Do you recognize this “Hotel” neon sign that once stood on Route 66 in Illinois?
If so, a collector of vintage and replica neon signs and a longtime Route 66 News reader in Texas wants to know about it.
Michael Brown is trying to get more documentation about its origins. So far, all he knows is it came from Southern Illinois and stood on Route 66.
Brown recently produced this high-quality, 15-minute video about his neon collection and the history of neon. And, yes, you’ll see a few neon signs from Route 66.
One of the genuine Route 66 signs he procured and restored is the Alamo Liquor sign that once stood on Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri. It sat in storage for about 20 years before Brown found out about it.
The other is the “Hotel” sign. If you know anything about it, write something in the comments field below. Brown would appreciate it.
The neon-sign collection isn’t open to the public, mostly because Brown said he and his wife often are out of town. But if you give him a holler ahead of time (contact information is here), he might be able to make arrangements, or you can join in when he hosts car clubs and other events there in the Dallas area.
Longtime readers may remember Brown a few years ago produced two commercials for a Chevrolet Route 66 contest at the U-Drop inn in Shamrock, Texas. Alas, the commercials didn’t make it to the last round of competition.
(Excerpted image from the video of the “Hotel” neon sign in Michael Brown’s collection)