Arrow Neon Sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Lost in the 50's Drive-in
- Geographic Access
- Edmonds Street
- Associated Dates
- 1961
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Heritage Value
- 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.
- Locality
- Edmonds
- Historic Neighbourhood
- East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Lakeview-Mayfield Area
- Builder
- Neonette Sign Company
- Community
- Burnaby
- Contributing Resource
- Structure
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Street Address
- 7741 Edmonds Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
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Central Park
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1920 (date of original), photographed 1985
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 11.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Central Park entrance arch with the "Central Park" electric sign. An Interurban tram can be seen on the right. This photograph used to be hung at the Central Park branch of the Burnaby Public Library.
Central Park testing station
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 9, 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Photographic Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (tiff)
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the COVID-19 testing station located in the Central Park parking lot off Boundary Road. A sign in the foreground reads "Covid-19 Care Site by Referral Only / Walk in Access". In the background, the white tents of the testing station are visible.
Gordon Presbyterian Church Refreshment Tent
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1987
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the Gordon Presbyterian Church refreshment tent at the Central Park Agricultural Exhibition. Banners above the door of the tent read, "Gordon Presby Church Refreshments" and "Hot Meals." Other banners and penants read, "God Save the King" and "Canada." Nine women an…
Gordon Presbyterian Church Refreshment Tent
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1987
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 12.4 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the Gordon Presbyterian Church refreshment tent at the Central Park Agricultural Exhibition. A sign above the door of the tent reads, "Gordon Presby Church Refreshments." Eight women and two men are standing outside the tent. The women are wearing aprons. Pennants …
The Hot Dog Inn and proprietors
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1924
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 12.9 cm on page 17.5 x 24.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the hot dog stand built at Deer Lake for ice skaters. Standing in front of it are the "proprietors" A. D. Bowker and Abe Rowe. The sign affixed to the stand reads: "This Is The Hot Dog Inn And It's Cold Outside / Come Right In / Coffee 5 cents / Hot Dogs 10 cents".
neon sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV016.18.2
- Description
- Eagle Ford neon sign. It is a large double-sided hollow sheet metal sign measuring 13.3 feet tall and 8.9 feet wide. The sheet metal and structure of the sign retains most of the eagle's original painted image, including the dramatic wings with their blue and white feather pattern.
- Object History
- Eagle Motors Limited was established by the well-known Burnaby businessman Frank McCracken at 4161 Hastings Street in 1948. The car dealership became a successful local Heights business and was the largest Ford car and truck retailer in the province during its operation. The company had adopted the silhouette of the classic Bald Eagle in full flight to serve as a logo which was utilized in advertising and promotional materials. The eagle symbol was famously developed into a classic chrome badge with the name "Eagle Ford - Burnaby, BC" that was installed on all the Eagle Ford cars and trucks sold by the dealership. After a new showroom building was constructed on the site in 1950, the company commissioned Neon Products of Vancouver to manufacture a very large double-sided neon eagle. Typical of neon signs of the era, the eagle was painted with dramatic designs and bright primary colours on metal with blue, white, and gold neon tubing serving to highlight the outline of the eagle.
- The "Burnaby Eagle" sign immediately became a landmark on the Burnaby Heights business district. From its high perch atop the dealership building, located at Carleton Street, the Burnaby Eagle shared the night sky with other nearby classic neon signs of the era including the "Swinging Girl" sign of the Helen's Children's Wear store. Eagle Motors was a successful dealership until the recession of the 1980s, and in 1985 the business was closed. Vandalism on the site resulted in damage to the neon tubing of the sign before the leased sign was reclaimed by its owner, Neon Products Limited. The sign was obtained by a local collector, who carefully looked after it for 25 years. In 2012, the sign was sold to the City of Burnaby.
- The sign will be restored and installed near its original location on Hastings Street in 2024.
- Reference
- Community Heritage Commission report to Council, September 17, 2012.
- Measurements
- Height: 14 ft. Width: 9 ft. Thickness: 14 in.
- Subjects
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
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