Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Texas > San Antonio
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 03-22-2012, 08:50 PM
 
12,918 posts, read 16,863,190 times
Reputation: 5434

Advertisements

I have driven past the Sears at Park North (aka Central Park) a few times lately and have noticed that the old sign is still in operation. I don't remember if they had ever stopped it at some point. But it looks just the same, as far as the basic shape. It has been redecorated I think, but it still looks the same. I am glad to see it being used. Although...I couldn't tell you what any of the messages are that are being posted. I usually am concentrating on driving, or else not close enough to see because I usually am going westbound on 410.

This must have been around since the 70's. Maybe even the 60's. I think it's probably the same type of technology used in major athletic stadiums, dating to places like the Houston Astrodome. Or, that is what I assume.

I'd like to know more about this sign. The technology associated with it, where it is controlled from, etc.

Anyone have any info?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 03-22-2012, 09:08 PM
 
4,327 posts, read 7,234,158 times
Reputation: 3488
The sign was part of the original Central Park Mall construction in the late 60s. It originally had analog light bulbs that displayed advertising messages to motorists along 410. I also remember the sign caught on fire at least a couple of times over the years.

More recently, I've noticed the analog bulbs are no more, and have been replaced by a digital display board.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-22-2012, 09:21 PM
 
12,918 posts, read 16,863,190 times
Reputation: 5434
Interesting, Ged. I also wondered about the operations. Back in the day they probably had a control room in the basement under the mall. Nowadays I imagine the messages might be sent from a Iphone or something.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-22-2012, 09:38 PM
 
Location: Schertz
581 posts, read 1,187,874 times
Reputation: 1126
I remember that sign when I was a kid. I would also display the time and tempurature at regular intervals so my brother and sister and I would call it the "weather sign." So when asked anything in conjunction with direction when I was learning my way around the city, if I needed to go East, Dad would say "Go towards the weather sign!" and I got it. LOL

I gotta ask my Dad about it. Allegedly, he "knew" someone who either worked on it or constructed it so he may have some more information. Of course, it could be my Dad having some "poetic justice" to satisfy our young, imaginative minds. I'll find out.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-22-2012, 10:13 PM
 
2,359 posts, read 6,433,488 times
Reputation: 660
Funny I passed by there earlier in the week and thought the same thing about the sign.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-23-2012, 09:00 AM
Bo Bo won $500 in our forum's Most Engaging Poster Contest - Tenth Edition (Apr-May 2014). 

Over $104,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum and additional contests are planned
 
Location: Ohio
17,107 posts, read 38,108,718 times
Reputation: 14447
Quote:
Originally Posted by ged_782 View Post
More recently, I've noticed the analog bulbs are no more, and have been replaced by a digital display board.
That happened about a month ago. I wondered why the owners waited so long to make the change. The old sign had nearly half of its light bulbs out most of the time, so it was as if its messages were in code!

Last edited by Bo; 03-23-2012 at 09:24 AM.. Reason: extra word
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-23-2012, 09:22 AM
 
12,918 posts, read 16,863,190 times
Reputation: 5434
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bo View Post
That happened about a month ago. I wondered why the owners waited so long to make the change. The old sign had about nearly half of its light bulbs out most of the time, so it was as if its messages were in code!
If it happened a month ago, that would explain why I've just noticed it again. I think it must have been down for a while.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Texas > San Antonio
Similar Threads
View detailed profiles of:

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:35 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top