Monday, January 6, 2014

Signs of the Times: Kingman Club

Kingman Club- Kingman, AZ

Giving new meaning to "Dirty Martini," the sign for the shuttered Kingman Club (in Kingman, AZ of all places), had us once again sauntering down imaginary lane.  In its earliest days, did the club serve as an exclusive hot spot - "Where Kingman's elite meet?"  The glowing martini glasses and the neon script with its curlicued "b" had us believing that the club's origins were quite glamorous.  On the other hand, the flickering bulbs and addendum offering such plebeian pastimes as shuffleboard and darts had us rethinking our position.  Instead of Gimlets and Brandy Alexanders, "$1 Well Drinks" were the order of the day (and the morning, the afternoon, and the night for that matter).  With just a moment longer to reflect on the history of the sign, we were left with the feeling that the more-recent patrons of the Kingman Club (decidedly rougher than our romantic visions of Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as George and Marion Kerby) probably gave the stink-eye AND the middle finger to anyone uttering the words "Shaken, not stirred."  

Speaking of middle fingers...
The "Kingman Salute" is a reminder to all who
leave town that Kingman is number one!
(Finger Rock is between Kingman and Bullhead City on I-68)


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

6 comments:

  1. If walls could talk! Perhaps the "$1 well drinks" and other creative distractions came after the heyday?! That dark time in our vintage loving past know as "the 1980's"... Alas, I love the curlicue and tall cocktails!

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    1. I think you're right; they probably came as later additions. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find much information on the Kingman Club. It would be interesting to see some old-timey pictures.

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  2. what an amazing sign!

    retro rover

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    1. Pretty neat, huh? It is great that there are still so many cool signs (whether the business is functioning or not). We're always on the hunt for them!

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  3. In Toronto Beaches' area, there was a Chinese restaurant that was referred to as "The Goof". The sign out front was an oldie and read "Good Food" spelled out in light bulbs, but the "d" in Good and the "ood" were burnt out and were never replaced. So, the place started to be referred to as "the Goof". I always wanted to go there just because I found that hilarious but never managed it.

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    1. I love that! That kind of story would make me want to be a regular there too!

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