Denver's 10 coolest neon signs

When you're walking around feeling down and out/pondering the mystery of a dame with a chip on her shoulder and a case that just might not be what it seems, there's nothing like a backdrop of neon signs to get you in the right mood. And since we do that type of thing a lot, we got to thinking: What are the best neon signs in Denver? The coolest? The moodiest? The most elaborate? We put our best detective, Arts and Culture editor Susan Froyd, on the beat, and she dug up these leads, complete with locations and history. Photos and slide-show by Stephen Cummings.

The sign for Candlelight Tavern, 383 South Pearl Street, was erected in 1954, and to this day it still retains some of its original parts. Not all damage is caused by natural disasters, Troy Hanley, manager of the Candlelight, says, "People will climb up it and then it will needs to be fixed."

The liquid neon sign at Pete's Kitchen, 1962 East Colfax Avenue, has been there since 1944. Gina Belearde, a fifteen-year veteran, says "The sign is prolific. It's on everything from our uniforms to our menus, to our awards."

It's hard to miss this Denver's landmark, the neon sign at Pete's Satire Lounge, when driving down East Colfax. Mickey Knopp, a long time employee at the lounge located at 1920 East Colfax Avenue, says, "There's people down here all the time doing paintings and taking pictures of the sign." Interestingly, this more than fifty year-old sign is actually not owned by The Satire Lounge, but it is rented from Gordon Neon Sign Company instead.