A MT. VERNON CONNECTION TO A WORLD FAMOUS SIGN

Somehow, somewhere I heard that a Mt. Vernon, Illinois man was responsible for the huge HOLLYWOOD sign high above the San Joaquin Valley in California. But that's all I know. My research and resources have garnered me no more than that bit of info.

Actually, I'm not sure I even have the valley right, but I know they like to refer to it as "The World's Most Famous Sign." Perhaps as long ago as the 1930's, it's been a fixture in California. It has been duplicated and patterned and distorted-- Hollyweed for a movie, but it remains. And it bothers me that I can't find out the Mt. Vernon connection. Perhaps John Howard or Lucy Baker would know, or if anyone gets to the Jefferson County Historical Society's Museum on North 27th, please check it out for me.

Other old timers like me might remember Mt. Vernon's famous sign, the Pepsi sign that sat high above the old Susan Shop on the roof of Farrar Oil Company on North 10th Street. Caroline seems to remember that sign on Mr. Farrar's building when she began working there in the early 1970's.

As a child in the late 50's when I believe it went up, the only thing comparable to it to me was the flying Cardinal at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis who flew around the advertising sign after a Cardinal home run.