Behind the Scenes

It was suggested that visitors would like to know this histories behind some of the buildings, or the signs themselves, featured here.  Hell, I'm curious myself, but was reluctant to invest that much time in research.

 

But, what the hell.  Beats drinking one's self to death.

 

I checked out these books, as a first step.  And while they were fascinating, they weren't all that helpful. There are dozens of pictures of faded signs, (pre-fade).  But, unfortunately, there are a couple of problems: Some of the best photos of wall advertisements are not labeled with location, and aren't easily identifiable.  And many of the buildings have been torn down.

 

To provide an example, I did some cross-referencing with Google Maps/Street View.  There was a photo of Findlay Market with a wall ad in the background.  And no matter which angle I looked from, that wall doesn't exist.  The building doesn't exist.

 

There was one on Elm, behind Crosley Square; completely painted over. 

 

About the closest I came to actually learning something was there was a cigar factory here called "Ibold".  I've seen a couple of cigar ads that obviously say "bold", and I'm seeing a connection.

But, ever onward.  There are still more books. 

Obsession

On McMillian, half a block past the ramp to NB I-71.

 

 

I saw this Wednesday, as I was getting on the Interstate.  The sun hit it just right, and I thought about it for two days before I could back to the neighborhood for these photos.

 

I felt a little stupid about not seeing it before, but, I shouldn't.  I'm pretty sure there were trees, and maybe a billboard blocking it.

 

What does it say?  It kind of looks like Schlitz to me, but with something else painted over it.

Need Money?

See Will!

On McMicken, east of Vine. 

 

Somebody's Something Something Company

In what "polite folk" might refer to as no-man's land, west of Central Parkway, and north of Liberty.  There's several faded signs on buildings in a 3 block area.  Of the one's I saw, this building looks to be the only one with any kind of activity in it. 

It's really an interesting neighborhood: there's a handful of abandoned factory/warehouse types, a few small residential structures, and quite a few empty lots.  All the vegetation gives one the impression that you're much farther than 1.5 miles from Downtown Cincinnati.  It was serene, actually. 

 

And for the life of me, I have no idea what that once said.  Freddy's?  Expresso?  Race Co.?

The Other Side

The east side of a building on Riverside Drive which has a faded sign on its west side.  The west side is a little easier to see, but it's also covered by a tree. There's also indications there was something painted on the south side.  It now houses a law office, but I'm guessing it may have once been home to some sort of shipping business, given its proximity to the Ohio River.

Way to go, Gus

As Visualingual points out, it's not his first appearance here.  We've seen his work Downtown.  And as a matter of fact, there's a few I may have to revisit in person, to get a better look for his "signature".

Forgetfulness

I put off posting this for a while.  Not because it's a lousy picture, but because I couldn't remember where I took it.  This neighborhood has some good examples, overall.  This is one of the weaker ones.

 

If you want to see the better ones, click on the "Lower Price Hill" below.  I've expanded the Labels to cover some categories other than neighborhood, and made a couple of corrections.  There were several signs listed as Queensgate, when technically, they're in LPH.  Still a work in progress.  Oh, and I think the new look/darker background makes the photos pop a little bit more, don't you?