Two vintage ad photos of sign painters Eddie Langsdale and Dennis Gerathy from mid 20th century.

Old School Methods - Signs - Services

Born 1914, Eddie “EddieDoodit” Langsdale took up sign painting in 1938, while driving cab and starting his family in Ketchikan, Alaska. Forced to relocate back to his native state of Michigan as World War II started, Eddie continued a long life of commercial hand painted sign-making across Upper Michigan and the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. Eddie crossed over peacefully in Homer, Alaska, 1999 while enrolled in his second year of art classes offered free to seniors though the Kenai Peninsula college.

Gifted with similar creative abilities, and Grandson to Eddie Langsdale, life-long artist Gary Allen offers traditional sign creations, restorations, and services necessary to keep the “Old School” sign culture alive.

Inspired by befriending Leelanau Legendary Local Sign Painter Dennis Gerathy in 2022 which grew into paling around over breakfast conversations and hanging out in "Denny's" shop, Langsdale Signs seeks to carry on the traditional hand painted sign heritage seen around lovely Leelanau County, Michigan.

Hand-painted signs offer unmatched visual warmth, character, and maintainability that machine-made vinyl or plastic composites simply cannot replicate. Let's make your sign come to life.