From the Observer archive: this week in 1920

The curse of illuminated advertisementsThe suppression of the large, illuminated, advertising signs throughout London was by far the most tolerable of war restrictions. There is no question that the blinding of these staring and superfluous vulgarities enhanced the nocturnal beauty. We dispensed most comfortably with them for five years. Why were they permitted to return? One, the most monstrous of its kind, can be seen by day across the river, chained to its tower, and threatening to blaze up a