RetroRoads

Oasis Gas Station

Mark — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 21:27:02 +0000

Oasis Gas Station Print

Oasis-Poster/Print by CollierGraphica
Poster printing from Zazzle

This graphic illustration of a very art deco looking stucco gas station is interesting because it depicts a place that was built in the 20th century, but not as vintage as you might expect. This old station was actually a prop for the movie, Dancer, Texas Pop. 81, a movie released in 1998 about four friends in tiny yet fictional Dancer, Texas. The actual prop was in Jeff Davis County, Texas. It became a brief faux ghost town tourist attraction but is now gone.

Route 66 Motel

Mark — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:18:31 +0000

Route 66 Motel Sign Print

Motel Sign by traliz
Browse more Motel Posters

This awesome print is of all that remains of an old motel in Yucca, Arizona. It rests along the old mother road, route 66. According to this site, the sign once pointed to the Whiting Brothers Motel. Desert photos in general are striking, the arid land and brush against blue skies creates quite a scene. In this case, the red and blue sign further stands out against this scene. The Whiting Brothers operated a chain of gas stations and motels out west that has since died out. Their heyday in Yucca was in the 1950s when motels and gas stations catered to travelers heading out west before the interstate reshaped the landscape.

Drake Motel – Nashville, TN

Mark — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:21:01 +0000

Drake Motel Stay Where The Stars Stay T-shirt

Drake Motel – Stay Where the Stars Stay by newartsweb
More Icons T-Shirts

The Drake Motel has been on Murfreesboro Road between Nashville’s airport and music row since at least 1975. It started life as the Drake Motor Court. The neon sign proudly states that it is where the stars stay, but it’s doubtful a star has stayed in quite some time as this section of US 41 has become less desirable since the interstates came to dominate the scene. The motel was, however, seen in the move, Thing Called Love, with Sandra Bullock and the late River Phoenix. This fun t-shirt captures this piece of Nashville history very well with a great vintage neon feel.

In the artist’s words:

In this series of digital images I am focusing on the textures and colors of the aged surfaces found in the symbols and iconography of the American roadside. I have manipulated the image while seeking to maintain the feel of the original object.

Very well done!

Rhinebeck Diner – New York

Mark — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:22:46 +0000

Rhinebeck Diner Print

Vintage Roadside Diner by YesterdayCafe
Other posters from Zazzle

The Rhinebeck Diner is another of those old classic mobile restaurant that were built in the same style as a train car. It was apparently first opened in 1938 in Brooklyn, NY, on Coney Island. After not much time, it was moved to Rhinebeck, New York, sometime in the 1940s. It appears to have been in Rhinebeck for most of its functional life but today is in “storage” in Fishkill, NY, where it slowly decays. Definitely click through to get a more detailed view of this vintage post card print. This is a large mobile restaurant apparently with seating for a hundred or more! But it has those great details and style of a 1930’s railcar!

American Cinema Theater – Charleston, SC

Mark — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:25:27 +0000

Goin To The Movies

Goin To The Movies Print by Wendy Mogul

This is a really wonderful capture of the entrance to a classic movie house. The American Cinema Theater opened in Charleston, SC, in 1942. This photo of the entrance captures classic art deco details of the ticket booth and entrance doors. The rounded corners and the repeated circles on the entrance door are very modern feeling for the era. Especially awesome are the small palate of colors, just a greenish off white and those pops of brilliant red! Great whether you are from Charleston or just a movie buff! This definitely recalls the heyday of American movie houses.

Sandman Motel – Reno, Nevada

Mark — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:33:57 +0000

Sandman Motel Print

Sandman Motel Print by Tom Spaulding

I have not come across a lot of signs so clearly from the 1930s! This is a really neat art deco period motel sign from Reno, Nevada. Apparently, the Sandman Motel was opened in the 1930’s, and the illuminated sign originally had animated lights that made the tires of the car appear to be in motion. Just look at that great art deco styling and that typical 1930’s styled car on the Sandman Motel Sign! The Sandman is apparently still in operation on East 4th Avenue in Reno, NV.

El Ray Motel Reno Nevada

Mark — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:07:10 +0000

El Ray Motel

El Ray Motel Print by Tom Spaulding

I can’t find any details about the history of this hotel other than it’s on North Arlington Avenue in Reno, Nevada. But I love the classic googie architecture. Check out the double boomerangs in weathered yellow and green along with the amoeba-like sign and the stylized lettering. This is a great find from a style that flourished in the space age of the 1950s and 1960s.

Anyone with additional history on this place, please chime in!

Route 66 Roys Motel Cafe

Mark — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:08:50 +0000

Roy's Motel & Cafe Sign Print

Roy’s Motel & Cafe Sign Print by Nicholas Pitt

This cool geometric sign is in Amboy, California. Over the course of the 20th century, this place on old Route 66 slowly became a ghost town, but being in the dessert, it’s a well preserved ghost town. For more on the history of Roy’s and Amboy, be sure to check out this link. Roy’s grew into a thriving cafe and motel and is even now open as something of a museum on the mother road. This print has some great vintage blues and reds along with a vibrant blue sky.

Classic 1949 Cadillac

Mark — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Crazy 'Bout a Cadillac

Crazy ‘Bout a Cadillac Print by John De Bord

This beauty is a 1949 Cadillac. Check out all the chrome and the curves of this gracious beauty. You can really understand how Cadillacs came to be synonymous with luxury when you see the grandeur that went into them. The photographer has done a great job on capturing the details that set these cars apart.

Vintage Conoco Gas Station

Mark — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:50:30 +0000

A Sign From Past Times

A Sign From Past Times Print by John De Bord

An excellent find from Georgetown, Colorado, in this photo print. This beautiful old Conoco Gas station sign feels really at home on the streets of this small town. This print doesn’t feel so much like a vintage sign as a vintage photo from another time. Excellently captured, the sign appears to glow against the bright sun filled sky.