While sitting in a waiting room, I started flipping through random magazines looking at page after page of completely random articles.  Then, out of no where, I stumbled across absolutely beautiful photography perfect for model railroad reference.  This from an unlikely source — especially since I’m in New Jersey.

There, on the pages of Los Angeles magazine’s June 2009 issue, are many billboards from the 1950s and 1960s in perfect quality and color. These billboards look to be 55 to 65 feet wide – enormous vintage billboards advertising everything from crackers to cars to cigarettes. If I recall, the signage ranges from 1954 to 1967 and includes three dimensional billboards with cutout lettering and other layered effects.

The relatively short, mostly pictorial article is titled, “Sign Language” and is written by Los Angeles magazine Senior Editor, Dave Gardetta.

I know this is primarily a local magazine to southern California, but if you have an interest in billboards or vintage advertising, you may want to order a back issue from Los Angeles magazine.