Market Movie Marquees: Neon Nirvana
In-person presentation at the Fromm Institute, USF
Wed 5/8 | FREE Registration required
12:00 pm
Discover the rise and fall of this vibrant neon-filled corridor on the main artery of San Francisco where movie-lovers gathered from SOMA, the Tenderloin, Union Square, and beyond. Most of these movie theaters are now closed or demolished, but between the 1930s–1960s, Market Street was home to over 18 movie theaters between 5th and 10th Streets, each with an extravagant neon marquee and projecting sign.
Cruise back though time to experience the elaborate neon movie marquees that once saturated Market Street. Presented by Al Barna, Randall Ann Homan (San Francisco Neon) with Jim Van Buskirk (Celluloid San Francisco)
.
Exploring the History of Petaluma Signs
Petaluma Arts Center
Sunday, May 18 | 1:00 pm
Register
We’ll see you in Sonoma County for an illustrated talk about vintage signs at the Petaluma Arts Center! This is a new talk by local historian and sign preservationist Katherine Rinehart. She’ll discuss how historic signs allow the past to speak to the present in ways that buildings do not. Petaluma has a treasure trove of neon signs, fantastic platic signs, and brick building ghost signs. Coco-Cola ghost sign photo by Bob Caruso.
SAN FRANCISCO NEON:
SURVIVORS AND LOST ICONS
A lush portrait that celebrates the past and future of
San Francisco’s neon landscape.
Authors/photographers:
Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan
Softcover edition copies available to ship now!
$33 plus shipping.
Contact us for wholesale and international orders.
NEON PODCASTS
99 PERCENT INVISIBLE
Listen to “Tube Benders”, a deep dive into the topic of neon signs, featuring John Law, Shawna Peterson, and SF Neon. Produced by Avery Trufleman of 99% Invisible, a KALW NPR radio show on architecture and design.
MUNI DIARIES
Listen to an illuminating story told by SF Neon authors Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan “SF Neon tells the story of the giant neon dancing leg of Mason Street.” Produced by the MuniDiaries.com, This is a San Francisco neon mystery that remains unsolved!
ONLINE NEON BOOK STORE
Visit our online neon bookstore for a list of books published by Giant Orange Press, the publishing arm of SF Neon and Neon Speaks Festival and Symposium. Fast U.S. shipping. Contact us for international orders and bookstore orders.
SF Neon T-shirts: Limited Editions
Each year for Neon Speaks we design a new limited edition t-shirt.
High quality printing, 100% cotton.
We still have a few different designs, while they last.