Last One Leaving Duluth Billboard – Myth Confirmed!
This (in)famous billboard has been discussed many times, but it seemed there was never any conclusive evidence of it’s existence, until now.
Mayor Fedo was able to dig up a copy from his records, thus solving the mystery of the billboard that kicked Duluth while it was already down.
- Duluth News Tribune – Former mayor confirms existence of Duluth’s fabled ‘turn out the light’ billboard
- Minnesota Public Radio – Duluth’s ‘Turn Out the Lights’ billboard confirmed
I lived in Dubuque, Iowa, in the early 1980s. I don’t think there was ever a billboard, but this exact same expression (will the last one leaving Dubuque please turn out the lights) was posted various places around town.
This is a pretty common phrase, I think. I recall it being used in “The Stand” by Stephen King, as graffiti in the Maine town where everyone has fled to escape or died of the Superflu. Hopefully we Duluthians won’t have to resurrect the billboard for any Ebola outbreaks or anything.