Palomba Academy of Music Porcelain and Neon Sign
Object/Artifact
For 64 years, the Palomba Academy of Music taught music lessons from its Bronx storefront, but due to COVID-19, was forced to close in mid-2020. Palomba's was a New York institution that had many stand out students over the years such as Grammy-winning drummer Will Calhoun of In Living Color, bassist Ron Long who worked with The Temptations, and drummer Luciannna Padmore who played in the Tony-winning show "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk."
The 25-ft long Palomba Academy of Music neon sign was designed in 1956 by Milton Grauer of the Bronx’s famous Grauer Sign Co. Grauer developed many signs throughout the New York area, although their most memorable ones seem be their neon designs. They can be seen in the yellow pages up to the early 1990s and do not appear to still be operational today.
Efforts were made to locate a permanent home closer to its original location but, because of its size and weight, no museum in New York City is willing to take or display the sign. The removal was successfully done by American Signcrafters Interstate, a New York based sign company, located in Bohemia.
2020.0018.0001
Permanent Collection
Porcelain Enamel — Neon-illuminated, Signs/Displays
Signs/Displays
Milton Grauer
Sign Maker
1956
New York City
New York
Makers Mark
Grauer Sign Co.
25 ft
Porcelain enamelneonMetal
Storage
Good
