Boys Night Out

Following up on last week’s post, I’m adding an image paying homage to a time-honored tradition…the boys night out. The next image in my “I Wannabe Barbie” series continues exploring my fascination with old neon signs. Before these vintage masterpieces completely disappear from the landscape, I’m setting out to capture as many as I can. Growing up in southeast Kansas, many warm summer nights were spent at the drive-in theatre.  So these venues provide some fond memories for me. 

I’m finding the older I get the more I think back on the experiences I had growing up.  There is something nostalgic about finding an old-fashioned neon sign that is still in working condition. It brings back childhood memories of vacation road trips. These signs are even more special when they also bring back other childhood memories.  Like going to a drive-in movie on a warm summer weekend.

I love neon signs at night.  They remind me of childhood road trips.  Dad always got us up at 4:00 or so in the morning to get on the road for the next destination.  Since the car was not air conditioned it was cooler to travel early and arrive at a motel early to swim the afternoon away.  In the darkness of early morning, neon signs lit up the side of the roads everywhere.  When I wasn’t sleeping the neon glow fascinated me.

 And what better way to honor that nostalgic memory than with a double feature of two classic movies from the ’60s?