Although "signs" is one of my favorite postcard collecting topics, I don't have any postcards with building signs advertising signs like the one in this week's Sepia Saturday prompt. I chose this postcard for my post because of the "Business is better in Minneapolis" sign (which advertises both Minneapolis business and advertising itself) and the Orpheum Theater signs. This postcard is probably from the early 1930s.
Hennepin Avenue is one of the main streets in downtown Minneapolis. The Orpheum Theater is located between 9th and 10th Streets. The State Theater, also seen on the postcard, is located between 8th and 9th Streets. Both of these theaters opened in 1921 and have been restored. RKO, appearing at the top of the old sign, was one of the biggest movie studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The Orpheum Theater presented both vaudeville acts and movies. The names at the bottom of the sign — Richard Dix, Jackie Cooper, Burns & Allen — were all popular well-known entertainers.
I was somewhat surprised that I couldn't find more old photos of the Orpheum Theater. The one below is dated approximately 1925 (source). The theater sign appears to be much shorter in this photo, and the marquee isn't clear enough to read. What really surprised me is what is next to the theater in this photo — a building with signs advertising signs!
Below is an enlarged view of the "signs" building. On the side of that building is a sign advertising Holsum Bread, and next door is a shoe shine shop with with signs advertising the prices for dyeing shoes black or brown.
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Nice sign for signs. I will have to keep a look out around here for such a sign.
ReplyDeleteI could have called this post "Advertising Advertising & Signs Signs…"
ReplyDeleteFabulous card! I wish I could step right into it and go see Burns & Allen at the Orpheum.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed this. Sign on signs - great!!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun comparing the postcard and photo.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a very pleasant surprize to find the signs building when you were hunting for Theatre photos.
ReplyDeleteAs ever wonderful images, with so much content to spot in your first postcard.
ReplyDeleteWonderful collection of signs.
ReplyDeleteBurns and Allen. Lovely. What a blast from the past !
ReplyDeleteThe SIGNS signs are a perfect match for the SIGNS sign in the prompt photo.
ReplyDeleteRemember Burns and Allen (Gracie was such a good foil, wasn't she?). The building with signs advertising signs is wonderful...nice post!
ReplyDeleteI like these old postcards! I know that street very well! Not so much as it was then though!
ReplyDeleteMy! You could get your shoes shined, have a sign painted to order, & watch a little vaudeville all within three connected buildings. Sort of like Helen's "eat, drink, & drop dead within a few steps of each other" post. Fun!
ReplyDeleteI loved how you enlarged things for us and in the process of searching for other photos of the same building found...yet more signs!
ReplyDeleteA bit of 'poetic license' seems to have been taken with then first postcard. The Orpheum sign looks impossibly huge!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find - signs within signs!
ReplyDeleteLots of great signs in this post. It's interesting to see how the old linen postcards scan -- you can practically see how they were printed!
ReplyDelete