Oasis Palms was just like every other town in mid-century America, advertising clutter was the rule. The next project was to begin decorating the various buildings with the signs that identify the various businesses in Oasis Palms.
The signs were designed in Photoshop based on historic photos (when available). Since the build era is the early 1960s, signs on the older businesses in downtown were weathered more than the signs on the newer businesses up on the hill. The signs were printed on matte finish heavy-weight photo paper and then glued to 1/4″ foam board. The sign edges were then backfilled with lightweight spackle, sanded and painted to match with acrylics. Bamboo skewers and toothpicks were painted and used to act as sign poles.
The Oasis Palms welcome sign is similar to the sign at the base of the Santa Monica Pier. The sign in Santa Monica was unveiled in 1941 and marks the unofficial end of Route 66.
The “Liquor Box” package store was promoted by a sign of Scooters Rye Whisky which had been distilled and bottled in the Oasis Palms caves starting in 1905.
The Oasis Market sign was based on the Balboa Market Sign in Newport Beach, CA the Hardware Store sign was based on the Gardner’s True Value Hardware in Lonepine CA.
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