Follow the restoration of the historic Golden Star Radio neon sign in San Francisco’s Chinatown. CHRS is preserving this landmark of Bay Area broadcasting history and the legacy of Tommy and May Chin Tong, pioneering broadcasters who served the Chinese American community for 40 years beginning in 1939. Explore the project from the first restoration work through the return of Golden Star’s colorful neon glow above Clay Street.
CHRS Launches Golden Star Radio Sign Restoration
An anonymous donor's $60,000 gift brings the restoration of this historic Chinatown neon sign within reach. The California Historical Radio Society is undertaking a major new preservation project: restoring the…
Golden Star Radio Sign Restoration Gets Underway
The restoration of the historic Golden Star Radio sign in San Francisco’s Chinatown is officially underway. Three stories of scaffolding have been erected on Clay Street, giving the restoration team…
Rediscovering Golden Star Radio’s Original Colors
As restoration of the Golden Star Radio sign continued, the team faced a surprisingly difficult question: What colors should it be? After decades above Clay Street, the sign’s paint had…
The Golden Star Radio Sign Comes Back Together
With painting nearly complete, the Golden Star Radio sign begins to regain its historic appearance. With the Golden Star Radio sign's original colors rediscovered and its neon being restored across…
Golden Star Radio Restoration Featured on ABC7
ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Dan Ashley featured the Golden Star Radio sign restoration in a story about the CHRS project. The Golden Star Radio sign restoration caught the attention of…
Golden Star Radio Shines Again
The Golden Star Radio sign before restoration, with extensive rust, faded paint and aging neon.With painting nearly complete, the Golden Star Radio sign begins to regain its historic appearance. After…
Celebrate the Restored Golden Star Radio Sign
The Golden Star Radio sign is shining again, and it's time to celebrate! Join CHRS, the Tong family and the Golden Star restoration team on Friday, July 10, during the…
Restoring the Golden Star Radio Neon
With the Golden Star Radio sign safely accessible and its vintage neon carefully removed, the next stage of the restoration moved across the Bay to the neon shop in Oakland.…