Good Old Neon: Signs You're in Chicago

by Nick C. Freeman

What constitutes a great sign? For me it's an elusive synchronicity of color, shape, typography, and iconography, enhanced by authenticity and eccentricity. Signs that have been maintained and still illuminate are always beguiling. The fragility of glass tubing continuously exposed to harsh Chicago weather makes the survival of an old sign a kind of urban miracle, deserving, at the least, of photographic preservation. Even the many that have outlived their functional glory days have their own visual appeal. Animated neon signs, working or not, are a special treat. --Nick Freeman, from the Foreword Delight in Chicago s rich neon heritage with this full-color collection of gaudy, garish, and downright spectacular signs. From the far South Side to the Wisconsin Dells, Good Old Neon documents the familiar and the obscure, capturing in over 120 photos these fast-disappearing artifacts of a glorious era when brightly lit signs filled the urban landscape.

Genres: Art

140 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2014

Reviews

[William Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Fast read, all captions with cool pics of some very creative neon signage.