Alamo Plaza Ad Sign Stirs City Criticism

Alamo Plaza Ad Sign Stirs City Criticism
San Antonio Light, Sunday,September 30, 1934.
No complaint against the San Antonia, Inc. booster billboard on Alamo plaza had been lodged with Mayor C. K. Quin or the city commission Saturday, the mayor announced.
The billboard, however, was erected under a conditional permit subject to cancellation at any time, Mayor Quin stated, and it will be removed if any good reason is brought to the official notice of the commission.
The sign, 35 feet long and l0 feet high, was erected on gthe north end of Alamo plaza, directly across the street from the postoffice, by the Sunset System at request of a committee of San Antoninas, Inc, headed by A. L. Becker.
Indication that one or more protests against the sign would reach the commission before the day ended was given by expressions of business men and others located near the plaza.
Mrs. Lita Small, custodian of the Alamo, described the billboard as being "perfectly terrible" and unsightly and announced that the Alamo committee of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was preparing to register a complaint with Mayor Quin and the commission.
Business men along the plaza, particularly those near the intersection of Houston and Alamo streets, severly criticised erection of the sign at its present location and suggested its removal.
A. W. Moore, auditor in the Gibbs building, pointed out that it completely cut off view of the Alamo from his office. "When visitors ask to see the Alamo and I point over there, they see nothing but that sign," he said. "As it is now, it looks like small town stuff." He suggested that it be placed on the wall north of the Alamo and illuminated at night.
"I haven't seen the front," said N. H. McCowen, manager of the Walgreen drug store on Alamo plaza. "The back is enough for me. It gets plenty of attention of an unforvorable character."
Objection of M. F. Hawkins, manager of Sommers drug store at the corner of Alamo and Houston streets, was based on the sign's obstruction of the view from his location. "People come in here and want to see the Alamo but they can see nothing but that sign," he said. "It cuts off entirely any view of the Alamo from this corner."
Tom Brown adding machine dealer at 129 Crockett street, suggested that the sign be moved outside the city along some highway "where it would obliterate some of the mesquite landscape instead of hiding the Alamo."
Postmaster Can Quill, who also is a member of the San Antonians, incorported, expressed the opinion that the sign could be placed elsewhere. He was not a member of the committee that picked its present location.
In explaining the attitude of himself and the commissioners, Mayor Quin said" Of course we represent the people and whatever the people want they will get."
Mrs. Small said she heard hundreds of complaints from individuals visiting the Alamo during the week the sign has been in existence.
The sign was erected as part of a program to advertise San Antonio. It urges citizens to write to their friends about San Antonio's advantages.

THE SECOND FLYING COMPANY OF ALAMO DE PARRAS Š1996,1997, Randell Tarin. All Rights Reserved.