Los Angeles Neon: Past, Present, Future

lawmann · August 29th, 2008, 08:54 PM

During it's heyday Los Angeles's Broadway had what was then the world's biggest display of neon signs. Throughout the city neon signs were on the sides and roof tops of buildings. Through some effort some of those neon signs have been restored, for example the Los Angeles, Palace and Orpheum theatre signs, the Bendix rooftop sign in the Fashion District and the KRKD radio station call letters on the transmitter towers of the Arcade building between Broadway and Spring street. Do you think the neon signs can make a comeback in Los Angeles or is LED the future or both? Your thoughts and comments.

alex3000 · August 29th, 2008, 10:26 PM

DT has seen better days ... *tear*

croyboy · August 30th, 2008, 12:20 AM

definately both. this city would love to see broadway restored to it's former glory, if not surpass it. Plenty of space for LED in downtown, especially south park. Hollywood could get a great mix of both since there are already a lot of neon and LED has been placed on the same buildings.

Fern~Fern* · August 30th, 2008, 05:33 AM

In time fellows, in time!

BEATSLIM · August 30th, 2008, 06:29 AM

Both are the future to revitalizing not only Broadway, but Downtown LA. The future streetcar is a good indicator of steps in the right direction to making Broadway even better than it's much more lively past. As fern said, in time.

anakinFromCoruscant · August 30th, 2008, 08:35 AM

oh cool picture.. so... backthen.. today it looks so.. Umm weird..and old and sandy.,...

blurry!! blurruyu

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

help. me

specially the Swap meet stores.. one one is enough...

wait icarly supposedly lives... in the eastern columbia building lol.. yeah i watch the show

milquetoast · August 30th, 2008, 10:13 AM

Old...

New!

3deearts.com

Geeez, L. A. had it right before anyone else!

Imperfect Ending · August 30th, 2008, 09:14 PM

..it blinds people for miles.

BEATSLIM · September 10th, 2008, 09:54 AM

blinds people? hardly..it can definitely be seen from a long way but the sign is high up on the building. Did I mention I really like it? Stuff like that is done all over Seoul and hey what do you know thats a Korean brand

ZVQ · September 30th, 2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by croyboy

definately both. this city would love to see broadway restored to it's former glory, if not surpass it. Plenty of space for LED in downtown, especially south park. Hollywood could get a great mix of both since there are already a lot of neon and LED has been placed on the same buildings.

I'd like to see flashing LED signs along Broadway. As it is now Broadway is poorly lit. Those low energy LED's could brighten Broadway without the city having to spend millions for improved lighting.

Audiomuse · October 11th, 2008, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEATSLIM

blinds people? hardly..it can definitely be seen from a long way but the sign is high up on the building. Did I mention I really like it? Stuff like that is done all over Seoul and hey what do you know thats a Korean brand

Yeah!! I love those signs that are on top of buildings in Japan and Korea

Taylorhoge · October 11th, 2008, 09:14 AM

If Broadway were to ever to return to its former glory as it did would people possibly begin to call DTLA the city? Or would you still refer to it as just Downtown LA?

BEATSLIM · October 12th, 2008, 12:06 AM

Why would they call it "the city"? Makes no sense to me.

ETOA906 · October 12th, 2008, 11:59 PM

When I say I going to the city center most of my friends know that I mean the downtown city center of Los Angeles.

ETOA906 · October 13th, 2008, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZVQ

I'd like to see flashing LED signs along Broadway. As it is now Broadway is poorly lit. Those low energy LED's could brighten Broadway without the city having to spend millions for improved lighting.

Broadway as well as the other major thoroughfares in the city center.

milquetoast · October 13th, 2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEATSLIM

Why would they call it "the city"? Makes no sense to me.

Beatslim, look.....

ZVQ · October 15th, 2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETOA906

When I say I going to the city center most of my friends know that I mean the downtown city center of Los Angeles.

Then just use "downtown city center".

***Manila-X*** · November 3rd, 2008, 04:02 PM

I noticed that with LA, its not neon concentrated compared to HK or Tokyo.

Hollywood Blvd currently has the greatest concentration of neon lights, electronic display boards, etc in LA.

croyboy · November 4th, 2008, 06:28 AM

i think of the neon lights that used to be on broadway as a film noir (black film) setting, which usually incorporates detectives, blinds, ceiling fans, dark rooms, giant block housing, cigars, fem fetals, and the such. very cool atmosphere that can't be beat with any other type of architecture

Taylorhoge · November 4th, 2008, 04:58 PM

I think it will look somewhat like that but idk if it will be like Times Square with that much signage.

August 29th, 2008, 08:54 PM	#1
lawmann aka LAWrence MANN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 133 Likes (Received): 0	Los Angeles Neon: Past, Present, Future During it's heyday Los Angeles's Broadway had what was then the world's biggest display of neon signs. Throughout the city neon signs were on the sides and roof tops of buildings. Through some effort some of those neon signs have been restored, for example the Los Angeles, Palace and Orpheum theatre signs, the Bendix rooftop sign in the Fashion District and the KRKD radio station call letters on the transmitter towers of the Arcade building between Broadway and Spring street. Do you think the neon signs can make a comeback in Los Angeles or is LED the future or both? Your thoughts and comments.

August 29th, 2008, 10:26 PM	#2
alex3000 I'm not Chinese Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,335 Likes (Received): 1	DT has seen better days ... tear __________________ California must protect its borders from AUSTRIA.

August 30th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#3
croyboy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,032 Likes (Received): 2	definately both. this city would love to see broadway restored to it's former glory, if not surpass it. Plenty of space for LED in downtown, especially south park. Hollywood could get a great mix of both since there are already a lot of neon and LED has been placed on the same buildings. __________________ just build it, whatever it is

August 30th, 2008, 05:33 AM	#4
Fern~Fern* Inquiry Within... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Currently residing in the good Ol' IE until something else arises from the horizon. Posts: 7,426 Likes (Received): 11	In time fellows, in time! __________________ You're so FAKE that you should have two Facebook accounts, one for each face.... ~~By Fern to the Fern*

August 30th, 2008, 08:35 AM	#6
anakinFromCoruscant Starwars From Coruscant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 62 Likes (Received): 0	oh cool picture.. so... backthen.. today it looks so.. Umm weird..and old and sandy.,... blurry!! blurruyu ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh help. me specially the Swap meet stores.. one one is enough... wait icarly supposedly lives... in the eastern columbia building lol.. yeah i watch the show __________________ LA New $money$::NY Old $money$

August 30th, 2008, 06:29 AM	#5
BEATSLIM Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 619 Likes (Received): 0	Both are the future to revitalizing not only Broadway, but Downtown LA. The future streetcar is a good indicator of steps in the right direction to making Broadway even better than it's much more lively past. As fern said, in time.

August 30th, 2008, 10:13 AM	#7
milquetoast L O S A N G E L E S Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Henderson NV Posts: 5,341 Likes (Received): 30	Old... New! 3deearts.com Geeez, L. A. had it right before anyone else!

August 30th, 2008, 09:14 PM	#8
Imperfect Ending Or is it? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In Portland, Oregon with Leo Posts: 10,446 Likes (Received): 31	..it blinds people for miles. __________________ Las Vegas \| Los Angeles \| San Diego \| San Francisco West Coast Road Trip \| Road Trip Part 2 ︷︸︸︷︸︷︷︸︷︸

September 10th, 2008, 09:54 AM	#9
BEATSLIM Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 619 Likes (Received): 0	blinds people? hardly..it can definitely be seen from a long way but the sign is high up on the building. Did I mention I really like it? Stuff like that is done all over Seoul and hey what do you know thats a Korean brand

October 11th, 2008, 09:14 AM	#12
Taylorhoge Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 1,614 Likes (Received): 0	If Broadway were to ever to return to its former glory as it did would people possibly begin to call DTLA the city? Or would you still refer to it as just Downtown LA? __________________ America was violent before rap- KRS-ONE

October 12th, 2008, 12:06 AM	#13
BEATSLIM Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 619 Likes (Received): 0	Why would they call it "the city"? Makes no sense to me.

October 12th, 2008, 11:59 PM	#14
ETOA906 ETOA906 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 53 Likes (Received): 0	When I say I going to the city center most of my friends know that I mean the downtown city center of Los Angeles.

November 3rd, 2008, 04:02 PM	#18
*Manila-X* PINOY MOD!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: DA METRO! Posts: 12,577 Likes (Received): 225	I noticed that with LA, its not neon concentrated compared to HK or Tokyo. Hollywood Blvd currently has the greatest concentration of neon lights, electronic display boards, etc in LA. __________________ Manila X-Perience, My collection of images around Metro Manila http://www.flickr.com/photos/manilaxperience

November 4th, 2008, 06:28 AM	#19
croyboy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,032 Likes (Received): 2	i think of the neon lights that used to be on broadway as a film noir (black film) setting, which usually incorporates detectives, blinds, ceiling fans, dark rooms, giant block housing, cigars, fem fetals, and the such. very cool atmosphere that can't be beat with any other type of architecture __________________ just build it, whatever it is

November 4th, 2008, 04:58 PM	#20
Taylorhoge Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 1,614 Likes (Received): 0	I think it will look somewhat like that but idk if it will be like Times Square with that much signage. __________________ America was violent before rap- KRS-ONE

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