02.23.14
John Foster | Accidental Mysteries

The Dreamland Motel

Much has been noted over the years about the vanishing signage of our American landscape. As weather and rust, neglect and blight take its gradual and sometimes total destruction of the grand signs of mid-century America. Corey Miller, a screenwriter and producer from Los Angeles has been saving these signs with his outstanding photography on Flickr.

Miller began photographing the signs about eight years ago and said:  "There is something inherently melancholy about a fading sign representing the lost hope of a business that has either seen better days, or has closed altogether. Many are modern works of art — and I like to think of the workmanship and the time spent crafting the neon tubes, the form, the typography. I also want to photograph these signs to document fading American relics before they are demolished, and replaced by yet another bland chain store or parking lot.  I usually attempt to isolate the sign in my photographs, often against a clear sky, once again letting it shine."

Back then, on a crowded thoroughfare, if you owned a motel or restaurant — your sign had to "out do" the establishment down the road if you wanted to stay in business. Was it neon you needed? Big flashing arrows? How about pushing that you have color television and air conditioning in every room? The sign makers of that time were in their heyday, and Corey Miller's site — complete with street address and city — is a treat for all of us.

All images on Corey Miler's site and the ones shown here are © copyright.


The Dreamland Motel
On the site of an old Howard Johnson’s, the Paradise Restaurant has long been vacant.
Where Highways 301 and 17 meet in Dover, GA


The Dreamland Motel
Lobster House Restaurant (Explored 9/5/13)
1681 N. Main St., Allendale SC


The Dreamland Motel
Dreamland Motel
1134 Burton's Ferry Highway, Sylvania, GA


The Dreamland Motel
Vince’s Spaghetti
1206 W. Holt Blvd., Ontario CA


The Dreamland Motel
The Lanai Motel
1749 Valley Blvd., Alhambra CA


The Dreamland Motel
Sugar ’n Spice Drive-In Restaurant
Since 1961. 212 S. Pine St., Spartanburg SC


The Dreamland Motel
New Corral Motel
Along old Route 66. 14643 7th St., Victorville CA


The Dreamland Motel
Motel Holiday Inn
1564 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., San Bernardino, CA


The Dreamland Motel
Desert Motors
Along old Route 66, located at 16598 S. D St., Victorville CA


The Dreamland Motel
Vodie’s Alignment and Brakes
9891 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove CA


The Dreamland Motel
Dino’s House Of Pancakes
2120 Highway 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC


The Dreamland Motel
Figueroa Hotel
939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles CA


The Dreamland Motel
Leader Beauty Shop
1946-1989. But the sign still stands tall. 300 block of Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles CA


The Dreamland Motel
Screen Shot from Corey Miller’s Flickr page on signs


The Dreamland Motel
Thunderbird Motor Inn
2004 W. Lucas St., Florence SC


The Dreamland Motel
Lido Motel (Route 66)
2180 Cajon Blvd., San Bernardino CA. On the old Route 66.


The Dreamland Motel
Chip’s Coffee Shop
A classic Googie diner from the 1950's, this restaurant is now a 50's themed restaurant.
11908 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne CA


The Dreamland Motel
Sunland Motel - Explored
465 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson AZ. As seen on Explore 2/22/13.


The Dreamland Motel
The Los Feliz Capri Apartments
2030 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles CA


The Dreamland Motel
Holiday Liquor
9150 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles CA


The Dreamland Motel
Pala Motel
987 E. Holt Ave., Pomona CA


The Dreamland Motel
Tucson Inn
127 W. Drachman St., Tucson AZ


The Dreamland Motel
Pine Cone Resort
601 Highway 50, Zephyr Cove, NV


Posted in: Accidental Mysteries, Arts + Culture, Photography



Comments [2]

Yes and don't forget Rick Poynor's Posted 02.17.08 Lost America: The Flamingo Motor Hotel "!"here
Thank you.
Carl W. Smith
02.23.14
09:49

Absolutely Carl! A great tie-in to this. Thank you!
John Foster
02.24.14
09:37


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