The outdoor area of the Museum’s new home is starting to
look like it's going to feature the three-dimensional fiberglass “sculptures”
that were so popular in the mid 1950s through the late 1960s. Our
20-ft. tall genie, which has become somewhat of a mascot, now stands over
the walkway atop two 12-ft. poles at the museum’s entrance. Two other additions—a 16-ft. long
trailer-mounted pink pig and the most recent acquisition, a 16-ft. tall 3D
bowling pin—now sit outside in the parking lot awaiting installation.
“Kahnie” as the pig was appropriately (and affectionately)
named, was donated by Kahn’s, a Cincinnati
meatpacking company now under the umbrella of Sara Lee foods. Kahnie had long been a favorite participant
in Cincinnati
events, and is most remembered for her appearance in the annual Cincinnati Reds
Opening Day parade. In keeping with
current trends, Kahnie was replaced by an inflatable counterpart, whose
flexibility promoted more practical transportation and set-up. Word has it that Kahnie is already adapting
to her new home.
Kahnie and genie at night, taken before Pinhead's arrival. |
Pinhead is happy to be coming to the America Sign Museum. |
Phil, Jr. later told me the whole story. “The bowling pin had been a local icon since
the late 1950s,” he explained, “but the owner sold the business and opened a
new bowling alley in nearby Manville and asked us to move the pin. He told us we didn’t need to install it: ‘Just
move it to my new place and tie it down with ropes and I’ll install it myself
later.’”
“It was too long afterwards,” continued Smith, “that we got
a call from the guy saying the police had called him, telling him to get the
bowling pin out of the middle of the street ASAP or face the consequences. He had obviously not mounted the big guy
properly. We went over and brought it
back to the shop to await further instruction and never head from the guy
again. That was at least 15 years ago.”
Smith went on to tell me that the smiling face was added
sometime during its tenure at Greenbrook, and that a tin-sheathed plywood top
hat was added to top him off. The hat
had deteriorated over the years.
The bowling pin’s interesting history was not unlike the
shop that rescued it. Ace Sign Company
was co-founded in 1928 by Phil, Jr.’s grandfather, David, and his partner, “Ace” Friedman, a former boxer. Ace was the salesman; David was the
signpainter. The shop got a big boost
when it began doing work for Leon Hess’s oil company, Hess Oil, which was
founded in Perth Amboy . The shop grew to employ eight signpainters at
its height.
In the early 1970s, Ace Sign expanded to begin offering
backlit plastic signs to its local customer base. It continued to maintain its separate neon
plant as it had since the beginning.
Under Phil, Sr., the shop became a beta site for Gerber Scientific
Products first vinyl cutter in the early 1980s; computerization was fully
integrated by the late 1980s. Although
Ace Signs days of employing eight signpainters are gone, it still paints some
of Hess Oil’s local storage tanks. The
company is currently operated by Phil, Jr. and his brother, David. Father Phil, Sr. is semi-retired.
Phil Jr. shares stories of other fiberglass giants |
Following a tour of the shop, Phil Sr. poses with Tod and Pinhead. |
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