Dear Mark: Vancouver's Golden Age of Neon

"Vintage Neon Fades to Black"
by John Mackie

During the 1960s, Vancouver use to have over 19,000 neon signs illuminating the streets and promoting local business in and around downtown.

Vancouver quickly immersed itself within the world of neon. There was something magical about glowing neon signs with Vancouver's wet environment. Neon lights gave off stunning reflections along rain drenched boulevards and small ponds of puddles.

The neon nights would not last because many of the shops went out of business and the new owners did not want to have someone else's sing hanging above their store. Also, during the late '60s the Vancouver council enacted laws that restricted any new neon signs from being installed.

Now there are only a couple neon signs left in Vancouver and the city council had a change of heart. The creation of new neon signs are encouraged to be erected along Granville Street but there is also the question of what will the city do with old signs like the 43 W. Hastings "Save-On-Meats" sign.

"Everything had a neon sign hanging over the door," said Norman Young, a UBC professor who was witness to the golden age of neon. "They always tried to be different, without being really wild."

John Mackie suggests that the city should hold on to the classic neon signs and put them on display, preferably on the Sears building, so people can bask in the retro neon glow.

After the closure of Helen's Children Ware, the city of Burnaby rebuilt the sign and reinstalled it on municipal property.

Saving Vancouver's vintage neon sings and putting them on display would make the city's image grittier and welcomed, at least by myself.