Neon signs evoke a vintage sort of charm. Their foremost purpose is a practical one, providing need-to-know information, but the iconic glow and vivid color they cast pierces the darkest nights, granting them a lighthouse-like power that seems to say “come in, take a load off.”
Indy’s unique collection of neon is nothing to scoff at. Turn off the lights and step back in time with us as we tour the Circle City’s neon scene.
Fun fact: The music notes on this sign are the intro to a popular Prohibition-era song.
Photo by @bockchoy77
Red Key Tavern
When prohibition ended in 1933, enterprising people across the nation scrambled to open up legitimate bars — including two British brothers who opened the Old English Tavern, later renamed Red Key Tavern. The original neon sign, which features a Manhattan, is believed to date back to ~1951. After slowly falling apart over the decades, it was restored to its full glory in the mid 2010s.
The Vogue
The Vogue originally opened as a premier movie house in 1938. It’s undergone many changes since, but one thing has remained the same: Its iconic signage. Today’s iteration of the marquee, which originally debuted in 1948, mixes neon and LED lighting for a unique, eye-catching display.
Fun fact: St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors.
Photo by @stelmosteakhouse
St. Elmo Steakhouse
Every good Hoosier knows St. Elmo’s has been an Indy icon for well over a century. While its main sign has been modernized, it still has several neon signs lighting up its windows — including one in the second story window that beckons to every hungry traveler, “World Famous Shrimp Cocktail.”
In its glory days as a luxury hotel, several Hoosier governors made The Marott their primary residence.
Photo by Alan Houser via Wikimedia Commons
The Marott
Now an apartment building, The Marott originally opened as a luxury hotel in 1926. Its star-studded guest list over the next few decades included Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Bob Hope, Babe Ruth, and Paul Newman. As downtown has developed, The Marott has managed to stay the tallest building in its area, making its iconic sign even more noticeable.
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