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Salt Lake City vintage photos
As promised last week, here are a few more photos of Utah and some of the strange stories behind them.
First up is the Ritz Bowling at 2281 State in Salt Lake City. According to Brent, the maintenance guy, it was built in 1958 with 76 lanes. During some maintenance in 1967 or 1968, there was a huge lacquer explosion (I learned that each lane required 10 coats of lacquer) and this destroyed a large portion of the bowling alley. When it was rebuilt, it was decided that fewer lanes would be built but that a skating rink would be added. This was good thinking because one side of the sign could read BOWLING and the other side could read SKATING (same # of letters). The skating rink was removed and replaced with lanes in the 80's bringing the current number of lanes to 54. There is also an attched club and pro shop. All in all, a very nice bowling alley and a great sign.
Brent also told me that the sign is the largest neon sign in Utah and it is so large that it is now 'out of code' meaning that it violates current sign codes in Salt Lake City . The sad thing is that if this sign is destroyed, the sign can never be replaced. I have tried to contact Yesco, who maintains the sign, but have yet to get an actual size. I estimate it to be around 45 feet tall (Take note of the scale to my car in the night shot). The center letters rotate, with one side spelling BOWLING and the other side spelling CLASSIC.
Next up is the Spiking Tourist Lodge at 2866 State in Salt Lake City. According to the lady at the desk, it is now owned by Mary, who was the first maid when it opened around 1946-1947. It also suffers from the current SLC sign codes in that it's sign cannot be replaced if it is damaged (It is too close to the road among other things). Some of the neon worked, but they are having trouble keeping it repaired. The lady at the desk also told me that the motel was built entirely out of scrap lumber & fixtures since supplies were in short supply after the war.
All in all, a nice looking place, but a very strange name
Next up is the Redman Movies & Stories building.This building is located at 2100 and Douglas in Sugarhouse. The sign looked to be from the 50's but the building didn't currently house anybody doing business by that name. Since it was Sunday, I was forced to ask locals about the history.
A lady at the Carl's Jr. across the street insisted that the building was owned by Redman Moving & Storage and that was what the sighs said. I pointed out that they read Moving & Storage and she was confused. She still insisted that she was right.
I drove down Douglas and asked a gentleman in his yard if he knew anything. He told me it was a movie eqiuipment rental co. that moved downtown in 2002, but that was all he knew. I was still confused. What did the Stories part of the name mean?
While at the airport the next day, waiting for my plane, I decided to call Redman to get the full story. Bryon answered the phone and told me that Redman Moving & Storage built the building in 1948 and erected the signs. They moved out around 1984 and changed their name to Redman Van & Storage. Bryon's company moved into the building and functioned a few years without a formal name and they finally had to come up with a name. One of the employees mentioned that moving looked a lot like movies and that storage could become stories. So for only $1000 in sign changing, Redman Moving es & Storage ies was born.
Bryon said that when the company moved, it decided to leave the signs since there was talk that they would be delcared historical something-or-others. He also said that his company still had possession of the original letters that came off the sign.
Bryon also said that for several years his company had problems with old customers of Redman Moving & Storage showing up and wanting to get their possessions out of storage. They had a difficult time understanding that even the name was almost the same, the original company moved their stuff. (6/30/04)
04/23/05 Here is an update on this building.
So there you have a few signs that I picked up. I have several more, including the Murray Laundry Tower and the City Creek Inn. I hope to be posting these during this coming week.
