Label
Asthma Vapineze
late 1940s
Donated by Andrew Campbell, 2016
The strange light of Asthma Vapineze haunted the curious passerby at 1026 N. Fairfax for decades. Many wondered what the streamlined, West Hollywood sign could possibly be promoting above a private residence, shrouded in overgrown greenery. Once in a while, its neon would alight, piquing more interest, until the lights went out and the mystery flickered dark again.
Two of the curious were Ellen Bloom and Larry Underhill who notified the Museum of Neon Art that the sign’s elusive owner had died. The contents of the home were open for an estate sale and the sign was slated to go. With the help of Andrew Campbell, the sign has come to MONA and the mystery was solved.
The sign’s owner was William McKinley Thompson, 1931–2015. His father was the inventor of an asthma inhaler, Asthma Vapineze, which he developed after his wife’s death from an asthma attack. The business was located at 1354 Highland and eventually moved its office to the Fairfax address. Although the business shuttered years ago, Thompson lived at the home-office until his death, never fully realizing there was any mystery around his Vapineze neon.
MONA is grateful to all who made the donation possible and saved this odd piece of medical neon and West Hollywood history.