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February 09, 2008

Neon in Philadelphia... The Science and the Art
-- Presentation and Tour --
Dr. Len Davidson, MIT 1973
Owner of Davidson Neon, and The Philadelphia Neon Museum

Join us as Dr. Len Davidson (MIT 1973) highlights design, historic, and technical aspects of neon signs in an eye-catching slide presentation. He will discuss how he has collaborated with architects, designers and building owners to bring excitement to architectural space. He will point out some of the technical details of neon signs and show how these signs can be an expression of local history. Following the presentation the group will board a bus for a tour through South Philly and Center City to examine neon signs in their street context.
 
For Len, neon is a calling. In 1977, while teaching organizational sociology at University of Florida, Davidson opened an American Dream theme tavern, The Gamery, an amazing multi-media scene. Presiding over the lunacy of antique pinball machines, racing trains and costumed customers playing board games was the most mind-blowing feature: NEON. Len had picked through local neon graveyards and collected dozens of old signs that he mounted on the ceiling. The effect was mesmerizing. The Gamery beat teaching undergraduates, and Len's professor persona was left in the dust.

Davidson apprenticed with Jim Williams, an old-time sign man. "Neon is an absolute art," Williams preached in his southern drawl while rotating glass in the fires. Increasingly drawn to that art, Davidson scavenged Florida and New Orleans in search of neon relics and lore.
 
On returning to his native Philadelphia in 1979 (with '59 Chevy piled high with tubing), Davidson began to unearth his hometown's magical neon history--one that complemented the roadside neon version he had learned down South. View more of his works and lore on his Web site: www.davidsonneon.com.
 
Note: sign up soon; numbers are strictly limited by the bus size!

Date: Saturday, February 9, 2008

Time: 6:00 PM - Presentation and light refreshments

Location: Embassy Suites at Philadelphia Airport
         9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153
         Phone: 215-796-6035
         Embassy Suites Web site
         Embassy Suites Directions

Cost: $25 for Dues-paying Club members & their guests
          (Members of Delaware Valley or Princeton Clubs)
        $35 for non-members

Reservations -- via the MIT Infinite Connection:
https://alum.mit.edu/smarTrans/user/Register.dyn?eventID=19662&groupID=158

Club Membership -- Join or Renew on-line:
https://alum.mit.edu/smarTrans/user/PayDues.dyn?groupID=158

For Questions: Lucie Wilkens, 610-444-3242
         e-mail: l.s.wilkens@alum.mit.edu

Posted by webmaster at February 9, 2008 06:00 PM