Project Neon

March 31, 2022 7:24 PM

One of the largest neon fixtures in New York, the Pepsi-Cola sign on the East River, stands thanks to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. "Once regarded as an eyesore, the sign is generally embraced today as a symbol of Long Island City’s industrial past, as a colossal work of Pop Art and as a way for those who live in the six buildings of TF Cornerstone’s Long Island City development to orient friends and families. (The back is not illuminated, so tenants are spared the film noir effect.)" But was the giant Pepsi-Cola sign originally Joan Crawford's revenge for getting rejected by Coca-Cola chaired Robert Winship Woodruff and president of the Riverhouse co-op board?
posted by geoff. (14 comments total)

Baltimore's Domino Sugar factory sign switched to LED last year I think.

TV and movie fans may recognize the Silvercup Studios (formerly Silvercup Bread Company) sign.
posted by bartleby at 8:05 PM on March 31, 2022

Kansas City has the giant Western Auto sign.
posted by geoff. at 8:14 PM on March 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Just went looking for pictures of it at night, and it does not disappoint.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:19 PM on March 31, 2022

In Mommie Dearest there's a harsh scene set at a Pepsi-Cola board meeting shortly after Albert Steele's death where Crawford is told that she'll no longer be part of the Board at Pepsi.
posted by bendy at 9:24 PM on March 31, 2022

The Mommie Dearest scene is also wonderfully sampled by MeFi favorite Negativland! "The Greatest Taste Around" on their album Dispepsi
posted by smelendez at 12:54 AM on April 1, 2022

Pepsi blue everywhere.
posted by blue shadows at 1:11 AM on April 1, 2022 [2 favorites]

FARINE FIVE ROSES is as iconic as Montreal landmarks get.
posted by Shepherd at 3:04 AM on April 1, 2022 [2 favorites]

And of course there's Boston's Citgo sign.
posted by Philofacts at 4:06 AM on April 1, 2022

I was sad when I found out the Kentile Floors sign in Brooklyn was taken down.
posted by rikschell at 4:38 AM on April 1, 2022

haha POP ART get it?
posted by entropone at 5:11 AM on April 1, 2022 [3 favorites]

rikschell, my friend has a Kentile Floors sign tattoo on his back.
posted by Ampersand692 at 8:03 AM on April 1, 2022

San Francisco recently lost its iconic Coca-Cola sign. What I really miss is the Mr Peanut sign.

I guess that in a city where everyone and everything is new (and hi-tech), there's no history, and thus no place for historical preservation.

So, my hat's off to New York.
posted by eye of newt at 8:33 AM on April 1, 2022

Portland OR has the White Stag sign which has an interesting history and a warm spot in my heart. I would travel by train between La Grande, OR and Olympia, WA every year at Christmas. Seeing it appear out of the darkness with the red nose lit up as the train rolled into Portland always gave me the holiday feels.
posted by calamari kid at 8:44 AM on April 1, 2022 [3 favorites]

Driving through the light-industrial and export-manufacturing cities of New Jersey, one encounters a historic neon bridge sign with a tone so put-upon that you're tempted to pull over and ask "Trenton, dude, are you okay?"
posted by bartleby at 3:17 PM on April 1, 2022 [1 favorite]