Just For Fun

Some people refer to these old signs as" Ghost Signs" These are signs from a bygone era that were carefully hand-painted many years ago on the sides of buildings. Skilled "Wall Dogs, as they became affectionately called, painted these signs directly on the brick or wood surfaces. Most of these originally vibrant images have faded over the years leaving only a mirage-like or ghost-like image in its place. Other displays still remain vibrant. Occasionally, painted walls were protected or hidden from the elements by new construction. When these newer buildings were razed for still newer construction, these old images, preserved over the years, practically jumped to life. In this section you'll find some interesting displays that captured our interest and imagination. Enjoy. .

• Picture #1
  Marigold Margarine

  You can almost taste the margarine emanating from this old Marigold Margarine advertisement that was painted by the Thomas Cusack Sign Company. This display, located in Chicago's Lincoln Square community became visible when the building immediately south of it was razed. The display was blocked by new construction sometime in mid 2007.

  
  

• Picture #2
  Rival Dog Food

  This Rival Dog Food ad was painted by the Victor Sign Company of Chicago. It was revealed when the Aldi Grocery Store at 6224 N. California was torn down in the Fall of 2009.  When the store was torn down this ad immediately north of the grocery store was exposed.  Parts of this ad are difficult to read, but the can reads “Cooked and Ready for Use.  A Completely Balanced Food”.  Rival Dog Food was sold by the Rival Packing Company of Chicago which was formed in 1923.  Rival Dog Food wasn’t sold until 1932, but it soon became the market share leader, especially after WWII.  In later years the brand was sold to the predecessor of Sara Lee and later to Nabisco and still later it was licensed to another firm.  Today the brand still exists although it doesn’t quite have the bark and bite that it did in its post-war heyday and the cute little pup is gone.

  
  

• Picture #3
  "7 UP"

  No Caffeine. No Artificial Colors. No Artificial Flavors. 7-Up. Just Clean Refreshing Taste! It must have been all those carbonated bubbles that made this wall just fade away.

  
  

• Picture #4
  "United Bakeries"

  Mmmm! If you're into a variety of good tasting bread, it sounds like Chicago's United Bakeries on Cicero Avenue, north of Chicago Avenue may have been the place to go.

  
  

• Picture #5
  "Bull Durham"

  This is a Bull Durham wall advertisement that appeared in Racine, Wisconsin from W.T. Blackwell & Co., of Durham, North Carolina. It advertises smoking tobacco. Note the old Coca-Coca ad on the left and the copy that proclaims Relieves Fatigue. Sold Everywhere 5¢. Are they talking about the cola or the tobacco? There's even a very faint ad above the Coca-Cola copy and the tobacco copy, but it is illegible.

  
  

• Picture #6
  Prager Beer

  Need a cold beer with no bitter after taste? Prager Beer was once the obvious choice. This flag ship brand was brewed by the Atlas Brewing Company on Chicago's south side. Atlas Brewing Company originally opened its doors as the Bohemian Brewing Company in 1891 and evolved to be one of Chicago's most successful breweries. The company existed in one form or another until it closed it's doors in the early 1960's

  
  

• Picture #7
  "Storage Warehouse"

  We're not sure of everything on here and it looks like another sign may be bleeding through. It looks like it reads Storage Warehouse, Heated Rooms for Pianos. It may then read Separate in-room Locks. $20 and up per month. And here's where we're really guessing; but it looks like it reads Make the Early Train and 8 O'Clock Boats..

  
  

• Picture #8
  Fox Deluxe Beer

  This was a Fox Deluxe Beer advertisement. The beer was made by the Peter Fox Brewing Company which later became the Fox Deluxe Brewing Company. Originally the beer was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan following the acquisition of the Michigan Brewing Company, but in the early 50's operations were moved to Chicago.

  
  

• Picture #9
  "No Dumping"

  No Dumping. We're not sure what the penalty may have been, but this wall located in Chicago's Jefferson Park community sure looks like they mean business.

  
  

• Picture #10
  "Chicago Tribune"

  In huge serif letters that were once clearly visible from at least 2,000 feet away this wall reads "The Sunday Tribune." What more can be said?

  
  

• Picture #11
  "American Family Soap"

  This wall display proudly advertises The Safe Soap for Silks. American Family Soap, made by Kirk. This manufacturer most likely was the James S. Kirk & Co., a manufacturer of fine soaps in Chicago. These soaps were popular in the 1920's and 1930's. This Chicago wall was exposed when the building immediately west of it was razed to make way for a new construction. We're not sure what the company's name is above the safe soap line, but it may be the sign company that painted the wall. We do know that in the 1900's there was a sign painter named John R. Myers. A New York Times article published November 2, 1900 refers to a young Chicago painter named John R. Myers who was arrested for throwing eggs at Congressman William Jennings Bryan shortly after giving an address in Chicago. (Click here to read the entire article.) Who knows, maybe Mr. Myers eventually matured, straightened out his act and formed his own sign company. Slawik Tailor we know nothing about, however it seems very apropos that the Safe Soap for Silks is on the wall of a tailor shop.