Attendees of the Midwest Sign Assn. (MSA)/International Sign Assn.’s regional sign show, held June 24-26, at the Cincinnati Marriott North, were treated to a preview reception at the museum’s new facility in Camp Washington on Friday night. The nearly 100 show participants enjoyed music and refreshments as they toured the 19,300-sq.-ft. space.
The party centered in the museum’s restoration shop, where MSA President Scott Holthaus, Holthaus Signs & Identification Systems (Cincinnati), welcomed the group. The occasion celebrated the sign association’s 50th anniversary.
Holthaus recognized the seven charter members of the group, formerly known as the Associated Sign Industries of Ohio. They included Cincinnati (OH) Sign Supplies Inc., represented by Lenny Diaspro; Gardner Signs Inc. (Troy, MI), represented by Scott Gardner; Neon Engineering Inc. (Cincinnati), represented by Chris Greenebaum; ST Media Group Intl. (Signs of the Times magazine), Cincinnati, represented by Jerry Swormstedt; Triangle Sign Co., (Hamilton, OH), represented by Everett Hoskins; and Tubelite Co. (Columbus, OH), represented by Dan Brown. Brilliant Electric Sign Co. (Cleveland, OH) wasn’t represented.
Holthaus also recognized the past presidents of the 50-year-old organization.
Partygoers entered beneath the legs of the 20-ft.-tall genie that has become somewhat of a museum mascot. Thanks to United-Maier Signs Inc., the genie now sports a new sign that reads “American Sign Museum – Welcome.” Just below the arched identity sign, a frame for hanging changeable banners announces various events. United-Maier created a special banner for the MSA reception to welcome reception attendees. Tony Maier and crew also donated their services to transport the genie from Cleves, OH, and installed it at its present site.
The genie is one of two the museum owns: The original still stands at the entrance of the museum’s existing home at Essex Studios in Walnut Hills. The genies were donated by Loren Electric Signs (Montebello, CA) in 2003 and restored by Glass Hand (Cleves, OH).
The arms originally “held” plastic, electric signs that read “Carpeteria,” the Southern California carpet-store chain that was once identified by the iconic fiberglass giants.
Although the restoration shop is now the mainstay for exhibiting signs that aren’t displayed in Walnut Hills, the collection has overflown into the still-to-be-remodeled new home’s main area. More than a dozen, recently restored signs were displayed for the party, as well as several larger, unrestored signs, including the 1963 Speedy McDonald’s sign from Huntsville, AL; the 1958 Howard Johnson sign from Utica, NY; and the 1960s Arby’s hat from Dallas.
Visitors also glimpsed a preview of the “Signs on Main Street” area via inkjet-printed banners that represent the life-size, 3-D storefronts to be constructed along the streetscape. Also, they enjoyed the recently installed, 50-ft. Mail Pouch barn, rescued from Lanesville, IN, which fronts the museum’s future reception area.
The next phase of construction is to pour the footers for the large signs (such as Speedy and Hojo) to be featured in the “town square” area of Signs on Main Street and install them so that they can be restored. Roughly $1.6 million has been spent on the project, but an additional $900,000 is needed to complete the interior buildout. A grand opening is projected for 2012. n
Photo credit: Ligia Cuevas