Ne10 - An Evening of Neon - this Saturday!
Collection of Thomas E. Rinaldi
From Neon: A Light History - An Illustration revealing how neon works, prepared by neon expert Mel Morris Neon around 1930
Saturday, December 11th, 2021
4:00 - 6:00pm
or
7:30 - 9:30pm
Two Sessions of the Same Program will be Presented
Tickets: $16 General / $12 VPES Members
Professor Dydia DeLyser & Detritologist Paul Greenstein (caretaker of the Panorama's neon marquee) present illustrated insights, pictorial recitations and interactive demonstrations around the gardens and grounds of the Velaslavasay Panorama on their ongoing and dedicated research on the history and restoration of neon signage. Copies of DeLyser & Greenstein's new book Neon - A Light History will be available for purchase and signing.
Exhibition support provided in part by Signmakers of Downtown Los Angeles. Program made possible, in part, through support from the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and the Velaslavasay Panorama Enthusiast Society.
Join the Velaslavasay Panorama Enthusiast Society (VPES)! or make a Direct Contribution to support the Velaslavasay Panorama - a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
September 1910
The Union Square Investment Co. files a building permit for a "Moving Picture Theatre" at 1122 West 24th Street in Los Angeles
December 1951
Building is owned by the Tile Layer's Local #18 and theater area used for union meetings by workers.
Summer 2004
Velaslavasay Panorama Relocates from Hollywood, repainting the exterior and replacing neon tubing to re-illuminate the marquee which has been dark for decades, enabled by a CRA LA façade improvement grant facilitated by Cultural Arts Planner Julie Silliman with technical assistance from Ray Neal of Standard Elecrical Services and Sara Velas serving as project manager.
Summer 2005
The official Velaslavasay Panorama Neon Relighting Ceremony Celebration is held with Tony Harteinstein performing the accordion and Nathan Marsak giving a brief illustrated lecture on historic Los Angeles Neon.
February 2013
Neon by Ohashi - artist Kunio Ohashi - performs maintenance on the Neon Marquee
September 2016
After 12 years a marquee refresh is needed and individual donations provide support. Musicians Oscar Rospide and Frank Fairfield assist with a new coat of paint and Paul Greenstein does a complete overhaul of all the neon tubing. The Los Angeles International Neon Jubilee celebrates this with a street festival enlisting the creative talents of DJ Lance Rock, Rollerskating legends the Scooby Brothers, LA Rollers, Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, neon historian Eric Lynxwiler, Echo Park Film Cetner, Chicken Boy and more!
- watch the neon repair timelapse video -