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Golden Eye Candy – Linda Cobb-Old Capitol Grill Neon – enlarge

What’s Happening in Golden Today?

6-6:55AM HIIT (Virtual)
8:30-9:30AM Power Training (Virtual)
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
10:30AM The Friday Tour @ Colorado Railroad Museum
12-12:55PM All Levels Yoga (Virtual)
1-1:45PM Silver Sneakers Yoga (Virtual)

1:30PM The Friday Tour – the Caboose @ Colorado Railroad Museum
3PM Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic @ Foothills Animal Shelter
4PM Wild West Short Tour

5-7PM Closing Reception – 2023 Members’ Show and Power of Process: A Jeffco Student Exhibition @ Foothills Art Center
Join us for a reception for our 2022 Members’ Show & Power of Process: A Jeffco Student Exhibition. We will have live music from Vio the Violinist while our Executive Director, Hassan Najjar, leads an interactive group discussion on selected works. More information

5:30–8:30PM Nature Journal Club: Intro to Watercolor @ Lookout Mountain Nature Center
Watercolors are easy to hike and travel with which makes them a great tool for recording nature observations in your journal. Explore the basics of this medium including materials, techniques and color mixing.

This program will take place indoors at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center (with an option for participants to venture outdoors near the building if they wish). Masks are not required, but we will have surgical masks available for those who would be more comfortable with a face covering. Free Registration is required.

7:30PM Shark Box Theater: Don’t Dress for Dinner @ American Mountaineering Center


Live Music

5-8PM Live Music @ Eddy Taproom
5-8PM Ignatius Reilly @ Goosetown Station
5:30-8:30PM Alibi Trio @ Over Yonder

7-10PM Chris Child @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)

7-10PM Dolls in the Attic | Aerosmith Tribute & Born in the USA | Bruce Springsteen Tribute @ Buffalo Rose (main venue)

7-10PM Mad Dog Blues Duo @ Morris & Mae
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern


Golden History Moment

Washington Avenue was awash with neon in the post-World War II era – click to enlarge

74 Years Ago
On March 24, 1949, Golden was celebrating an enlightening night. The Welcome Arch had just been completed, with its original neon lettering, and the public gathered to watch it be illuminated for the first time. In addition, the Golden Theater had undergone a refurbishment, and its new neon marquee was coming online.

The big event was preceded by a parade. The School of Mines Band, the Buffalo Bill Saddle Club, the Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts, Golden Grange, and other groups marched down Washington Avenue, starting at Pioneer Park on 16th Street and coming down the hill to the theater.

The Governor was in town to help us celebrate. He flipped the switch at 8PM, and the lights came on. Radio station KMYR was on hand to broadcast the event, with Gene Amole acting as master of ceremonies. The Transcript estimated a crowd of 6000 people.

Washington Avenue, mid-50s – enlarge

Neon signs were popular throughout the ’50s and ’60s. One reason they started to wane in popularity was the expense and difficulty of keeping them in operation. Most neon signs are custom built, so businesses can see their names in distinctive fonts. That means that when they break, skilled craftsmen are required to repair them. Eventually the City redid the arch with reflective–rather than neon–lettering.

One of my friends (you know who you are) has both fond and shame-faced memories of breaking the neon letters on the arch during his teen-aged years. That’s probably why the Transcript editor, writing in 1975, remembered the arch as often saying “WELCOME TO OLDEN” and “How Folks!”

Golden Liquors – enlarge

One sign still remains from the neon years: Golden Liquors. If you look at the picture of the Jolly Rancher sign (middle row, right side above) you can see the Golden Liquors sign behind it. When that business moved to their current location (13th and Ford) in 1957, the sign went with them.


Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!


Highlights