Epic neon sign alert!
The small but mighty Doll Hut neon sign glows red and green at night and has beautiful detail by day.
The Doll Hut itself started life in 1922 as a private home. In 1941 it was refurbished to become the Sunkist Cafe.
In 1957 it was renamed The Doll Hut and changed from a cafe to a bar. The neon sign was most probably erected around this time.
In 1989 it became a music venue.
Many lifetimes and name changes later it still survives as a The Doll Hut, and as a tiny but legendary music venue. (the capacity was 40 for many years, and after a recent overhaul, it now seats 89 - fear not - original details and clapboard walls remain)
The neon sign, which was dark for a while, and covered with plexiglass for protection from vandalism, has now been restored and glows proudly when the sun goes down. But it is worth visiting in daylight hours too, to appreciate the parts of the sign that do not light up - cartoon like features including tile roof, attic window and brick chimney - adorabubble.
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Southern California No. 172 -last visited June 2023