The Sam the Record Man Sign Rises Again!
Wait. What’s that above Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto? It’s…it’s the SAM THE RECORD MAN SIGN!
After years in storage and a significant refurbishment, the rotating records sign that was a fixture of Yonge Street for years–hey, it was one of the first things I sought out when I moved here–is being installed in its new home on the roof of the Toronto Public Health Building on VIctoria Street.
The sign has been dark since Sam’s closed shop in 2007. Ryerson University, who bought the land where the store used to stand, had to agree to protect the sign as historically significant.
It was originally supposed to be hung at or near its original location–the site of the new student centre–but that never worked out. That was probably for the best, though, because the new location is much more fitting for such an iconic piece of neon work.
Things would be spinning like the old days by Monday or something this week. More ino at Global News.
The sign was meant to be mounted in front of a wall. With the current placement the round neon is virtually invisible during the daytime.
Get the latest news and the full history of the Sam’s Sign here: https://www.facebook.com/SaveSamSign/
so far, the reviews of the new location have given it a thumbs down:
http://www.blogto.com/music/2017/12/toronto-sam-record-man-sign-dundas-square/