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One of my favorite things about the Citgo sign is driving up Bay State road at night and seeing its reflection in the windows of the brownstones. I think it's beautiful!
Posted by Kate on January 6, 2003 10:08 AM.
In the late 40's my parents would take my brorher and I to visit my grandmother in East Boston every Friday night. Since we lived in Dedham we got to drive through quite a bit of Boston. One of my most viivid memories was the many impressive neon signs we would see on the way home. If I remember correctly the current Citgo sign was preceded by an even more impressive City Services sign. It was an animated neon oil derrick that gushed oil every 30 or so seconds. Another favorite was over a hot dog stand in Mattapan. It was an animated neon dachshund in a bun with a wagging tail. The hot dogs were good too.
Posted by Tom Gartland on February 9, 2003 12:11 AM.
I saw this posting while I was looking for some information about a Citgo sign flip-book, which I once purchased at the old Harvard Coop, for out-of-town-living friends of mine who were lonesome for Boston.
The memory of an oil-gushing neon sign is correct, but it was not a City Services sign. Rather, it was the old White's Fuel sign (to my knowledge, a local oil supplier), which was perched atop the block that the old Buckminster Hotel (It's actually rooms and music rehearsal spaces last I knew--but with Kenmore Sq. being demolished so rapidly, who knows?) stands. The landmark most associated with that corner of the block now is, sadly, a chain restaurant--Pizzeria Uno's.
The Coca-Cola sign, another Boston neon landmark, which used to be viewable from Storrow Drive in Allston is apparently in storage somewhere in Allston. I had read an article about its possible reinstallation a few years back, but the article also said neighborhood activists were objecting to it on grounds of it being a waste of energy and visual pollution--probably some Commies who just don't appreciate good pop art, and because it was for a commercial product that is such an international symbol of United States capitalism. If it was a neon sign of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin or Mao Ze Dong, you can be sure they'd salute!
Anyway, keep on enjoying the neon--where you can find it!
Posted by Jim on April 10, 2004 03:28 PM.
I saw this posting while I was looking for some information about a Citgo sign flip-book, which I once purchased at the old Harvard Coop, for out-of-town-living friends of mine who were lonesome for Boston.
The memory of an oil-gushing neon sign is correct, but it was not a City Services sign. Rather, it was the old White's Fuel sign (to my knowledge, a local oil supplier), which was perched atop the block that the old Buckminster Hotel (It's actually rooms and music rehearsal spaces last I knew--but with Kenmore Sq. being demolished so rapidly, who knows?) stands. The landmark most associated with that corner of the block now is, sadly, a chain restaurant--Pizzeria Uno's.
The Coca-Cola sign, another Boston neon landmark, which used to be viewable from Storrow Drive in Allston is apparently in storage somewhere in Allston. I had read an article about its possible reinstallation a few years back, but the article also said neighborhood activists were objecting to it on grounds of it being a waste of energy and visual pollution--probably some Commies who just don't appreciate good pop art, and because it was for a commercial product that is such an international symbol of United States capitalism. If it was a neon sign of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin or Mao Ze Dong, you can be sure they'd salute!
Anyway, keep on enjoying the neon--where you can find it!
Posted by Jim on April 10, 2004 03:37 PM.
I saw this posting while I was looking for some information about a Citgo sign flip-book, which I once purchased at the old Harvard Coop, for out-of-town-living friends of mine who were lonesome for Boston.
The memory of an oil-gushing neon sign is correct, but it was not a City Services sign. Rather, it was the old White's Fuel sign (to my knowledge, a local oil supplier), which was perched atop the block that the old Buckminster Hotel (It's actually rooms and music rehearsal spaces last I knew--but with Kenmore Sq. being demolished so rapidly, who knows?) stands. The landmark most associated with that corner of the block now is, sadly, a chain restaurant--Pizzeria Uno's.
The Coca-Cola sign, another Boston neon landmark, which used to be viewable from Storrow Drive in Allston is apparently in storage somewhere in Allston. I had read an article about its possible reinstallation a few years back, but the article also said neighborhood activists were objecting to it on grounds of it being a waste of energy and visual pollution--probably some Commies who just don't appreciate good pop art, and because it was for a commercial product that is such an international symbol of United States capitalism. If it was a neon sign of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin or Mao Ze Dong, you can be sure they'd salute!
Anyway, keep on enjoying the neon--where you can find it!
Posted by Jim on April 10, 2004 03:38 PM.
I think I remember the impressive White Fuel sign from the early 70's. I think it had discrete light bulbs. White Fuel became part of Texaco and has been since absorbed into one of the amalgamated oil dealers. Trucks with the label still existed as of 2003.
The Coca Cola Bottling Company of Boston's sign was stored temporarily at the Beacon train engine facility (Conrail/CSX). It was apparently scrapped. No one has taken responsibility.
Posted by Phineas J Whoopie on October 13, 2004 06:35 AM.
I live right in Kenmore Square with a perfect view of the Citgo sign...except that for the last few months, it is no longer lit up. Does anyone know why? In the fall it looked like many new bulbs were replaced and the sign itself was upgraded. So why is this landmark dark???
Posted by wendy on January 25, 2005 07:18 PM.
That old Citgo sign was the coolest thing about going to school in Kenmore Square. One time, me and a couple of friends went up on the roof of our school which was just a stone's throw from the sign. It was really a cool experience - the sound it made when it lit up.... very cool, and I can't wait to see the new one!
Posted by just me on May 4, 2005 09:09 PM.
I remember the Coca Cola sign in Allston right near the entrance of Storrow Drive. It used to be right about where that Guest Suites hotel is now. Next to it actually. At night the sign was spectacular. During the day it was no slouch either. It was more fun to see that the Citgo sign in my opinion. It used to have this wave of color and white lights that would swoop from the top of the first C in Coca all the way to the A at the end of Cola with this beautiful vibrant red background all in red lights. It was the greatest sign. It also used to tell time which, when you were racing home to beat a curfew came in handy.
Posted by Mireille on August 9, 2005 07:48 PM.
does anybody have any images of the BOSTON WHARF, INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE SIGN..from the 263 summer street building in the fort point channel area?--trying to date it and want to see a record of the glass layout--double or single stroke--colors-just neon? clear..
thanks e
Posted by ed on November 28, 2005 05:13 PM.
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Looks like Boston's most famous neon sign, the Citgo Sign in Kenmore Square, could use a few new tubes. Or something.