Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your tax-deductible donation now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
One Of L.A.'s Oldest Neon Signs Will Be Re-Lit On Thursday
One of the oldest surviving neon signs in L.A. will be brought back to life on Thursday at a ceremony celebrating its return.
The honoree in question is an enormous 40-foot-by-15-foot sign that spells out "Hotel Californian." Made in 1927, the sign was perched on top of the hotel that gave it its name, reports Curbed LA. The Hotel Californian, built in 1925, was demolished after an arson fire in 1995, and the signs (the hotel had a pair of them) went into limbo as they were shipped off to a city storage lot near Griffith Park. They sat there for nearly two decades.
Now, one of the signs will be re-lit. This is largely thanks to the efforts of Paul Greenstein, a neon sign restoration specialist, who was commissioned to get one of the signs back in working order (the other had mysteriously vanished, and was onceeven rumored to have been acquired by actress Diane Keaton). The initiative comes via a web of joint partnerships that include developers, banks, and city and state agencies, according to the Los Angeles Visionaries Association.
The sign was installed on top of the newly-constructed Paseo at Californian, which sits on the same spot that the Hotel Californian once stood. According to Esotouric, the sign was put in place in May of 2016, but it won't be until this Thursday that it will be lit up again. The Paseo, it's worth noting, consists entirely of affordable housing.
The re-lighting will involve a rededication event on Thursday that's free to the public. Greenstein will be there to present. The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Paseo.
The Paseo At Californian is at 1907 W 6th St, Los Angeles.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
