Echoes of the Fading Neon Flicker

2/22/2026

Neon signs, once commonplace on main streets of America, brought a bright glow to our eyes as it illuminated the storefronts of whatever curios or ephemera were being offered at the time, while also creating a nostalgic yet homey feeling to whatever town they graced.

At a Glance

What: Glass Tubed Neon Signs

Cause: Every neon sign must be hand-bent by a person; there is a dwindling number of skilled glassblowers trained in the art. LEDs are significantly cheaper, more durable, and more energy-efficient than glass tubing.

What’s Next: Neon is making a return, except in the form of LED and in an “LED Flex” styling, paying homage to the original glass-tubed neon.
For More Information: www.armuseum.com and bentoncountymuseums.org

Neon Map Location:

(Albany) Pix Theatre, Hasty Freez, Boda Furniture, The Venetian, Jordan Jewelers, Elmer’s, Ping's Restaurant, and Personal Barber Shop
(Corvallis) Whiteside Theatre, AutoZone, Market of Choice, Jim the Fix’r (at Corvallis Museum)
(Lebanon) Kuhn Theatre, The Filling Station, TacoTime, AutoZone, Knothole Market, and American Legion - Post 51
(Philomath) Corl’s Book Store (at Philomath Museum)

Pix Theatre, Albany

We always see neon signs in the background of shows and movies such as “Stranger Things” (2016), “Blade Runner 2049” (2017) and “Miami Vice” (1984).

However, what about real-world ones? Are there any left about the mid-Willamette Valley that are “true” neon gas-lit signs?

   The answer is yes! There is, in fact!

   Locally in Lebanon, neon has vanished slowly the last few years. However, there are a few places left along U.S. Highway 20: AutoZone, TacoTime, Kuhn Theatre, American Legion - Post 51, and off of 2nd Street, The Filling Station.

   In Albany, neon fixtures include the Pix Theatre, Hasty Freez, Boda Furniture, The Venetian, Personal Barber Shop, Elmers, and Jordan Jewelers, all in the downtown area. Other places include Ping’s along the Highway 99E segment with U.S. 20.

   As for Corvallis, you’ll find neon displayed at AutoZone, Market of Choice – both on Ninth Street as well as the Whiteside Theatre downtown.

   “While the museum has some photos of neon signs in our collection, we don't have much information about them,” Albany Regional Museum educator Kerry Madden responded in an email.

   The Albany Regional Museum has an extensive archive of neon signs in their online database. On the database you can find photos of Albany in the past, going back to the 19th century through its expansion as a “Hub City.”

   At the Benton County Historical Society, exhibits preparator Rachael Oehler said, “We have some neon signs in our collection, including two on exhibit now – Jim the Fix'r at the Corvallis Museum and Corl's Book Store at the Philomath Museum.”

Personal Barber Shop, Albany

   According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology website, the biggest reason why neon is vanishing is the rise of LEDs and how inexpensive they are along with the durability – they last longer than typical neon-glass tubing. As a consequence of using gas, eventually neon runs out and doesn’t hold the normal glow.

   Likewise, there is also a lack of skilled craftsmen in the art of bending and blowing glass to make the tubes to hold the neon gas. All neon signs are made by a person rather than a machine. Along with that, there is the cost of repairing these signs, as they require specialized skills and materials, making them expensive to build and maintain.

   And of course there are the modern regulations. Many cities in the U.S. have enacted stricter rules on sign size, placement, and safety, leading to the removal of large, older neon signs. A lot of neon signs also use high-voltage transformers, making them prone to failure outdoors. Repairs often are expensive when they fail.
You might ask, how did neon even come about in the first place?

Jordan Jewelers, Albany

Neon signs were created in 1910 by French engineer Georges Claude, who publicly displayed his first neon “lamp” at the Paris Motor Show. Later in 1912, Claude made his first sale to a Parisian barbershop.

   Three years later in 1915, Claude received the U.S. patent for his lighting system that involved passing an electric current through sealed glass tubes with rarefied neon gas, producing the vibrant reddish-orange glow base that we all know and recognize today.

   Of course, neon gas wasn’t the only reddish-orange glow offered. Argon gas produces the blue color, helium produces the pale-yellow – almost white – hue, and hydrogen gives a pink-red color. Mixing these colors like paint, they can be combined to create a wide range of other colors.

   Although, neon is facing a revival in some ways – not only in LED “flex” style that looks similar to neon, but also true glass tube that was once a staple of American businesses for decades.

   An example of this work is Coffee Culture in downtown Corvallis, which recently opened. They use a modern neon sign with LED.

   Wherever you may be, a big city, small town, or even in a rural area, keep in mind the words of Matthew Broderick as Ferris Buller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” – you could miss these neon signs if you don’t take a moment to admire them.