The Lighthouse (Closed)
San Carlos, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Cruising along El Camino Real in San Carlos, check out the neon glow from The Lighthouse. The lighting shop carried its theme right up onto the roadside sign, with a colorful lighthouse perched above the boulevard. A pretty fitting advertisement for a business selling illumination.

This family-owned showroom spent about 65 years helping customers find lighting fixtures and electrical supplies. Inside, there were lamps and lights for the home. Outside, the neon offered something for passing motorists to admire without having to redecorate a room.

That lighthouse gave the shop a landmark of its own along a busy commercial stretch. Instead of guiding ships away from the rocks, this one helped drivers spot a place to brighten the living room. Apparently, a nautical beacon could find useful work well inland.

UPDATE: The Lighthouse has closed after its long run in San Carlos. It appears the sign is still there but lost its zap. 10-26

Tower Records
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

There’s a little movement in the nighttime scenery beside Sacramento’s Tower Theatre. This Tower Records sign belongs to the familiar Dancing Kids display, with neon dancers perched above a record. Their moving legs and flashing musical bars gave the advertisement a show of its own.

The sign was created in 1949 for Clayton and Russ Solomon. Record sales at the family’s Tower Drugs helped lay the groundwork for the Tower Records story, giving this playful marquee a connection to something much bigger than its little patch of sidewalk.

UPDATE: The original Dancing Kids sign was moved indoors for preservation. In 2026, Sacramento approved keeping it inside the Tower District offices and approved an outdoor replica. Installation of the replacement hasn’t been confirmed, but the original dancers have escaped another round of weather. 10-26

Gunther's Ice Cream
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Watch that scoop! The animated Gunther’s Ice Cream sign in Sacramento features Jugglin Joe tossing ice cream into the air and catching it in a cone. Here’s a neon employee who has been handling the same order for decades without taking a break.

Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife Iva opened their ice cream business in April 1940. When they moved to the present location in 1949, Pop designed Joe to help announce the shop. The character became a rooftop attraction, giving customers something to watch while deciding on a flavor.

UPDATE: Gunther’s remains open, and Jugglin Joe continues his neon routine above the shop. The business still uses its original 1940s recipe, with more butterfat than typical commercial brands. Ice cream inside and an animated sign outside make a pretty good combination. 10-26

Pelton Plaza
San Leandro, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Here’s another shopping-center sign worth catching after dark: Pelton Plaza in San Leandro. The neon gives the center’s name a little extra presence beyond the storefronts, making the entrance part of the attraction. A shopping trip could come with something to admire before the car was even parked.

Pelton Plaza dates to 1948, and its vintage sign appears to come from that early chapter. That puts the center in the years when neighborhood shopping developments were giving motorists a place to handle several errands in one stop. A memorable sign helped distinguish one plaza from the next.

Check out how the illuminated lettering gives the property an identity of its own. Individual stores might change over the years, but a shopping-center marquee could remain the familiar landmark customers watched for along the road. Even someone with no errands left could enjoy the glow.

UPDATE: Pelton Plaza remains a shopping destination, and its vintage sign is still documented outside the center. Not sure whether every neon tube lights up these days, but the old marker has held onto its place in the roadside scenery. Hopefully, there are plenty more evenings left in this one. 10-26

Modesto Arch
Modesto, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Heading through downtown, look up at the Modesto Arch and its familiar greeting: “Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.” Built in 1912, the illuminated span has welcomed generations of travelers, becoming one of the best-known landmarks along the old Highway 99 journey.

The arch measures 75 feet across and 25 feet high, with a reported original cost of about $1,200. That bought the city a pretty substantial advertisement, especially one that could put its message across the street rather than on a single storefront. There’s a more unusual slogan behind the familiar wording. “Nobody’s Got Modesto’s Goat” won the motto contest, but officials chose the second-place entry for the arch. Apparently, water and wealth sounded a little more inviting than a dispute over a goat.

UPDATE: The arch remains standing and received a major restoration for its centennial in 2012, including LED lighting. More than a century after its debut, it’s still giving downtown Modesto a bright introduction. 10-26

Morebeck's Flower Shop (Gone)
Sacramento, CA
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Flowers weren’t the only attraction at Morebeck’s Flower Shop in Sacramento. The old sign gave the business something to show off after dark, adding another specialty-shop marquee to the city’s neon scenery.

William “Bill” Morebeck owned the flower shop, and a 1968 newspaper listing places it in the Midtown neighborhood. It’s an appealing combination: bouquets inside and a glowing advertisement outside, with something to catch the eye even after the day’s flower shopping was finished.

UPDATE: Morebeck’s is reported closed, though the final closing date is still a question. Not sure where its old flower-shop sign ended up either. Hopefully, someone saved a little of that glow when the bouquets moved out. 10-26