Preview: Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles, 1925-1960

Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965  is a new book published by Angel City Press which is primarily a collection of amazing vintage photos of the glowing neon heritage of the City of Angels.

L.A. is one of the world's most vibrant cities and part of the formula was the magnificent signs lining its streets during the Golden Age of neon from 1925 to 1965.

Photographer and historian Tom Zimmerman has collected images that spectacularly illuminate what Raymond Chandler, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and countless other writers have tried to put into words. The sense of wonder that is evoked by looking at these images will transport you back to another age.

Most of the images are in crisp black-and-white, as it was the dominant form of photography in this period. Surprisingly, you can still 'feel' the colors coming through even in b&w. The energy of the city is expressed in neon, and in the photos the book collects you can feel a young city rising and lighting up with activity. You can also sense the alienation possible in the illumination that glows the same whether the streets are full or empty.

Tom Zimmerman and J. Eric Lynxwiler discuss and sign Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965, 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, at Skylight Books,1818 N Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Please enjoy these images from inside the book courtesy Angel City Press... 

 Get more info on this book here: http://www.angelcitypress.com/products/spil