A less romantic view. The lobby windows had been bricked up for that cheerful cask-of-Amontillado look.At least the sign was animated – the red neon bars rolled up and F – M blinked on one at a time, if I recall.

A recollection of the F-M can be found here; it’s an interview with longtime Fargo weatherman Dewey Bergquist, and gives you a wonderful feel for the era and the place, even if it he does call it "a monument to failed human ambitions." You'll see his point, though.