We all know the (disappearing) Torch And Oval logo which identified Amoco gas stations for decades.  Here is an example of the FIRST incarnation of T&O, dating back to the late 1940s.  The cherry on this sundae is the acrylic torch atop the sign.

Amoco (American Oil Company) originally used a red and black oval for its signage .... then in the early 1960s the company was bought by Standard Oil of Indiana (one of many Standard Oils created with the breakup of the old Rockefeller trust in 1911), which used the Torch And Oval badge for its stations.  Amoco's logo was reworked into the T&O, and its marketing name changed (as shown here) to American. 

The name would revert back to Amoco in the early '70s. 

If you look really hard in this picture, you might see what looks like clown, lurking around the property and thinking to himself, "This would be a wonderful place to build a playground." 

A Texaco station would build on this corner later in the '60s, and of course nearby would be the famous McDonald's.

What a beautiful street sign!  By the early-ish'70s, these bronze style street markers were all replaced by the now-common reflective green ones.  Today, they mostly hang from traffic light cables.

The logo speaks for itself.  Don't know much about the 'cue, though; my aunt (who lived - and still lives - about a mile or so from this intersection) offered this: "It was owned by a Mr. Cooper who also owned a lot of land in the area. He died a long  time ago. It was a small operation and a lot of people just hung out there. Kind of a BBQ/Beer joint as I best remember."

Evidently, Cooper's Barbecue was not one of the more enduring BBQ places in the Magic City. 

This shows the Standard Oil awnings as they looked in the mid '60s.

Remember when most gas stations gave out trading stamps?  Or had "match-the-sides-of-the-car-and-win" type games.  Or a free towel set.  ANYTHING to get you to their pumps, and not the competition's. 

Another of the old-style street signs can be seen here, too.

Lee's Standard Station, like most others, had their own truck and wrecker.  They were called SERVICE stations for a reason!  Cokes were in the machine out front; you didn't have Mr. Patel running a convenience store inside.  These gas stations were staffed and run by folks who knew cars! 

Say, young'uns ... anything here look familiar?  :-)

And now you know ....... this was the beginning of a transitional period, getting people used to the name CHEVRON.  In 1970, the current-day Chevron insignia made its debut, and by the mid to late '70s, nearly all Standard stations had been converted to the Chevron brand.

Picture credit: Alvin Hudson archive
Page constructed 08/09/2005 -- 1025 PM EDT