Where's the Crosstown Sign?
As My Midtown Memphis has reported, the old Crosstown Theatre, long the Assembly Hall for the Jehovah's Witnesses, is undergoing renovations.They removed the giant Crosstown sign as part of the renovations and I figure they're not going to put it back up. It was probably an economic decision that kept it up there all this time (the Malco chain moved out and the Jehovah's Witnesses moved in sometime in the middle to late 1970s).
But now that's it's off the building, where is it? Does anyone know?
It could be retrieved and installed in a gateway location, a monument announcing the neighborhood and it's revival. Perhaps at Cleveland and Poplar, or near the theatre at Cleveland and Overton Park.
I hope it's not on top a scrap heap heading for Japan.
Labels: Crosstown, Memphis, placemaking
posted by gatesofmemphis at 11:20 PM
7 Comments:
I am also wondering what happened to the cool Hardwood sign - I think it said Cherokee Hardwood - that was on Thomas street near Firestone. Awesome neon sign. What a shame if it and the Crosstown sign are gone forever...I am hoping maybe the guy who bought Sears Crosstown may have gotten a hold of it for his redevelopment use!
The Cherokee Hardwood sign is gone!?!? That was one of my favorites! It was there the last time I drove by...about a year ago. That's a real shame if it's not there. I want to do a photo essay about all the cool old neon signs around town. Any suggestions?
Universal Life, Lorraine Motel, Mr. Brown Goes to Town (Leonard's BBQ -- still around somewhere, I think), blue cross on the church at Peabody/McLean, the radiator sign next to Sun studio, the rubber stamp company on Madison and Danny Thomas...
The best neon signs are those that look good even in the daytime, lights off.
The best IMHO is (was?) the neon lawn mower repair sign on Marshall up the street from Sun Studios. Had this guy mowing the lawn with neon grass clippings flying everywhere!
The Krosstown cleaners sign is nice on Madison.
And yes, the Cherokee sign is gone - I first noticed it about 2 months ago...I think you should have started your project earlier!
The WREG station sign out on Thomas is cool. The building itself is a cool design IMHO.
Mr. Brown Goes to Town
You ought to check with the Memphis Heritage folks. These signs are just the kind of thing that might show up at their architectural auction next week.
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