Neon might be thought of as a thing of the past, a sign of nostalgia for `50s diners and drive-in movie theaters. But look around, and downtown Eugene is aglow with neon, some new, some old — and since the late 1980s, Neal Conner has built or maintained much of it with his company Neon Latitudes in West Eugene.
Conner’s work includes recently refurbished neon gargoyles that greet patrons at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre entrance on West Broadway. He also created the charming neon insect figures and other designs adding ambiance to Cornucopia Bar & Burgers on 5th Avenue, and the neon sign tempting hungry patrons into Zest Kitchen & Bar on the top floor of the Downtown Athletic Club on Willamette Street.
While at Zest, diners can enjoy rooftop views showcasing even more neon. The vintage JJ Newberry sign on the Newberry building, first installed in 1959 and restored by Conner in 2010, lights the west side of the street, for example.
Conner says he always wanted to be an artist. He studied film at the University of Oregon in the 1980s. But he found his creative outlet in neon, a medium that, not unlike film, relies on color and light.
“It’s saturated for one thing — can’t be beat,” Conner says of neon, an art form first developed in the early 20th century following the discovery of neon gas in 1898 by two British chemists. It’s also long-lasting, he says, while other types of lighting become “splotchy” over time.
These days, cheaper alternatives are available, such as LED, digital signs, and fluorescent. Still, nothing can match the halo effect and uniform light produced by neon, Conner says. That helps explain neon’s resurgence as an art form and cultural symbol. It’s the mix of science and craft that keeps people coming back for more.
In Eugene, the neon craftwork includes the mid-century modern Dot Dotson sign, offering a variety of film, digital still photo, and video services on Willamette Street for decades. A bit further north, the Kennell-Ellis streamline moderne sign has presided over 13th Avenue and Willamette for some 70 years, and the art deco Eugene Hotel sign has stood above them all since 1925.
Elsewhere downtown, the Luckey’s Club Cigar Store saloon-style sign — which once hung on Willamette at Luckey’s old location, one of the oldest businesses in downtown Eugene — now hangs behind the stage at Luckey’s Club on Olive Street. It’s as identifiable with Eugene as the White Stag sign is with Portland.
Another more recent example is the elaborate, mid-century-style Timbers Inn sign on East Pearl Street.
Conner isn’t the only neon craftsperson in Eugene, but they all use a similar technique. To make a sign or a piece of neon art, glass tubes are shaped into the desired shapes, whether letters, abstract, or representational.
Once shaped, the tubes are carefully cleaned. Then, electrodes are attached to both ends. Air is pushed out of the tube, while small amounts of so-called noble gases, like neon, are introduced.
Neon creates red light, while argon with small amounts of mercury creates blue or other colors. Sometimes, different colored glass and coatings are used to produce an even more diverse array of hues.
Once the vision is realized, the completed sign or work of art is mounted and connected to a high-voltage transformer. The whole project then springs to life.
Another piece of neon that can be seen from Zest’s rooftop is the McDonald Theatre’s newly updated marquee to the south, ablaze with neon and digital components, welcoming audiences to the south on Willamette Street.
ES&A Sign & Awning Co. on Prairie Road worked on the McDonald project. “Neon lighting remains one of the most iconic and emotionally resonant elements in sign design,” ES&A president Jay Perdue says.
Neon’s “warm, glowing hues create atmosphere, and draw attention like few others can,” Perdue says. “In an age dominated by digital displays and LED panels, neon offers a unique appeal. It is art. For the McDonald Theatre, this marquee isn’t just a sign; it’s a statement. It celebrates the city’s cultural heritage while giving a new generation a chance to experience the magic of neon.”
The neon gargoyles at Oregon Contemporary Theatre — the ones recently updated by Connor — were first installed more than 25 years ago at the theater’s previous iteration, the Lord Leebrick Theatre Company, according to OCT producing artistic director Craig Willis.
“We rebranded when we relocated from Charnelton to Broadway in 2013,” Willis says. “I asked Neal if he could refurbish and relocate the signs back in 2013, since he had created and installed them at our original location. More recently, I asked him to refurbish them again and relocate them to be more visible on our roofline.”
“I’ve always enjoyed the appearance of neon,” he adds. “Its glow is eye-catching. It’s a visual art unto itself, one that most of us have admired for many years.”
Borzi Marashi, who owns Zest, also said he’d worked with Conner before and called him up when it was time for a sign for his new business. The neon signs visible along Willamette from his rooftop patio “enhance our urban view,” especially at sunset, Marashi says. “It’s magical.”
