Signs of the Past: Ann Foster Music Shop

This photo was sent to me by the fabulous DJ Nico, who took this photo in 2002 long before Lister Block was renovated to its current immaculate state.

As a new Hamiltonian, I was not able to have the pleasure of seeing this sign myself, let alone know anything about the Ann Foster Music Shop, which was located downtown in the Lister Block shopping arcade in the space where Tourism Hamilton is now situated.  Some research online quickly lead me back to the always-interesting chronicles of CBC Hamilton's Paul Wilson, who shares my interest in historic buildings, signage and local history. This piece of Wilson's from last summer tells the tale of Ann Foster, a pianist who opened her shop dealing in records, instruments and sheet music in 1942.  After Ann suffered a heart attack in 1969, an employee took over the shop and ran it until 1995 when Lister closed down and was threatened to be demolished.

I'm sad to have not seen this wall sign for myself, but I love what I see here-- the simple cut letters, signature-like typeface, and minimal colour scheme that might take its inspiration from piano keys.  This sign perhaps gives us a little glimpse into the character of the mythic Ms. Foster.

The Canadian Red Cross Society

 

Institution:  The Canadian Red Cross Society

Location:  400 King Street East, West of Victoria Avenue 

Neighbourhood:  Landsdale

Sign Type:  awning valance sign

Leading up to this post, I did a ton of research on coloured spandrel panels in institutional architecture of the late 1950s and 1960s, only to take a closer look at this photo and realize that the Red Cross building just outside of Downtown Hamilton isn't made of them after all...it just looks like it at first glance.  So much for that!

This building cuts a fairly clean cloth on an otherwise grim stretch of King Street East not too far from my home.  It is quite typical of institutional architecture constructed in the mid 20th century, but the V-shaped awning gives this building a slight Googie flair.  The pairing of navy blue panels with the red text and cross in the sign is striking.  The typeface used for this sign, Futura, is definitely one of my all-time favourites (and reportedly, a favourite of Stanley Kubrick's as well).  The paint job of the cut-out letters could use some TLC.

There is a smattering of Googie architecture and signage across Downtown Hamilton and Stoney Creek.  I will definitely feature more of it here in the near future.