos. The odd part was that that I could only see one piece of neon that was flickering and the sign was in better shape than 99% of the signs I see out there. The sign ended up falling to the wrecking ball in 2006 and the rest of the story is here.

First is a full photo and then some ‘artsy’ ones that I like. The most unusual part of this sign was the square pillar on the top. Normally when I see those, they are round. This is a fantastic sign with some great elements: 4 colors, 3 fonts, huge boomerang arrow, square pillar, internally lit word (Western), outlined font (Capri & Motel) and the arrow flashed! Sad to see this one gone.

The Gateway is gone

It’s sad to start out the new place with word that an old sign is gone, but the Gateway Motel in Tulsa has torn down its sign. I snapped a few pics of it some years ago. Even though it wasn’t a great sign, it is better than what is going to replace it. I snapped this one in May of 2005.

Click to enlarge.