ROAD TRIPS
Vintage Roadside gear brings lost landmarks to life
T-shirts sport images of bygone attractions -- kitschy and cool -- that flourished along the byways of yesteryear.
Like many noteworthy tales, the story of Vintage Roadside began with a road trip.
Oregonians Kelly Burg and Jeff Kunkle were on their fourth driving vacation along U.S. 20 through central
"One minute we were driving along talking about what a shame it was that all the old roadside places were disappearing, wishing there were someone who could do something to save the history," Burg said. "The next minute we had pulled off to the side of the road and decided to quit our jobs."
Thus was born Vintage Roadside, a
About 2 1/2 years ago, Burg left her publishing job and her husband gave notice at the distribution and warehousing company where he worked. They began digging into the history of places that had, in their day, entertained or accommodated thousands of travelers.
From Osage Beach, Mo., came Aquarama, a popular tourist destination completed in 1931 on the Lake of the Ozarks shore. It offered an unusual combo: dinner and an underwater show. "Beautiful girls that live like fish!" "Daring Aqualads in the monster fight!" In 1965, visitors were treated to "Gypsy Dancers From Hungary," "Bullfight in Spain" and "
On their website ( www.vintageroadside.com), Burg and Kunkle invite anyone with the inside scoop to share stories about featured attractions. After posting the Aquarama design, featuring a turquoise mermaid, they heard from a woman who had worked there starting at age 15; she became choreographer of the underwater mermaid show and head "Aqua maid."
Burg and Kunkle spend about a month researching each site, tapping historical societies, newspaper archives and residents' memories to develop the back stories that their preservation-minded customers crave. They consult with copyright and trademark attorneys about their graphics, which are based on original advertising.
"Often the materials we use are in a deteriorated state," Burg said. "We call ourselves guerrilla historians."
So far they've added 12 designs a year, for a total of about 28. In their booth at a recent
The midcentury modern design of Gwinn's, by the short-lived firm of Bissner & Zook, garnered praise in a 1948 Architectural Record article: "The horizontal motif of overlapping roof planes, the finely detailed expanse of glass and the restrained but effective 'billboard' all produce in this restaurant an admirably high standard."
Gwinn's was on legendary Route 66, now known as East
Another Route 66 spot was the B&B Rancho in Rialto, recalled by the community as a place with great food and service.
Other California motifs include the 7 Seas Cocktail Lounge, an early entry in the tiki craze and a hangout for servicemen stationed in
From Indio came Indio Bowl, featuring a Googie-style sign and exterior clad in split rock. It was the place to bowl in the 1960s, 24 hours a day.
Twentynine Palms offered the 29 Palms Roller Rink, built by Bill Underhill, a
Kibby's Drive-In operated in San Mateo from about 1954 to 1971. A volunteer for the
In
Reviving such stories has been fun for Burg and Kunkle, but they also hope to help save remaining roadside treasures.
They donate a part of each T-shirt sale to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for its programs focused on rescuing roadside architecture and neon signs. And Vintage Roadside customers who have not previously been members of the trust also may receive a free one-year basic membership with their order.
For Burg and Kunkle, road-tripping has become a way of life. "Now that we have Vintage Roadside," Burg said, "we drive everywhere."
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