In this first installment of our new series, Let’s Visit Raytown, we move beyond the traditional sites Raytown is known for, e.g., Cave Spring and Rice-Tremonti, and look at lesser known but just as vibrant destinations. First off, we’re going back in time to explore some vintage neon signs!
Neon signs, once called “liquid fire,” began their journey in 1922 when Earle Anthony purchased two Packard signs from the French creator of neon, Georges Claude, and displayed them at his Los Angeles car dealership. Fast forward to the 1940s, when advancements in neon sign technology brought a wider spectrum of colors, refined craftsmanship, and increased durability, allowing for more commercial use viability.
Francis T. Fox, or FT to almost all who knew him, saw the value and prestige of neon signs for commercial buildings. In 1953, the owner of Fox’s Drug Store (10004 East 63rd Street) ordered what would become three of the most iconic signs in Raytown: Fox’s Drugs, Fountain Grill, and Prescriptions. Fox coordinated with the United Sign Company, located on Troost in Kansas City, Missouri, to design and fabricate the three signs (United Sign Company was sold in the 2000’s). For years, United Sign provided the maintenance neon signs demand—replacing broken letters, repairing neon gas leaks, and much more.
Gary Fox, son and current owner of the Fox’s Drug Store building and neon signs, shares his late father’s love of neon signage. Fox, who travels often, says the importance of the Fox’s Drugs neon signage hit home for him when, “people in the Raytown Community and out of the Kansas City area know the sign and the corner (where the building is located).” While Fox did not always feel such an affinity for the now vintage neon signs, the passing of time has led him to view them as “iconic. Especially now that I am retired, I better understand the importance—I see the importance to my family, the Raytown community, and people in general much clearer.”
Quentin Clark, late owner of Clark’s Appliances (9715 East 63rd Street), saw the importance of commercial neon signs as they evolved in the 1960s. According to Pam Clark, daughter and current owner, Quentin Clark installed the well-known landmark Clark’s Appliances neon sign in 1963. The sign was designed by Quentin and Jerry Clark, and fabrication was completed by United Sign Company. The Clark’s Appliances sign evokes the styling of neon signage found on historic Route 66.
In December 2016, the unthinkable happened; there was a major fire at Clark’s Appliances. The City of Raytown approved for the neon sign to be taken down by SignWay, located in Blue Springs, Missouri. With help from Gama Neon, the glass and neon sign was fully restored. It was a day of celebration when the sign returned to its place above the store. Pam Clark knows the sign is about much more than just her brand, “it is iconic. No other businesses have anything like it (the distinctive styling) in the area.”
Raytown is blessed to still have vintage neon signs. A resurgence in the popularity of neon signs has taken hold, with art installations and museums popping up across the country.
These signs are more than advertising; they are beacons of cultural significance. Missouri Main Street Connection encourages communities to preserve neon signage due not only to their ability to define a sense of place but also to “preserve a tangible link to the community’s past.” These signs shine brightly, still garnering attention and leaving an impression not only on consumers but on those who remember their heyday, those who appreciate their relevance in modern advertising, and those who seek more than the digital media age offers.
Let us know if you visit Raytown’s vintage neon signs. Tag your posts and pictures with #VisitRaytown.