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The Magic Mushroom Neon Sign
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| Accession #: | 4035.1 |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Magic Mushroom Neon Sign |
| Object Type: | Sign |
| Participants: |
Magic Mushroom (user)
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| Physical Description: | Round, metal store sign; the sign is one-sided and has white letters "Magic Mushroom" on a black (Plexiglas?) background; red neon tubing animates a guitar-playing mushroom when supplied with power. |
| Description: | The Magic Mushroom opened on November 19, 1972 at 211 N. Division, selling used records. Alan Negrin came up with the name - it was easy to say and captured peoples' imagination at that time in history - and the concept of a guitar-playing mushroom (inspired by the Disney movie "Fantasia") that they painted on the store's plate glass window. Charlie Schlesinger joined Negrin and Dave Schoengold the following year; in 1975 Negrin moved to Seattle. Schlesinger, Schoengold and Bob Greene, doing business as The Three Yiddish Boys, moved the store to 303 W. Riverside and created The Magic Mushroom neon sign. Before closing in 1981, the store sold records, waterbeds and smoking paraphernalia - and was the first in Spokane to sell hot tubs. Local record stores like The Magic Mushroom, Budget Records and Strawberry Jams garnered loyal followings and reflected the region's popular and alternative music scene. |
| Category: | History |
| Subjects/Topics/Concepts: |
Merchandising (Communication)
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| Geographical Reference: | Spokane (Washington->Spokane County) |
| Dimensions: |
Diameter 78"
depth 13"
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| Materials/Techniques: |
metal (Material)
Neon (Material)
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| Marks/Inscription: |
The Magic Mushroom
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| Related Exhibits: | |
| Credit Line: | Gift of Rich Hein and Marissa Sullivan, 2002 |
To order a reproduction, inquire about permissions, or for information about prices see:
https://www.northwestmuseum.org/collections