Kent Shoe Store VPL_80667, Vancouver, British Columbia

In the 1950s Vancouver was said to be second only to Shanghai in the number of neon signs per capita in the city. Neon Products Ltd, a company established in Vancouver in 1928, and the largest manufacturer of neon signs in Western Canada, estimated that in 1953 there were 19,000 neon signs in Vancouver, one for every 18 residents. In many ways the grey cityscape and frequently wet sidewalks of Vancouver provided a perfect backdrop for neon. The black and white photography of the time wonderfully reflects this mid-century ambience, as can be seen from the photos in this set. Vancouver Public Library Historical Photographs.

Canada Royalty Free Stock Photo