There is a faded sign in Kingman, Arizona on the side of a building (mural) 
showing an early (1940's or 1950's) Gray Hound Bus and people around it. 
However, I found out it was painted much later for a movie being made in 
town and so does not date to the period it shows. Unexpected. Of course 
more recently a lot of 'resurrected" Route 66 (and Kingman is on Route 66) 
items, even entire buildings, have appeared in the landscape. Faded signs 
are very interesting as is the question of what is the "half-life" of most 
advertising signs.

                                 Bob Schuyler




At 07:57 PM 9/13/2006, you wrote:
>This is another of my incomplete studies - so far only a collection of =
>photographs and notes - but since one of the more concerted enthusiasts =
>has got the coffee table book out already - I probably won't be going =
>anywhere with it.
>
>So I commend you to the recent Australian publication  "Signs of the =
>times : a nostalgic celebration of Australian advertising signs" by  =
>Geoff Hocking published 2005 by Five Mile Press =20
>
>   =
><http://www.fivemile.com.au/images/adults/April06/signs-of-the-times.jpg>=
>=20
>
>
>
>
>
>Gary Vines
>
>
>
>I've always been fascinated by "ghost signs", faded bits of history on =
>the sides of buildings.  Most of the ones I've seen have been in small =
>towns, and advertise stores and goods long gone.  One of the most =
>famous, though, the Mail Pouch tobacco signs, are all over the place in =
>the Midwest and Appalachia.and are actively being sought out and =
>preserved by fans (a dear friend is the son of Harley Warrick, the last =
>man to paint signs for Mail Pouch).  Given all of that, you can imagine =
>my excitement when this story hit the front page in Columbus, OH.  I'm =
>particularly pleased that, unlike so many communites and building =
>owners, they fully appreciate the historic value of what they have.
>
>http://www.dispatch.com/emailme/emailme.php?story=3Ddispatch/2006/09/02/2=
>0060902-B1-00.html
>
>  History falls, rises anew in Chillicothe Now-leveled buildings had =
>concealed mural ad possibly from late 1800s Saturday, September 02, 2006 =
>Kelly Hassett THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
>      FRED SQUILLANTE DISPATCH  Chillicothe officials plan to clean and =
>seal a Mail Pouch tobacco mural found on the side of 25 E. 2 nd St. =
>downtown. The neighboring buildings were torn down because they were =
>damaged by a fire in July.
>
>  CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Although a devastating fire stole a chunk of =
>history from this southern Ohio city, it revealed another old gem to =
>replace it.
>
>While demolishing the buildings at 29 and 33 E. 2 nd St., which were =
>heavily damaged by the fire July 17 near the Majestic Performing Arts =
>Center, construction workers and Majestic staff members this week found =
>a Mail Pouch tobacco mural covering the side of 25 E. 2 nd St.
>
>The downtown buildings were built so close together that the =
>advertisement was hidden.
>
>It was a sweet surprise to find one piece of well-preserved history as =
>two others were being destroyed, said Deb Main, operations director for =
>the Majestic.
>
>"It's been without air contact for over 100 years," she said.
>
>Officials plan to clean and seal the painting to preserve it.
>
>Wilbur Poole stood in the rubble of what used to be his building, 29 E. =
>2 nd St., as a light rain fell yesterday.
>
>The sadness of losing the building was somewhat assuaged by the find.
>
>"There's more history in that than there ever was in these two =
>buildings,"
>he said, pointing toward the painting.
>
>The Mail Pouch Tobacco company began in West Virginia in the late 1800s. =
>The company launched a nationwide advertising campaign to paint Mail =
>Pouch signs on barns and other buildings, many of which are considered =
>historical landmarks now.
>
>Painting ads on exposed outside walls was common in the 1800s and early =
>1900s, said Pat Medert, an archivist at the Ross County Historical =
>Society.
>
>The building at 25 E. 2 nd St. was built in 1880, and 29 and 33 E. 2 nd =
>St.
>were built in 1892, she said.
>
>The ad also says "Notions, toys and fancy goods" at the top.
>
>Medert, who wrote a book about the history of 2 nd Street, said the =
>building at one time was leased by a "notions" shop, which likely sold =
>items such as gloves and hosiery.
>
>A few blocks away, Medert said, there was a flower shop ad from the =
>early 1900s on the side of the Carlisle Building, which was damaged by a =
>fire in 2003. She said she'll have to research whether there are any =
>others from that period in Chillicothe.
>
>Workers were clearing away the last of the demolished 2 nd Street =
>buildings yesterday, and everyone was hoping to find a date or an artist =
>name on the Mail Pouch mural, said Rick Mytinger, whose company owns 25 =
>E. 2 nd St.
>
>"That might be worth more than the whole building," he said.
>
>*[log in to unmask] *

Robert L. Schuyler
University of Pennsylvania Museum
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324

Tel: (215) 898-6965
Fax: (215) 898-0657
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