The Arrow Neon Sign was built in 1961 by the Neonette Sign Company of New Westminster when this property was opened as the Tomahawk Drive-in Restaurant. The restaurant was later known as Lindy's Burger and in 1990, the business was renamed Lost in the 50's Drive-in. It stands 20-foot tall and is composed of a large double-sided hollow steel panel serpentine arrow mounted on a pole supporting a lexan sign panel measuring approximately 8 feet wide by 4 feet tall. The sign was designed with three illuminated features: a round lamp at the top of the pole, a double-sided rectangular fluorescent sign panel box, and two double-sided rows of orange neon arrows that follow the large serpentine arrow.
The Arrow Neon Sign remains as a rare surviving example of neon sign art in the city and is the only historic neon sign in South Burnaby. The sign has gained prominence over the years as it has been associated with this small iconic drive-in which has also been utilized as a set for film production. Additionally, the drive-in has played a prominent role in the Edmonds community as a popular setting for recent "Show and Shine" participants to park their classic cars.
Photograph of the Interurban tram no. 1223 restoration at the Edmonds bus loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway. Men on a scaffold are working on the tram, and two buses are visible.
Photograph of the Interurban tram no. 1223 restoration at the Edmonds bus loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway. Men on a scaffold are working on the tram, and two buses are visible.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway with Interurban tram no. 1223 (Central Park Line) on display under a covered area to the left. The side of a bus visible on the right. There is a bus stop sign for the 52 Nelson.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway with Interurban tram no. 1223 (Central Park Line) on display under a covered area to the left. The side of a bus visible on the right. There is a bus stop sign for the 52 Nelson.
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.6 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby Players parading along Kingsway in costume. Some members are in a car with a sign reading "Burnaby Players," while others walk alongside. The photo was taken at the corner of Kingsway and Silver Avenue facing north.
1 photograph : b&w ; 2.6 x 4.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.2 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-359
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Burnaby Players parading along Kingsway in costume. Some members are in a car with a sign reading "Burnaby Players," while others walk alongside. The photo was taken at the corner of Kingsway and Silver Avenue facing north.
Photograph of the buildings at 3951 and 3953 Hastings Street. A number of business signs are visible including "Paulettes Beauty Salon" and "Norburn Secondhand Store."
Photograph of the buildings at 3951 and 3953 Hastings Street. A number of business signs are visible including "Paulettes Beauty Salon" and "Norburn Secondhand Store."
Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, seated and eating at an unidentified fast food restaurant. Numerous signs and advertisements can be seen on the windows behind the family.
Photograph of Frances Johnston and her two children, Sean and Wendy, seated and eating at an unidentified fast food restaurant. Numerous signs and advertisements can be seen on the windows behind the family.
Photograph taken looking east along Hastings Street, near Gilmore Avenue. The photograph was taken at night and a number of businesses and business signs are visible, including those for Wosk's and the Admiral Hotel (at 4125 Hastings).
Photograph taken looking east along Hastings Street, near Gilmore Avenue. The photograph was taken at night and a number of businesses and business signs are visible, including those for Wosk's and the Admiral Hotel (at 4125 Hastings).
Photograph of Frances Johnston and her children Sean and Wendy standing underneath a sign for "Kiddieland" at Playland in Vancouver. A large, giraffe-shaped signboard can be seen next to the entrance booths and a number of amusement rides are visible in the background.
Photograph of Frances Johnston and her children Sean and Wendy standing underneath a sign for "Kiddieland" at Playland in Vancouver. A large, giraffe-shaped signboard can be seen next to the entrance booths and a number of amusement rides are visible in the background.
Photograph of the Lougheed Hotel on Lougheed Highway. Electric "Hotel" and "Vacancy" signs can be seen. A board advertises, "Smorgasbord Fri & Sat April 4th On, Ph GL 0221." "TV" is also advertised.
Photograph of the Lougheed Hotel on Lougheed Highway. Electric "Hotel" and "Vacancy" signs can be seen. A board advertises, "Smorgasbord Fri & Sat April 4th On, Ph GL 0221." "TV" is also advertised.
Photograph of Rob Walsh during his campaign as the provincial Liberal Party candidate for Burnaby-Edmonds. He is standing at the side of a campervan that is covered in campaign posters, speaking to an unidentified man in a suit and top coat. Another unidentified man is visible in the background.
Photograph of Rob Walsh during his campaign as the provincial Liberal Party candidate for Burnaby-Edmonds. He is standing at the side of a campervan that is covered in campaign posters, speaking to an unidentified man in a suit and top coat. Another unidentified man is visible in the background.
Photograph of a crowd of people gathered to listen to Tommy Douglas deliver a speech at Confederation Park. A few people in the audience are holding signs that read "Re-elect Douglas." Tommy Douglas served as the MP for Burnaby-Coquitlam from 1962 to 1968. He went on to become the 7th Premier of S…
Photograph of a crowd of people gathered to listen to Tommy Douglas deliver a speech at Confederation Park. A few people in the audience are holding signs that read "Re-elect Douglas." Tommy Douglas served as the MP for Burnaby-Coquitlam from 1962 to 1968. He went on to become the 7th Premier of Saskatchewan.
This portion of the interview is about the interurban tram service in Burnaby, how it was used, the interurban routes, reasons for closing the interurban and later building Skytrain, and attempts to purchase an old tram car for Heritage Village
This portion of the interview is about the interurban tram service in Burnaby, how it was used, the interurban routes, reasons for closing the interurban and later building Skytrain, and attempts to purchase an old tram car for Heritage Village
Date Range
1930-1990
Photo Info
Burnaby Alderman, Bill (William) Lewarne, [1973]. Item no. 231-012
Recording is of an interview with former Mayor William “Bill” Lewarne, conducted by Rod Fowler. Bill Lewarne was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about Bill Lewarne’s business and political careers, and memories of growing up in South Burnaby in the 1930s. Bill Lewarne talks about his parent’s origins, his family and community struggles during the Depression, the interurban, his education, war service, and joining his father's business. He describes the start, operation and expansion of the family ice cream business, and how business life compared to political life. The interview explores the role of politics in community affairs, his political activities, the history of the BVA, and his involvement in various community organizations. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track, expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
William Alfred “Bill” Lewarne was born in Burnaby in 1926 to Ethel Cecilia Leer (1899- ) and Alfred Lewarne (1893-1962). The family, Ethel, Alfred and their three children Patricia, Beverley and William, moved to a house on Nelson Avenue in Alta Vista in 1931. Ethel still lived in the family home in 1990. Bill Lewarne attended Nelson Avenue School and South Burnaby High School (1932-1944). His father Alfred worked at Colony Farms as a dairy inspector and then for the Port of Vancouver Dairy before being laid off early in the Depression. The family struggled until in 1936 Alfred started his own ice cream business. After graduation Bill was in the army for two years, taking a refrigeration course under the veteran’s training benefit, before joining his father’s business. Three generations of the family operated the successful company, expanding from wholesale, retail and distribution of ice cream products into refrigerated warehouses and the wholesale ice business, until the business was sold to its competitor Dairyland in 1989. Bill Lewarne entered politics in 1965, first with the Nonpartisan Association (NPA) and then as a founder of the Burnaby Citizens Association (BCA). He served as an alderman on Burnaby Council 1973-1975 and 1977-1981 and as Mayor 1981-1987. In 1979 he ran for provincial office for the Social Credit Party against Rosemary Brown but lost.
Bill Lewarne married June Lawrence and they had three children Robert, Leslie and Janice. He was active in many organizations: Burnaby/Willingdon Liberal Association, Seton Villa, Irish Fusileers of Canada, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion, and the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, and continued to be active on the Board of the BCA. Bill Lewarne died in 1995.
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and business computerization in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway. There is a bus stop sign for the 31 Douglas and 58 SFU with "For bus information phone 261-4211" written at the bottom. No buses are visible.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway. There is a bus stop sign for the 31 Douglas and 58 SFU with "For bus information phone 261-4211" written at the bottom. No buses are visible.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway including two buses, a bus shelter, and a telephone booth. Stores and billboards, including one for "Mounties play-by-play" on CKWX, can be seen in the background.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway including two buses, a bus shelter, and a telephone booth. Stores and billboards, including one for "Mounties play-by-play" on CKWX, can be seen in the background.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway, including a broken fence. Interurban tram no. 1223 is visible in the upper right of the photograph.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway, including a broken fence. Interurban tram no. 1223 is visible in the upper right of the photograph.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway, including a bus shelter and telephone booth with a broken fence in front. A Safeway sign can be seen in the background.
Photograph of the Edmonds Bus Loop at Edmonds Street and Kingsway, including a bus shelter and telephone booth with a broken fence in front. A Safeway sign can be seen in the background.