Merita Bread

2200 S. Division Ave., Orlando

In 1960, American Bakeries Co. broke ground on for the Merita plant that for decades has treated travelers on Interstate 4 to the smell of baking bread and the sight of the large red sign telling the time and temperature.

McNamara Pontiac

1010 W. Colonial Dr.

The dealership has moved, but the Pontiac sign on West Colonial Drive still stands - a fine example from the porcelain-neon era, according to designer Bob Galler.

Beefy King

424 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

This Orlando institution with the sign of the snorting steer began in 1968. Original owners Margaret and Freeman Smith, with family and friends, mark 35 years for the family business in June 2003.

Beefy King

424 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

This Orlando institution with the sign of the snorting steer began in 1968. Freeman Smith, standing, talks with a patron, David Williams, center, who first came to the restaurant in the 1960s.

Beefy King

424 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

This Orlando institution with the sign of the snorting steer began in 1968.

Publix, College Park

2015 Edgewater Dr., Orlando

The neon pole sign for the College Park Publix is one of several whose owners sought and received landmark status from the city of Orlando. It dates an earlier Publix store, built in the 1950s.

Won Lee Restaurant, DeLand

1329 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand

Boulevard Motel, DeLand

1349 N. Woodland Blvd. DeLand

This vintage sign from the porcelain-neon era appears to be a distant cousin of the original signs for a famous motel chain.

Stamies Smart Beach Wear

8 N. Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach

The fiberglass Red Diving Girl sign at Stamie’s Smart Beach Wear has been striking a pose at Daytona Beach since 1965.

Stamies Smart Beach Wear

8 N. Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach

The fiberglass Red Diving Girl sign at Stamie’s Smart Beach Wear has been striking a pose at Daytona Beach since 1965.

Stamies Smart Beach Wear

8 N. Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach

The fiberglass Red Diving Girl sign at Stamie’s Smart Beach Wear has been striking a pose at Daytona Beach since 1965. George Petty's airbrushed version of the Jantzen Red Diving Girl became popular in the 1930s and 1940s.

tamies Smart Beach Wear

8 N. Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach

The fiberglass Red Diving Girl sign at Stamie’s Smart Beach Wear has been striking a pose at Daytona Beach since 1965.

Big orange, 1973, (next to McNamara’s Antiques)

20751 U.S. 441, Mount Dora

Big orange, 1973, (next to McNamara’s Antiques)

20751 U.S. 441, Mount Dora

Makinson Hardware

308 Broadway, Kissimmee

The sign, which began on Orlando designer Bob Galler’s drawing board years ago, survives in a painted version of the neon original, like the Western Way sign in Orlando.

Orange Bowl Lanes

1221 E Vine Street, Kissimmee (U.S. 192)

Orange Bowl Lanes

1221 E Vine Street, Kissimmee (U.S. 192)

Gatorland

14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando

The iconic entrance to Gatorland can be considered an architectural sign because of its role attracting visitors to one of Florida’s oldest attractions. The park opened in 1949, and its name was changed to Gatorland in 1954. The “teeth” date to 1962. In March 2007, the gator-jaw entrace was badly damaged by fire and is being rebuilt.

Gatorland

14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando

From left, Kenny Danberry, Brandon Fisher and Pete Sovich "brush the teeth" at the historic gator-mouth entrance to Gatorland . The iconic entrance to Gatorland can be considered an architectural sign because of its role attracting visitors to one of Florida’s oldest attractions. The park opened in 1949, and its name was changed to Gatorland in 1954. The “teeth” date to 1962. In March 2007, the gator-jaw entrace was badly damaged by fire and is being rebuilt.

Gatorland

14501 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando

A firefighter approaches the gator mouth entrance to the Gatorland tourist attraction as a raging fire destroys the gift shop on Nov. 6, 2006. The iconic entrance to Gatorland can be considered an architectural sign because of its role attracting visitors to one of Florida’s oldest attractions. The park opened in 1949, and its name was changed to Gatorland in 1954. The “teeth” date to 1962. In March 2007, the gator-jaw entrace was badly damaged by fire and is being rebuilt.

Western Way Shopping Center

West Colonial Drive just west of Tampa Avenue

When swamp land at Orlando's western limits was transformed into the Western Way Shopping Center in 1955, the West Colonial Drive center boasted ‘Lovett's Grocery and Doc Moses' drugstore' as tenants, the Sentinel noted. The cowboy on the shopping center's sign originally ‘tossed' a neon lariat that appeared to move.

Skycraft Parts & Surplus

2245 W Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park

This family-owned Winter Park business with the distinctive signage was founded in the mid-1970s. “My grandfather started the store,” Keith Fiedler said in May 2007. The flying saucer used to oscillate, and the “rockets” are constructed from an airplane’s fuel tanks.

Skycraft Parts & Surplus

2245 W Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park

This family-owned Winter Park business with the distinctive signage was founded in the mid-1970s. “My grandfather started the store,” Keith Fiedler said in May 2007. The flying saucer used to oscillate, and the “rockets” are constructed from an airplane’s fuel tanks.

kycraft Parts & Surplus

2245 W Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park

This family-owned Winter Park business with the distinctive signage was founded in the mid-1970s. “My grandfather started the store,” Keith Fiedler said in May 2007. The flying saucer used to oscillate, and the “rockets” are constructed from an airplane’s fuel tanks.

Skycraft Parts & Surplus

2245 W Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park

This family-owned Winter Park business with the distinctive signage was founded in the mid-1970s. “My grandfather started the store,” Keith Fiedler said in May 2007. The flying saucer used to oscillate, and the “rockets” are constructed from an airplane’s fuel tanks.

LaBelle Furs & Outerwear

351 N. Orange Ave., Orlando

Founded in 1919 by family matriarch Sara LaBellman, LaBelle Furs moved to its current location at 351 N. Orange Ave. in 1958.

Hot Dog Heaven

5355 E Colonial Dr, Orlando

Hot Dog Heaven, which serves up Chicago style dogs.

Hot Dog Heaven

5355 E Colonial Dr, Orlando

Hot Dog Heaven, which serves up Chicago style dogs. Owner Beth Feld serves up a to go order and hands the reciept to customers Johnece (cq) and Dave Sloan.

Hot Dog Heaven

5355 E Colonial Dr, Orlando

Hot Dog Heaven, which serves up Chicago style dogs.

City of Cars (Ross Golden’s City of Cars)

Next to 4880 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando

Fans of vintage signs consider the relics of the City of Cars signage on West Colonial, created by Orlando sign designer Bob Galler, among the best examples of neon craftsmanship from the golden age of architectural signs. In addition to the main sign, a multi-colored space-age starburst sits at the west edge of the lot.

City of Cars (Ross Golden’s City of Cars)

Next to 4880 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando

Fans of vintage signs consider the relics of the City of Cars signage on West Colonial, created by Orlando sign designer Bob Galler, among the best examples of neon craftsmanship from the golden age of architectural signs. In addition to the main sign, a multi-colored space-age starburst sits at the west edge of the lot.

Parliament House Resort

410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando

This sign is a very close replica of the original, destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The original sign dated to 1960 (before the motel became a gay resort) and bore the words "Motor Inn" instead of "Resort."

Parliament House Resort

410 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando

This sign is a very close replica of the original, destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The original sign dated to 1960 (before the motel became a gay resort) and bore the words "Motor Inn" instead of "Resort."

Orlando Union Rescue Mission (Men's Division)

410 W. Central Blvd., Orlando

The 30-foot-tall cross atop the Orlando Union Rescue Mission shelter was granted city landmark-sign status in 2002. 'It has historic significance to Orlando's downtown,' Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood said in 2002.

Wally's Mills Avenue Liquors

1001 N. Mills Ave., Orlando

“My father put the original sign up in the 1950s,” says Walter Updike about the bar Roy Updike opened as Orange Liquors No. 2 in the early 1950s, when U.S. Highway 17-92 was a two-lane road. Over the years, the bar's signs have changed to meet Orlando's changing requirements; the latest version pays homage to older neon.

Wally's Mills Avenue Liquors

1001 N. Mills Ave., Orlando

“My father put the original sign up in the 1950s,” says Walter Updike about the bar Roy Updike opened as Orange Liquors No. 2 in the early 1950s, when U.S. Highway 17-92 was a two-lane road. Over the years, the bar's signs have changed to meet Orlando's changing requirements; the latest version pays homage to older neon.

Wally's Mills Avenue Liquors

1001 N. Mills Ave., Orlando

Wally Updike, owner of Wally's Mills Ave. Liquor, surveys traffic in front of the bar. “My father put the original sign up in the 1950s,” says Walter Updike about the bar Roy Updike opened as Orange Liquors No. 2 in the early 1950s, when U.S. Highway 17-92 was a two-lane road. Over the years, the bar's signs have changed to meet Orlando's changing requirements; the latest version pays homage to older neon.

Colonial Photo and Hobby

634 N. Mills Ave., Orlando

The family-run business, housed in a former Publix, has been in Orlando's Colonialtown neighborhood at this and earlier locations for more than 50 years.

Colonial Photo and Hobby

634 N. Mills Ave., Orlando

The family-run business, housed in a former Publix, has been in Orlando's Colonialtown neighborhood at this and earlier locations for more than 50 years.

Plaza Theatre

425 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

Orlando's first 2-screen movie theater, the Plaza opened Nov. 20, 1963, and boasted rocking-chair seats. It has not been movie theater for many years. In 1996, it underwent major interior renovations and is now a venue for live performances and seminars.

Plaza Theatre

425 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

Orlando's first 2-screen movie theater, the Plaza opened Nov. 20, 1963, and boasted rocking-chair seats. It has not been movie theater for many years. In 1996, it underwent major interior renovations and is now a venue for live performances and seminars.