Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles, 1925-1965 by Tom Zimmerman with J. Eric Lynxwiler
When
surveying lighting from the mid-1920s, it would seem a drawback that most of
the photos are in black and white. However, the moody, mysterious images in
this book glow and burn with elegance and style—along with a healthy dose of
nostalgia. The shift from incandescent to neon and the role of neon in LA’s
urban, commercial, and creative realms is duly explored. Zimmerman (from whose
collection most of the images spring) and Lynxwiler have created an exquisite volume
of lyrical signage of all types. Font geeks (such as myself) will swoon.
Angel City Press, 2016, 192 pages,
softcover, $35.
