Philadelphia Ghost Sign Project

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2010-05-01T08:08:00.001-07:00

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"UP THERE" Film

2010-04-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

"UP THERE" is a short film which follows walldogs as they paint various Stella Artois wall advertisements in SoHo. Shot high above the streets of New York City, "UP THERE" reveals the dying craft of large-scale hand painted advertising and the untold story of the painters struggling to keep it alive. Capturing a trade that is equal parts artistic precision and greuling labor, the filmpresents

"Looking Into the Past" Photograph Series

2010-03-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Michael Hughes’ "Souvenir" photograph series, Jason Powell started "Looking Into the Past", a Flickr pool devoted to overlaying archive photos of buildings and people with photographs of the same location in the present day. While the locations are spread over the Virginia and Washington, D.C. area, it's a very interesting take on the same ideas behind this website. Definitely worth

A Love Letter For You

2009-11-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

A Love Letter For You is a project by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and is sponsored by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative. Painted on the rooftops and walls of Market Street from 63rd to 45th by Overbrook native Stephen Powers and the youth of West Philadelphia.In 1984 Steve Powers started climbing rooftops in his neighborhood and

Vintage Sign Shop

2009-10-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Somewhat related, just got passed this info about Kidimo, a new shop in Paris that sells vintage shop signs.

James and Karla Murray - STORE FRONT

2009-08-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

Just came across photographers James and Karla Murray’s portfolio. Much attention has been focused on their recent collaboration in MOM & POPISM (an installation of their photos (almost lifesize) embellished by street artists on the rooftop of Gawker Media, which opened this weekend - photos here). But I am (of course) more intrigued by the straightforward documentary approach of the storefront

Russ Brooks' Winning Italian Market Photo

2009-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

This image was taken by my friend Russ Brooks as part of the Scott Kelby 2nd Annual Worldwide Photo Walk. It was the winner for the South Philadelphia area. Great shot. Congratulations Russ!What is a Photo Walk, you ask?It's a social photography event where photographers get together, usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town, to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with

Asheville, NC Signs

2009-07-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

"fresh up with 7up""NuGrap"Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC [map]NOT Philadelphian... Sent in by Brian, who spied these in Asheville, North Carolina.Thanks!

Philly Suburban Ghosts

2009-07-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few ghost signs found just outside the Philadelphia city limits:"WM. C. WILCUTTS HUDSON"Older signage (in white) peeks through from underneath.. perhaps a "C"?Photo submitted by Max Buten of the Lower Merion Historical Society - thanks!Taken in 2001; building was torn down in 2009 to rationalize the intersection.Ardmore Ave at Lancaster Ave, Ardmore PA [map]"RUFE BROS.""Plumbing""Steam

Pencoyd Restaurant

2009-07-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

"Pencoyd Restaurant"None of the old paint remains, just the imprint of the letters on the metal backing.Sent in by Max Buten of the Lower Merion Historical Society. Thanks!3741 Main Street, Manayunk [map]

ARCHIVE - Home of Ortleib's

2009-07-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

"HOME OF - Ortleibs (logo) - illegible - JOE'S BEER"Sign has since been stucco-ed over.Taken 18 August 1995. From Xnedski's Flickr NoLibs Archive.3rd Street between Brown and Poplar [map]

ARCHIVE - TACO (Trans-Atlantic Company)

2009-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

"TACO" on water tower. "Trans-Atlantic Company Quality Builders Hardware 420-442 Fairmount Ave. WA 5 ??45".Older signage is visible beneath: "Manufacturing Pharmacists".Sign has since been painted over.Taken 18 August 1995. From Xnedski's Flickr NoLibs Archive.Fairmount between 4th and 5th [map]

ARCHIVE - Herold's Sauerkraut Buildings

2009-07-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Visible just past the lot which has become Liberty Lands Park.Building has been demolished.Another related building."P. Herold and Sons - Packers of Food Products".This building has also been demolished.Taken 18 August 1995. From Xnedski's Flickr NoLibs Archive.Wildey at 3rd Street [map]

...SY CORNER

2009-06-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

"... CANVAS GOODS CO"Older, barely visible signage appears beneath.Belgrade and Lehigh [map]

Clarke and Cohen

2009-06-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

"Clarke and Cohen""Expert Adjusters and Appraisers of Fire Losses for the Assured"Older version of this signage appears beneath.Here is the sign in a photo dated 11/18/1959:PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 26 June 2009. .Corner, Chestnut and Bank Streets [map]

Acme Piano Co.

2009-06-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

"...PIANO"You can see the building with signage intact at the far left corner in this archive photo from 1963.PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 9 June 2009. .2nd and Queen Streets [map]

DPW, Bureau of Street Cleaning Wagon Shop

2009-06-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

"DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS""WAGON SHOP""BUREAU OF STREET CLEANING"Spied this on the ever-fantastic Necessity for Ruins blog. All credit to NFR for the wonderful photography (click through for bigger/alternate imagery).25th btwn. Oakford and Manton Streets [map]

Waynesville Coca-Cola

2009-06-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

"Coca-Cola"Older, larger version appears beneath.NOT Philadelphian... Sent in by Brian, who spied this in Waynesville, North Carolina.Thanks!

Flagstaff Ice Cream

2009-05-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

"The MOORE(?) DRUG CO.MISSION ICE CREAMand frozen barz"NOT Philadelphian... Sent in by Vanessa, who spied this in Flagstaff, Arizona.Thanks!

ENCORE - GHOST SIGN SHOW

2009-03-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Photographic Selections fromThe Philadelphia Ghost Sign Projectat the PRIMER MicrostudioOpening this First Friday, March 6th6:00 to 10:00 pmJoin us for a special encore exhibition of photographs taken by Lawrence O'Toole in attempt to document these once prominent but now quickly vanishing features of the urban landscape.If you can't make the opening, the gallery is open during normal business

Ghost Sign Show Photos

2009-02-09T15:39:00.000-08:00

Photos of the opening have been posted to the PRIMER Microstudio Flickr page. The show will be up all month. Stop on by!

GHOST SIGN SHOW THIS FRIDAY!

2009-02-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Photographic Selections fromThe Philadelphia Ghost Sign Projectat the PRIMER MicrostudioOpening this First Friday, February 6th6:00 to 10:00 pmJoin us for an exhibition of photographs taken by Lawrence O'Toole in attempt to document these once prominent but now quickly vanishing features of the urban landscape.If you can't make the opening, the gallery is open during normal business hours, and

Ghost SIgn Article in Baltimore STYLE Magazine

2009-01-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

Photographer LaShelle Bynum captures the 'ghost signs' of Baltimore's advertising past:Once she got started, Bynum couldn’t stop hunting for the old signs, which are known as ghost signs because they advertise long-gone businesses and because white is often the only color remaining on a sign (white lead paint deteriorates slower than color paints). Over the period of five years, Bynum amassed a

7up

2009-01-06T01:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the same storefront in 1951. From the angle you can't tell what is on the side of the building, but you can see some sort of signage there.PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia Department of Records. 6 January 2009. .50th and Lancaster Streets [map]

CLOTHING

2009-01-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

Strange, everything is very faded except "CLOTHING"...31st and Girard [map]