Like this way cool vintage Mobil gas station – I can picture where it was on the road in my head, but for the life of me I can’t remember if it was near Weirs Beach NH or Old Orchard Beach ME!

If any of the photos in the RetroRoadmap Photo Archives collection ring a bell with you and you have any info or memories associated with them, please leave the info in the comments below, or if you’re a Flickr user, at the actual page. Hope everyone enjoys this walk down memory lane!

Here’s me in front of the Frazer Diner in the spring of 1999. As I mentioned on my writeup of the Frazer Diner I had no idea when I was posing for this photo that I’d end up living 15 minutes away from it, with a cute guitar player. I’m sure glad it worked out this way!

This is a photo of Fains Carpet Store in Providence RI taken some time between 1987-89. Roadwarrior Debra Jane Seltzer posted some photos of this striking storefront in her Roadside Architecture blog recently, and I knew I had a photo when it was still Fains. Love the Art Deco facade!

I’m pretty sure that this photo was taken on the same trip to Rhode Island as the Fains facade, not sure why I didn’t shoot the diner itself, but I think we got off at the wrong exit and were turning the car around.

In the small world vein I see that roadpal Gunnar shared some photos of the Meadowbrook Drive In Theatre in Middleboro MA on his blog Eccentric Roadside. The comments indicate the theatre closed in 1987 so I must’ve shot this shortly therafter.

I know there are small reproduction metal signs of this classic Good Home Cooking sign floating out there on the internets, but this photo is of the real deal, from The Galley Restaurant in West Springfield MA. Taken in 1995 by moi! Here’s a link to some of the history of the Galley’s sign if you’re interested.

This photo of the Route 66 Diner was taken in 1995 in Springfield MA as well. I remember eating here and the diner being clean as a whistle, and very affordable.

The Englewood diner used to sit behind the Capitol Market in Dorchester MA and I’d see it every day going to and from school. That whole shopping complex was very cool with a big neon sign for the market as well as the restaurant next to it, I think it had a Bradlees too. Not sure why I didn’t take more photos of the entire place, but if I beat myself up for all the photos I haven’t taken I’d be a black and blue pulp. So I DID take a photo of this classic diner, before it got moved.

That is just a drop in the bucket of the Retro Roadmap Photo Archives, dear readers. I’ll be sharing more of them as inspiration hits!

I came across a few slides that I thought might be of interest to to Retro Roadmap Readers, and I was wondering if any of you might know where they were taken? I can ask dad next time I see him but I don’t think he’ll know them by my description over the phone.

These were taken some time in the late 50′s early 60′s- pre 1963, the year my folks were married. Probably in the MA, NH, RI area from the looks of the surrounding photos. Any ideas, sleuths?

(That’s my dad in green with the jaunty hat!)

(it’s funny b/c the scan place said this one above was Bad Media, but I think it’s a total keeper!)

OK all you Joe Hardys and Nancy Drews, let’s see if we can find out something about these!

I’m heading down to Rehoboth Beach DE for the weekend and have a number of old “haunts” to visit for Retro Roadmap— just in time for Halloween!

Like this beauty of a place – Dunkle’s Gulf station in Bedford PA:

Get a sneak peek by checking out the Retro Roadmap photo group on Flickr. Anyone can join and add their Retro Roadmap-worthy photos to the group!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/retroroadmap/

check out the Retro Roadmap Flickr Group to get a sneak peek of the upcoming content!

This group is for photos of old diners (not the super chrome modern ones). The photos can be exterior shots, details, and interiors as long as they feature predominantly the design (not the food or people inside). Trolley cars & street cars that have been converted into diners are okay, too — but not regular coffee shops or restaurants (that may just call themselves “diners”). The structures themselves should be the prefabricated & installed type.

Here are a few from my archives, but take a look at the set that our Roadtrip Resource Debra Jane Seltzer of Roadside Architecture has helped to collect online!

If you see a photo you like, give some love, people always need positive feedback.

Happy Flickr Friday, all!

Welcome to Flickr Friday!

The first group I want to share is called I Love Old Signs! because I do indeed. Love. Old. Signs. !

Here’s what you’ll find:

Old neon (working or not), steel or plastic signs. Ghost ads on the sides of buildings. Look carefully at your sign. Does it look older than 30 years or so? Then it’ll probably fit into the group OK. We’re not going to be too harsh, or make you produce evidence that proves the age of your sign. If it looks and feels old, it’ll most likely fit in.

This group is administered by Lounge Listener, who has quite the  Flickr stream of great vintage signs and sights. I just can’t get enough of that Holiday Motel sign!

So happy Flickr Friday everyone, let me know if you see any Retro Roadmap worthy places over the weekend!

I Love Old Signs on Flickr

LoungeListener on Flickr

Take a closer look at those Panton -esque curtains, I bet they’ve been there since the place was built!

View MD – Maryland Retro RoadMAP in a larger map