No wonder Pittsburghers fail so miserably at following instructions. It’s not our fault. All around the city there are so many confusing signs that just don’t make sense, like an upside-down sign saying TRAFFIC MUST TURN RIGHT, KEEP MOVING ends with STOP AHEAD.
Decisions, decisions. You know how it is. It’s been that way for a long time in Pittsburgh. We have photographs to prove it.
There are a lot of goofy signs, too. If there were a tournament for the best snarky, funny, ridiculous signs, Pittsburgh would be ahead of the pack. It’s as if they’re the ultimate expression of free speech for local retailers, drivers, construction workers and even corporate types.
After spending a few days raking through three thick folders marked “SIGNS” in our photo archive, we reached a unanimous conclusion: One could write a book about extraordinary signs seen in the most ordinary places in and around our town.
And for some people, collecting those jewels used to be a passion. Just as Jim Romenesko loves highlighting newspaper typos, photographer Ross Catanza of The Pittsburgh Press used to collect — on film — unusual signs he came across. In 1973, Catanza shared his collection with his colleagues. The Pittsburgh Press ran a series of his favorites.
Funny warning signs? You got it. DANGER: MEN WORKING. That, indeed, sounds dangerous, especially considering the photo shows the men NOT working.
There was a photo of a truck carrying a squelch designed to further frustrate an already fuming motorist bringing up the rear: “I may be slow BUT I’m ahead of YOU!”
How about incongruous signs? We’ve seen those, too: A used-cow dealer who sells new antiques.
One photo of a sign posted on a drive-in theater in Meadville could be re-used today: “Closed — Too Cold for Kissin.”
It’s indeed too cold. And a tad sad there aren’t many drive-in theaters around town anymore.
