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From the UNLV Libraries Single Item Accession Photograph Collection (PH-00171)

From the UNLV Libraries Single Item Accession Photograph Collection (PH-00171)

From the UNLV Libraries Single Item Accession Photograph Collection (PH-00171)

The El Cortez Hotel and Casino sits at 600 E Fremont St in Downtown Las Vegas. Continually operating in the same location since 1941, the El Cortez is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site name: El Cortez Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 600 Fremont St
Sign owner: IKE Gaming Inc
Sign details: 2,77 acre lot, with an original construction year of 1941.
Sign condition: 5 - fully functional, looks well taken care of, no damage to the sign, even looks original.
Sign form: Back to back Architectural sign
Sign-specific description: Double sided architectural sign perched on top of the building of the El Cortez reads El Cortez HOTEL COFFEE SHOP & BAR FREE PARKING with a metal frame work to hold it high for tourists to see down Fremont Street on either side of the road or sidewalk. in the Day it looks white and baby blue with the frame work painted white. At night El Cortez glows red whit what looks like white skeleton neon outlining the wording, HOTEL is outlined with pink skeleton neon, and COFFEE SHOP & BAR FREE PARKING is made of the same pink neon as the HOTEL portion.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign environment: The property is surrounded by other casinos, restaurants, and bars.
Sign - date of installation: circa 1941
Sign - date of redesign/move: Possible change in signage around 1946
Sign - thematic influences: Spanish revival (mission) style, the facade was faced with bricks with weeping mortar and the roof was red tile while a large metal sign announced the casino clubs name.
Sign - artistic significance: Spanish Revival / Western cowboy themes were popular in Vegas especially in the 30s and 40s due to the image pushed to look like the wild west or as a pioneer town.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Then and Now, Spectacular, assessor's website
Surveyor: Danny Jacobs
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-04
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Architectural; Back to back; Incandescent; Reader board; Marquee; Roof Sign