History of Neon in US

The word neon originates from the Greek term "neos," meaning "the new gas." In 1902 the French inventor Georges Claude was the first to apply an electrical discharge to a sealed tube of neon gas to create a light. After displaying the first neon light at an auto convention in Paris in 1910, Georges Claude and his French company Claude Neon, introduced neon signs to the United States in 1923, by selling two to a Packard car dealership in Los Angeles. It attracted so much attention, that the benefits for outdoor advertising signage were undeniable. Visible even in daylight, people would stop and stare at the first neon signs dubbed "liquid fire." Neon lights took off in 1933 with the repeal of prohibition, which created a need for eye-catching advertising signs above bars. In the 30's and 40's, neon became synonymous with Art Deco and dominated the American urban landscape. By the 50's, neon lights had become inextricably linked with drive-ins, diners, and the glamour of Las Vegas. Nothing catches the eye like neon, and it has been the most effective medium for signs all over the world ever since.