American Sign Museum
2515 Essex Place
Cincinnati, Ohio 45206
(800) 925-1110
(513) 258-4020, ext. 336
Fax: (513) 421-5144
E-mail: tod@signmuseum.org
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A Walk Through Wildwood
Signs make the difference in a South Jersey shore town's revival
As the new century began, the Wildwoods, on the southern NJ coast,
boasted the largest quantity of intact jet-age motels in the world,
and with them hundreds of vintage neon signs; rooftop, pole , swing
and blade. But, as the media "rediscovered" the area and the stock
market stumbled, property values skyrocketed and developers had their
way. As the late Steve Izenour, AIA, who championed the area's
uniqueness predicted "Wildwood has become a victim of its own
success". At least 100 motels are being razed along with scores of
other structures, all being replaced by unimaginitive, out-of-sync
condos.
But fear not. Neon is still encouraged and favorable sign codes
continue to propel commercial success. Downtown areas and the
boardwalk, almost deviod of neon a decade ago, have rebounded.
Virtually all of the signs of the past five decades have been
manufactured by two local firms, Allied Signs and A.B.S. Signs.
Meanwhile, some 50 large neon signs from Wildwood's past have been
saved by neon tubebender Fedele Muso whose firm, Ultra Neon, started
in Jupiter, FL 20 years ago. Returning to Wildwood in 1997, Musso
listed signs to obtain. With assorted volunteers, many of late from
the former Soviet Republics, the collection grows. "The tear-downs
are happening too fast to keep up with. As any sign collector knows,
there is that certain 11th hour to get them, and once you get up on
them, many are in rough shape. You have to get in good with the demo
guys as well. There is no local concern or movement whatsoever to
save these signs. Local papers haven't mentioned the effort once."
Plans are to display the signs in several differnt locales. (The
building which formerly housed many of the signs and the DooWop
Museum has been sold).
"The important thing is to keep on saving the signs, despite the
critics. The buildings have vanished. When people came in and saw
those old signs were saved and still lit, they were amazed and very
thankful. It's a good feeling that will build upon itself as time
passes."
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Wildwood by the Sea
In the early 1950s, black and orange were the Wildwoods'
signature colors. This sign stood at the corner of Routes 9
and 47 and pointed east toward the bridge exit to Rio Grande
Avenue, and west of where the Garden State Parkway exit is
today.
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Motel Martinique and its adjoining niteclub were
once a very happening area. Built in the early 1950s, next
to once was the bus station (now demolished).
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Aztec Motel sign in Wildwood Crest was originally
channel letters, but the owner had this neon vertical sign
installed in June, 1999.
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Perhaps the most well-known restaurant of the pat, the
"Welome to Zaberville" signs stood on each side of the entry
into North Wildwood.
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A high profile icon on the boardwalk.
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Still the most genuine irish bar in the
Wildwoods.
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The signs and motels pictured here are examples of the few that
still remain from days gone by.
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