Friday, May 25, 2007

Vintage Rexall


Here's a closeup of the vintage Rexall sign seen in the background of previous downtown photographs.


These signs have become rather rare - a relic of the World War II and Baby Boomer generations and generally found in small towns. I did a little research and discovered that the company traces its history back to 1902 when Louis Ligget called 40 drugstore owners together to form a cooperative. United Drug Stores sold products with the Rexall name, and after World War I, the company became a national franchise. Rexall advertised on radio shows such as "Amos 'n Andy" and manufactured pharmaceutical supplies...vitamins, herbal remedies, even combs and brushes. The chain was sold in 1977, and in the 1980s, Sundown acquired the Rexall trademark and today operates as Rexall Sundown.

Apparently, there are more Rexall signs in Canada than the U.S.
Does anybody know how Rexall got its name?




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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of Canada's oldest pharmacy groups, Rexall Drug Stores put pharmacy care front and centre. Many believe the Rexall name was derived from the words "Rx to all", or "pharmacy care to all" and since Rexall stores were once found in most communities across Canada, these words held true. From coast to coast the Rexall sign was a symbol of the trusted and personalized care of the Rexall pharmacist. Today Rexall continues its tradition of putting pharmacy first for all patients and customers. Rexall pharmacies can be found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Unknown said...

We sure don't have this chain in Asia.


To answer your question,

All vehicles in Singapore have an in-vehicle unit, which is a gadget that will deduct the fee when you pass by the gantries, cars do not stop at all when paying the tolls :-)

Carol E. said...

Seeing this photo instantly took me back to my childhood! What a funny feeling! Haven't seen one of these signs in ages.......

Anonymous said...

We have in Joensuu two herbal remedy shops. It`s almost funny, how people pay very high prices about herbal remedies, but in same time they are complaining about prices of normal medicines.
I wish you a happy weekend and thank you for visiting my blog.

Anonymous said...

Nice sign and good photo of it.

It is the kind of sign that hung above the old drug store that was here when we moved to town.

I just discovered a earlier that two baby robins have left the nest. Or one is still there. I have photographed those and will show them on Monday.

Birds in their bath today at
Brookville Daily Photo

Anonymous said...

There aren't any Rexall stores here, but I used to encounter those signs on childhood visits New England. Thanks for the little trip down memory lane.

Ben Nakagawa said...

Great shot!. I love the dynamic composition. It has a power of an attention.