Neon, the beginning

The concept behind neon signs was first conceived in 1675, when the French astronomer Jean Picard observed a faint glow in a mercury barometer tube. When the tube was shaken a glow called barometric light occurred, but the cause of the light (static electricity) was not then understood.

George Claude, the French engineer and chemist was the first to apply an electrical charge to a sealed tube of 'Neon' gas (from Greek meaning New Gas) to create the world's first Neon lamp in Paris in 1923. In 1923, Georges Claude and his French company Claude Neon, introduced neon gas signs to the United States, by selling two to a Packard car dealership in Los Angeles. Earle C. Anthony purchased the two signs reading "Packard" for $24,000.

Ten years later Gaelite was set up in Dublin (1933) to manufacture and install neon. This was Ireland's first venture into this new and innovative display medium. These colour tubes or lights were quickly put to use to decorate Dublin's early Cinema fronts and interiors. Many well-known cinemas of the day such as the Savoy, Carlton and Metropole were decorated and lit up with neon lights.

References
http://www.nhpr.org/node/11011
http://www.rmauctions.com/PressRelease.cfm?PressID=514