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Ghost Signs
in Texas
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1
MOVIE
ARTIFACTS
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A
ghost sign of a product that never was - but is. Smithville,
Texas
TE
Photo, October 2002 |
Beware
of cheap imitations!
Texas abounds with
scores of ghost sign impersonators. These are movie artifacts and
they should be included in their own category. They deserve recognition
for the sign painter's skill if nothing else. |
Recognizing a "fake"
Lettering on movie signs isn't as meticulous as legitimate signs
since they only appear on camera for a few seconds, if at all. The
artists could certainly match the sign painter's skill if they had
time. We're sure some of the older set painters are former wall
dogs. Some set artists for the movie Hope Floats (filmed in Smithville)
have even painted faux ghost signs - creating false layers of faded
paint bleeding through the "real" ghost sign which may be for a
product that did or didn't exist. Confused? Just watch the movie
until the sign appears (if you can manage to stay awake).
Another way of telling a false ghost is the peeling and flaking
of the paint. The current "safe" paints used by Hollywood degrade
and flake off in a few years. Smithville's
once outstanding Bright and Early Coffee ad has in 3 short years
become almost invisible.
© John
Troesser
December,
2002
More Ghost
Signs
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Recommended
Books on Ghost Signs
Ghost Signs
of Arkansas by Cynthia Haas, Photos by Jeff Holder, U of A Press,
1997
Ghost Signs:
Brick Wall Signs in America by Wm Stage, ST Publications, 1989
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
us. |
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