The Cow Palace (located mostly in Daly City CA, but with a corner of its property in San Francisco!) opened in 1941 as a livestock pavilion. In the decades since it’s also played host to professional sports, political conventions, and all manner of shows, fairs, and events. The Beatles played there!! The name is obviously hilarious, and it was actually a defiant reclaiming of sarcastic local news reports of the time: “It seems strange that now, in the depths of our nation’s deepest depression… the city should be building—of all things—a palace for cows.” (1935, quoted here.) Befitting its name and legacy, the Cow Palace is still owned by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

I have been unable to source information about the hand-painted lettering that currently adorns the Palace. It appeared sometime between 1965 and 1975 (likely early 1970s), and was refreshed more recently, adding the flipped-back A. “Moonjumper Alpha” began life as an homage to the excellent groovy lettering. If you know more about the signage there, please do get in touch. “Cow Palace” is a trademark of the Cow Palace, and this font is not an official product and is not endorsed by them.