Roadside Peek : Where Are They Now

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Here at Roadside Peek's Where Are They Now? section, sneak a peek at signs and places of interest that once captured our fancy... and have just recently become just a memory. Change is inevitable (although sometimes a bit more rapid than need be - i.e. Anaheim's sign removal campaign). Some of the best of yesteryear can and will be found in Roadside Peek's Where Are They Now?

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Apache Tears Motel Marquee (Inducted 01/25/02)
Tucson, AZ

Welcome to the Apache Tears Motel, off the old Benson Highway in Tucson, Arizona. Featuring a name that hearkens back to legends of the skirmishes between US troops and Apache Indians back in the 1800's, the Apache Tears displays a jewel of a figure by the roadside.

Check out the figure's paint scheme. The statues itself has to be seen to appreciate its size and the solemnness it portrays seems to suffocate the air around it.

Apache Tears Motel Marquee
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Well, we've seen many endings as far as roadside treasures go. Some places have come down in a glorious farewell. Others come crashing down with no consideration for their heritage and history.

Apache Tears new marquee
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

As far as ugly endings go, the ruins of the former marquee of the Apache Tears is most likely the 2nd tops. Not only has the marvelous signage been replaced by a rather plain looking back lit plastic sign, the treasure of a statue has been unceremoniously dumped... headless... down the road. Wow...

Burger Chef (Inducted 3/13/00)

Burger Chef
Photos courtesy John Flack

A fantastic site (and sight) for burgers, Burger Chef's huge marquee welcomes the hungry traveler in this 1965 shot.

(Below) A much more demure Burger Chef marquee hides itself next to the road in this 1980 photo. What happened to the great architecture shown above? I guess time did tell.

Burger Chef
1965 to 1980 Transformation
Photos courtesy John Flack

Bowling Alley Marquees (Inducted 9/26/99)

Bowling alley marquees have been a major part of the soul of roadside pop culture for decades. However, many signs (and entire alleys) have disappeared in the 1990's. The following are examples of our history now lost.

Bowlium Bowl Marquee
? - 1999
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Welcome to the Bowlium in Pomona. And inviting you to play a few games is the pastel colored marquee alongside Mission Ave.
Now spin forward to September, 1999 and the classic marquee is gone, only to be replaced by... a generic AMF sign!!! No comment.

(Many thanks to Dustin Brewer for tip regarding Bowlium marquee replacement)

In the Anaheim area and itching for some ten pin alley action? Then look no further than the Carter Bowl, home to a great googie sign to boot! From the large "BOWL" lettering to the holes in the stand structure, this marquee is a great historical relic to the googie era.

Carter Bowl Marquee
? - 1999
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The "new" Carter Bowl Marquee
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Unfortunately, it is 1999, and Carter Bowl has met the fate of "progress" (or AMF design management), and the marquee has been replaced. Look familiar?

Tiny Naylor's (Van de Kamp's) (Inducted 6/20/99)
Monterey Park, CA

Hungry or just begging for a quick stopover after a night on the town? Or just looking for breakfast before a trip out of town. Tiny Naylor's (formerly Van de Kamp's) is the place to be.

Tiny Naylor's (formerly Van de Kamp's)
19?? - 1999
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Well, as times change, styles change. With new ownership comes new ideas. The magnificent windmill has now been removed and a Carrow's will be occupying the site. Another great restaurant design of decades past is now now history.

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