Signs of the Times: Gunther's Ice Cream

If nothing else, Instagram has taught me that there are many people who spend the bulk of their free time documenting interesting, historic, and beautiful signs.  One need only search the hashtags #coolsign or #vintageneon to see that #signgeeks are alive and well.  Never has the activity occupied enough of my time for me to consider it even much of an avocation.  A passing interest?  Maybe.  A road trip diversion?  Sure.  A whimsy?  Why not?

Gunther's Ice Cream (est. 1940) - Sacramento, CA

I suppose the time has come for me to reevaluate my place in the world of sign hunting.  However unpopular my stance, I must admit that I go for the big game.  Fancying myself an expert tracker, I sniff the winds for whiffs of neon and follow the telltale tracks.  If I could, I would triumphantly hoist one foot on top of the very best signs I bag, posing for the camera with a self-satisfied grin.  Among my prize trophies would be Gunther's Ice Cream in Sacramento, CA.

Gunther is all aglow and ready for action!

It can be challenging for a lactose-intolerant to justify embarking on a 1,000-mile safari to the ice cream epicenter of California's capitol, but that is precisely how I know that my devotion borders on the fanatical; I need no justification.  On one trip, I made my family drive approximately 45 miles out of the way (retracing our steps twice) because I got a hunch that there was a good sign I missed (and indeed there was).  I approach this endeavor with all the devotion of a newly-minted Hindu monk.

But if I'm going to worship at the altar of any multiple-
limbed deity, it will be Lord Gunther ...sorry Vishnu. 

Oh, yes.  Gunther's does serve ice cream.  If they didn't, they would have a quite a difficult time explaining the endless line that encircles the building.  Generations of Sacramentians, Sacramentites, Sacra-men's toes (or whatever you call 'em) have made Gunther's Ice Cream a favorite, sun-down watering hole - a truly ideal setting for observing the sign in its natural habitat.

Cherries on top for everyone!

And while I couldn't indulge in the dairy-filled delights, I was more than sated by one of my favorite pastimes - THE HUNT (and thanks to the wacky tacky adventure team, not a single Cecil was injured)!

Sometimes the only way to fit all the sundae-
stuffed wacky tacky adventure team members into
a single photo is to stack 'em - TRIPLE SCOOP!!!

Gunther's Ice Cream
2801 Franklin Blvd
Sacramento, CA
(916)457-6646

gunthersicecream.com


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Signs of the Times: DFW in Lights!!!

On our recent jaunt to the great state of Texas, I had to remind myself that every adventure need not necessarily be a wacky tacky fact-finding mission.  It's okay, I told myself, to to put down the camera and simply enjoy my surroundings.  It's perfectly reasonable, I concluded, to abstain from researching bowling alleys, bakeries, and beauty shops.  It is good etiquette, so I'd read, to connect on a personal level with local residents (particularly if those locals happen to be your awesome extended family members).  But sometimes it is also acceptable to acknowledge that the heart wants what it wants.  And this heart of mine, enlarged by too many trayfuls of good, old-fashioned, Texas barbecue, wants signage - crackling, glowing, neon signage! 

Blue Bonnet Bakery - Fort Worth, TX

The first sign we encountered was in the historic Crescent Heights neighborhood of
Fort Worth; the 80-year-old Blue Bonnet Bakery's new-ish sign added some roadside
whimsy to the 1922 Christian Science Church from which the bakery now operates.  

With a couple of exceptions, signs in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex defy the stereotype that everything is bigger in Texas.  In fact, most of the signs are relatively modest compared to, not just the businesses they advertise, but also the vast prairie country they inhabit.  Thank goodness that we at wacky tacky are not size snobs; new or old, meek or bold, we are of the opinion that when it comes to signs, even modest can be hottest.

Messina's Shoe Repair - Grapevine, TX

It doesn't get much more simple than Messina's sheet-metal & neon shoe.  And yet, there is nothing
so quaint and old-timey as hanging your shingle in the shape of the services/wares that are offered.

Coburn's Cafeteria & Catering - Fort Worth, TX

Unfortunately, the cafeteria inside Coburn's is long gone but they
continue to offer some of North-Central Texas' best catering.

Rose - Fort Worth, TX

I'm not sure what they're advertising but whatever they're sellling, I'm buying.

Leddy's Boots & Saddlery - Fort Worth, TX

You can keep your football; this is my kind of Friday Night lights!!!

Riscky's Steakhouse - Fort Worth, TX

Cool sign - no bull.

Theo's Drive-In - Grand Prairie, TX

Theo's Drive-In - Grand Prairie, TX

Don't you all of the sudden have a serious craving for Cre-Mel Root Beer...whatever that is.

Texas Liquor - Dallas, TX

Buck & Ruck - Dallas, TX

Stop n' Save Liquors - Dallas, TX

The reverse of Stop n' Save Liquors - Dallas, TX

Standard Spring & Brakes - Dallas, TX

Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX

Rollin' deep!

Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Dishes - Grand Prairie, TX

Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX

Adam Hats - Dallas, TX

Twisted Root Burgers - Dallas, TX

Even though this is the one and only time Pee-Wee has ever led us astray (the promise that every Texan we encountered would clap along with us given the appropriate prompting was left unfulfilled after many, many attempts), we still adore Mr. Herman and the signs of DFW.  Although we didn't stick around long enough past sundown to see any of these beauties in their full glory, that didn't dim the twinkle they left in our eyes.  To coin a new phrase, "the signs at night are small but bright, deep in the heart of Texas!!!"

"Deep in the Heart of Texas" - The Ranch Party Gang (1957)

(It should be noted that Town Hall Ranch Party 

was broadcast from Compton, CA - woot woot!)

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Charcoaler Drive-In Restaurant

One time I went to a holiday party and joined in a conversation where a key player was delighting everyone with his impression of Paul Lynde.  His was exceptionally good, considering the fact that Paul Lynde, already a flamboyant caricature of himself, is universally quite easy to impersonate.  As the evening wore on and guests circulated, said impressionist continued to insinuate himself into conversations, employing the same Center Square schtick.  Naturally, my threshold for Uncle Arthur began to be seriously challenged.  Pushed to the limit with every head-wagging innuendo, I got the feeling that even Mr. Lynde himself would have said, "The sincerest form of flattery is keeping your trap shut."  Right before reaching the breaking point, I realized that this imitation went beyond a mere party trick.  It was much more even than a social crutch.  Impersonating Paul Lynde was this guy's thing.  When someone finds a harmless activity/behavior that he does so well that it becomes his thing, who am I to stand in his way?  Such is the case with Charcoaler Drive-In.

Charcoaler Drive-In Restaurant (1961) - El Paso, TX

Charcoaler Drive-In perfected its "thing" in 1961 and has been exercising its right bring that to the party ever since.  And unlike the "Lynde-inator," Charcoaler's familiar performance does not grow wearisome over time.  So, not only will I avoid standing in the way, I will instead prepare the way for Charcoaler by singing its savory praises.

While Charcoaler continues to refer to itself as a "drive-in," my assumption is that the traditional drive-in formula gave way to the drive-thru format quite some time ago.  The set-up at Charcoaler is conventional enough; guests arrive at a wonderfully-succinct, drive-up menu board and place their orders through a speaker box.  

But, oh, what a speaker box!

Pulling through to a window where money is exchanged, guests can anxiously watch the preparation of their orders.  Moments later the food is delivered with friendly utility.

The beautifully-preserved kitchen

Okay, so the whole encounter smacks of McDonald's, Taco Bell, Wendy's, et al.  But it isn't.  The mood, the history, and the unflawed atmosphere set Charcoaler worlds apart.  Even I, however, when reviewing photos of Charcoaler Drive-In, find the structure and the food-delivery method all rather unprepossessing.  The fact is, even the best photographer would consider it a challenge to capture the texture and intact character of an original mid-century drive-in with a mouthful of charbroiled burger and fingers dripping with the house-made barbecue sauce.

...and stars in his eyes from the perfect line drawings printed on every Charcoaler Drive-In bag.
It is impossible for me to express in mere words how much I love unaltered, character-driven packaging. 

"Who cares?  Let's eat!"
Completely unimpressed with the illustrations,
he was wasting no time on wrappers.

Like most food of its kind, Charcoaler's emphasis is on urgency and flavor rather than unerring presentation.
But how can you lose when everything is grilled over honest-to-goodness charcoal and wrapped in those
glorious wax-paper sleeves?!!

Reason enough to go, the food at Charcoaler is whiz bang - a solid three-steps up from the ubiquitous, regional chain restaurants that crowd the surrounding neighborhood.  The best reason to patronize Charcoaler Drive-In, however, is that it is everything it needs to be...and nothing else.  Unconcerned with the flux of the fad-driven, contemporary American diet, Charcoaler Drive-In's menu holds fast to classic drive-in fare (with a few minor additions over time to satisfy every palate).

The simple, flat-roofed buildings that surround the acre of verdant picnic lawn are quintessential, mid-century perfection, unadulterated by questionable color schemes or third-generation (mis)understandings of what patrons expect from a "retro" dining establishment.  Betty Boop is welcome to sup here but her visage has no place on the walls or windows.

And then there's that sign!

Charcoaler Drive-In by day and by night
 If you follow us on Instagram or read our last post, you know that we are suckers for signage;
the sign at Charcoaler leaves our mouths watering both figuratively and literally.
(Source)

Clearly, Charcoaler Drive-In is in no need of redecorating which means that drive-in diners can enjoy the true "essence" of a lovingly-preserved establishment without the "ticky tacky" presence of Mr. Lynde.

Paul Lynde on The Dean Martin Show (1970)

If you find yourself in West Texas, southern New Mexico, or anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, then haul your buns to Charcoaler Drive-In; they'll have your burger waiting!  

Charcoaler Drive-In

5837 N Mesa

El Paso, TX

(915)581-0660

charcoalerdrivein.com


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Signs of the Times: The Neon Wonders of New Mexico

If you're in with Instagram, you might have noticed that the better part of a wacky tacky road trip is dedicated to searching out the coolest in vintage signs - neon, figural, hand-painted, animated, you name it.  It is a pastime infinitely more pleasurable than spying out-of-state license plates and decidedly less painful than hours of slug bug/punch buggy (a brand of family "fun" for which I am still nursing decades-old bruises).  Freshly rehabilitated, completely defunct, or merely operational, we go nuts for the gravity-defying wonders rising from America's dusty byways.  Our recent road trip across the state of New Mexico yielded a bumper crop of dazzling signs; here are some of our favorites.

Century 21 Motel - Las Cruces, NM
The mid-20th Century was so full of bright ideas and optimism for the 21st Century,
I can't help but feel that we let our forebears down; our contemporary signs are lackluster
and we don't have hover cars!!!

Tommy's Roller Rink - Las Cruces, NM
Apparently, Tommy's was a small chain of roller rinks that
went belly-up after an employees-conspired murder. 

Pancake Alley - Las Cruces, NM
We tried to taste the fruits of Pancake Alley at least three times
but were greeted each time with the worst kind of sign -  "CLOSED."

Cattleman's Steak House - Las Cruces, NM

Royal Host Motel - Las Cruces, NM
Las Cruces' crowning glory!

Town House Motel - Las Cruces, NM
Semi-detached 

(Or)Gan Mountain Lodge - Organ, NM
This is the only game in town for the yearly Harvest Festival.  If you wake
up in a bath tub full of ice, you might be at the Organ Harvest Festival. 

Satellite Inn - Alamogordo, NM
Atom-powered! 

Thunderbird Plaza - Alamogordo, NM

Mr. W. Fireworks Gorilla - Alamogordo, NM
"Mr. W Rules!"

White Sands Motel - Alamogordo, NM
"You don't belong in a place like this!"

Western Scene Motel - Santa Fe, NM
We tried to make the "scene" but there was no vacancy.

King's Rest Court Inn - Santa Fe, NM
Where Santa Fe royalty rests their heads.

Santa Fe Lodge - Santa Fe, NM

Cottonwood Court - Santa Fe, NM
Bless this lil' ol', cotton pickin' sign! 

El Camino Family Restaurant - Socorro, NM
Now this is a sign with balls!

Roadrunner Lounge - Socorro, NM
Roadrunners are kind of "thing" in New Mexico.  Meep! Meep!

Butterfield Stage Motel - Deming, NM
Animated horses at full gallop?!!  SIGN me up!

The last photos in this group are two of my very favorite signs from our journey.  In the interest of full disclosure, I will readily admit that they were taken not within New Mexican state lines but rather in the fair city of El Paso, Texas, where the signs at night are just as big and bright as the state's infamous stars.

Charcoaler Drive-In Restaurant - El Paso, TX
Even if the menu offerings were not delicious (incidentally, they were), this sign left our mouths watetring!

Sunshine Bakeries - El Paso, TX
We almost died twice figuring put how to get close to this sign but it was so worth it!

Knowing that the sum of a state is greater than its signs, we also commit ourselves to learning about the history, the culture, the food, and the people of the places we visit.  But in a world ever more darkened by drab, humorless signage, we'll continue to count on the glorious glow of vintage neon to show us the way.  Can't you read the "Signs?"

"Signs" - Five Man Electric Band

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny