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November 30, 2013 by tomdalzell

Signs #1 – Just Quirky, No Theme

At the Moratorium demonstration in Washington on November 15th, 1969, I ran into Arlo Guthrie in the celebrity seating area.  I was a marshall.  I passed him a blanket.  That was my second brush with him.  I will confess the first at a later date.

He was Very Famous at the moment.

Arlo

“Alice’s Restaurant” was blowing up big.  He sang “This Land is Your Land” at the Moratorium.  I was the first time that I heard the full verse about signs:

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

This verse is not part of the commonly sung version.  Pretty powerful.  That is, I think, one of only two songs that mention signs that I like.  The other is “Just Walk Away Renee” with the sign that points one way.  Did I miss any?

I have many photographs of Berkeley signs.  This first, small collection, is united by no theme other than quirk.  Because of my love for the paths of Berkeley and their quirky essence, let me start with a path sign:

Mosswood

It is on Panoramic Hill.  It is unique – the last original path sign standing.  The rest look like Berkeley street signs.  Like this:

Claremont Path

Okay.  It thrills me but I understand that it might be a little nuanced for many.   So let’s head the other direction:

915 Ashby

915 Ashby

Nothing subtle there.  Or here:

520 Gilman

520 Gilman

If we have other examples of roadside architecture than this in our fair city, they don’t come to mind.  But while on the subject of tires:

1865 University

1865 University

Here is one more that might require explanation –

1343 King

1343 King

Every King Middle School student knows and loves this place.  I love it because of the sign.  Grove Street became Martin Luther King Way in 1984.  Almost three decades later the sign still references Grove.   Love it!  Grove Liquors at Ashby recently dropped the Grove.  The only other Grove that I have found is in a small mural at Malcolm X School:

Grove St. Malcom X

Now a few that need no explanation:

637 Cedar

637 Cedar

 

1817 2nd

1817 2nd

1794 5th

1794 5th

1416 Derby

1416 Derby

2125 Durant

2125 Durant

2629 7th

2629 7th

3090 Claremont

3090 Claremont

Bowditch and Bancroft

Bowditch and Bancroft

933 Parker

933 Parker

218 Santa Fe, on Masonic

218 Santa Fe, on Masonic

2081 Addison

2081 Addison

2940 7th

2940 7th

3090 Claremont

3090 Claremont

Two more.  First, at the Willard School, the back side – 2425 Stuart, on Regent:

L1120982L1120983

And in closing, a wonderful sentiment, expressed simply:

IMG_2529

I took a print-out of these photos to my friend.   He was watching an old movie.

Aelita, Queen of Mars (USSR, 1924)

It was the Russian silent film classic Aelita, Queen of Mars.  I showed him the photos.  He hustled away.  He came back with two records.  The first was:

Signs 45 2

I was not impressed.  “I don’t like the song.”   He said, “The song’s okay. That’s not the point.”  And then he showed me the second:

Signs 45

Special DJ version!  He claims that Hy Lit gave it to him.  It is not impossible.  But I still don’t really care for the song.  I said he could get back to his movie but what did he think of the photos?

IMG_3677

 

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