Smilin' Buddha neon sign, c. 1950s
Museum of Vancouver
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| Object Name: | Smilin' Buddha neon sign, c. 1950s |
| Catalogue Number: | H2008.26.1 |
| Manufacturer: | Wallace Neon |
| Origin-Municipality: | Vancouver |
| Origin-Province: | BC |
| Origin-Country: | Canada |
| Earliest Production Date: | 1950 |
| Latest Production Date: | 2000 |
| Description: | Steel metal neon can; double-sided; painted with image of semi-reclining smiling Buddha figure and bowl of rice and "Smilin Buddha Cabaret"; all are outlined in neon; Buddha's chin and belly appear to jiggle as bands of neon flicker; approximately 40 units of neon and five transformers power sign. |
| History of Use: | The Smilin' Buddha neon sign was built about 1950 by Wallace Neon of Vancouver. About 1993, the sign was placed on a custom-built wheeled caddy for ease of movement. At that time, a hinged container was custom built to protect the sign during transport and storage. The Smilin' Buddha neon sign is one of the most iconic pieces of neon from Vancouver's colourful history of neon signs. The Smilin' Buddha Cabaret at 109 East Hastings Street was a focal-point of Vancouver's entertainment scene for decades. In the 1950s the night club sign was a symbol of Vancouver's post-war prosperity and bustle as captured in the photographic works of Fred Herzog. In the 1960s psychedelic era, it hosted acts such as Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix. As the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood declined through the 1970s, however, so too did the club's fortunes. In the late 1970s, as the punk and alternative music wave was taking hold in North America, the Smilin' Buddha Cabaret got a new lease on life as ground zero for a thriving new independent music scene. In the midst of the club's revival, it was also home to the first-ever show by 54-40 on December 31st, 1980. In the years since, 54-40 has produced 15 releases, numerous hit songs, gold records and videos. Formed by Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt, 54-40 holds the distinction of being Canada's longest-running rock act with 27 years of performing and touring under their belt. In 1992, long after the club had closed its doors for good, Brad Merritt spotted a Province news article mentioning that the famous Smilin' Buddha neon sign was sitting in a local scrap yard. Given the rich history of the sign, and their personal connection to it, the band sought to acquire the sign. They restored it and Smilin' Buddha Cabaret became the name of their 1994 release containing their all-time best-selling song, Ocean Pearl. (See H2008.26.2 for the CD version.) The 800-pound sign gained further notoriety as the stage backdrop for the album's tour, becoming the bane of the band's roadies who painfully loaded it in and out of clubs across Canada and the US. See Doc Spec. file for additional information and images. |
| Width: | 315 cm |
| Depth: | 33 cm |
| Unit-Linear: | cm |
| Credit Line - Image: | Museum of Vancouver Collection |
| Institution: |
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| Institution City: | Vancouver |
| Institution Province: | BC |
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