I have been curious about this sign at 3734 Hemphill ever since I first saw it driving by a few years ago. I finally got around to actually stopping and taking a photo.
Anyone know anything about its history?
Judging from the general design my guess is the sign is from sometime in the late 1930s or perhaps the 1940s. The building it is in front of is still operating under the name of Red's Lounge but is just a very ugly cinder block box that appears to be much newer than the sign.
Perhaps the existing building was a replacement for a previous one that burned down or was otherwise destroyed? I am curious as to how far back the sign dates and what sort of place it was when the sign was new. What sort of dancing went on there and to what music? Was it perhaps a honky tonk?
Below is the photo I took that includes the nasty cinder block building. Not the kind of place you would expect to have such a cool sign outside of.