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Photographs of Hialeah Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), April 18, 2017

Date
2017-04-18
2017-08-23
Description
The Hialeah Motel sign sits at 1924 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1924 Fremont St
Sign owner: La Jolla Development Group, LLC
Sign details: The current building was constructed in 1951 (Assessor). One source states that Tinkler's Motel may have been open on the site in the 1940's (VintageVegas.com, n.d.). A vintage postcard circa late 1940's-early 1950's advertises "Tinkler's Motel Hialeah", although the sign shown in the photograph states" Tinkler's Motel" (CardCow.com, n.d.). A vintage postcard circa 1950's-early 1960's shows the current name,"Hialeah Motel" (Las Vegas motels then and now, n.d.).
Sign condition: Condition is 3, fair. The cabinets are intact with no major rust damage. On the east side of the sign, the paint is flaking moderately on the upper arrow cabinet. On the west side, the paint is flaking severely on the upper arrow cabinet as well as the lower cabinet. Most of the incandescent light bulbs around the upper cabinet remain. All of the neon tubes are gone from both the lower and upper cabinets.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The lower cabinet is shaped like three rectangles stacked upward in increasing size. The pole runs through the cabinet, which is cantilevered toward the street. The upper cabinet is shaped like an arrow pointed at the motel. The pole and lower cabinet are painted forest green. On the lower cabinet, hand painted sans serif letters state, "Hialeah 1924 VACANCY". The exterior of the upper arrow-shaped cabinet is painted black. The interior is white. The cabinet is channeled and holes for neon tubing are evident, but no neon remains. Yellow incandescent light bulbs outline the exterior of the cabinet. At the center of the pole on the hotel side is a horizontal pole from which a small sign may have hung previously.
Sign - type of display: Incandescent light bulbs, but the sign also had neon tubing at one time.
Sign - media: Steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This is located on East Fremont and has many other motels surrounding it though many of the neighboring motels are shut down.
Sign - date of installation: Possibly 1940's, likely circa 1950's-1960's
Sign - date of redesign/move: A vintage postcard circa late 1940's-early 1950's (CardCow.com, n.d.) shows a small sign which has either been replaced or modified over time. The sign consists of three cabinets mounted symmetrically on a pole. The lower cabinet is painted white and states, "AIR CONDITIONED" or "AIR CONDITIONER". The large central cabinet is black and states, "MOTEL". The smaller upper cabinet is painted black and advertises, "Tinkler's". A vintage postcard circa 1950's-early 1960's (Las Vegas motels then and now, n.d.). shows the current pole and cantilevered lower cabinet without the upper arrow-shaped cabinet. On the lower hotel side of the sign hangs a small yellow sign. Some or all of the lettering is traced with neon letters. By the late 1980's, the motel arrow had been added (VintageLasVegas.com, 2017). "MOTEL" is spelled out in red neon inside the channel of the arrow. The lower cabinet is painted green. "T.V." is spelled in black sans serif letters outlined in white. "Hialeah" is painted in white sans serif letters traced by clear neon letters. Below Hialeah is illegible clear neon, possibly "AIR CONDITIONING" or "AIR CONDITIONER". At the bottom of the lower cabinet "HAMBURGERS", "HOT DOGS" and "VACANCY" are spelled out in white san serif letters. A photograph taken sometime between the 1980's and 2008 (Jacobson, n.d.) shows the lettering on the lower cabinet simplified to the current design, except "T.V." is still painted to the left of "HIALEAH". Three yellow skeleton neon waves underline "T.V." and two more indistinguishable neon tubes of the same type sit over the "T". Some neon around "HIALEAH"in the lower cabinet and all of the neon around "MOTEL"in the upper arrow-shaped cabinet remain. By 2008, the sign had reached its current design (Las Vegas motels then and now, n.d.).
Sign - thematic influences: Horseracing (the motel name references Hialeah Park Racetrack in Hialeah, Florida; vintage postcard shows grass and racetrack type fencing [Las Vegas motels then and now, n.d.])
Sign - artistic significance: This location maintains the Horse Racing theme with their name. They also showcase 1940's (possibly), 1950's-1960's eras themes with emergence and prominence of the motor courts during those eras.
Survey - research locations: CardCow.com. (n.d.). Tinler's [sic] Motel Hialeah. Retrieved from https://www.cardcow.com/281785/tinlers-motel-hialeah-las-vegas-nevada/ Clark County Assessor, parcel no. 139-35-803-004. Retrieved from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/PropertyRecords.aspx?H=redrock&P=assrrealprop/pcl.aspx Jacobson, J. (n.d.). Hialeah Motel [private image, copyright applies]. Retrieved from http://www.pbase.com/easystreet/image/103828763 Las Vegas motels then and now. (n.d.). 15: Hialeah Motel. Retrieved from http://stefanidrivesvegas.com/2.html VintageLasVegas.com. (n.d.). Downtown Las Vegas hotels & casinos 1931-2000. Retrieved from http://vintagelasvegas.com/downtown VintageLasVegas.com. (2017 February 2). Hialeah Motel. Retrieved from http://vintagelasvegas.com/tagged/Hialeah-Motel
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-23
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Pole sign; Directional

Mixed Content

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Theta Omega Chapter scrapbook: "Through the years"

Date
2007
Description

From the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Theta Theta Omega Chapter Records (MS-01014).

Mixed Content

"Hollywood, Westerns and the Mexican Female": manuscript draft by Roosevelt Fitzgerald

Date
1989-02-28
Description

From the Roosevelt Fitzgerald Professional Papers (MS-01082) -- Unpublished manuscripts file.

Text

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Theta Omega Chapter scrapbook

Date
2008 to 2009
Description

From the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Theta Theta Omega Chapter Records (MS-01014).

Mixed Content

Mei Yang oral history interview: transcript

Date
2021-11-10
Archival Collection
Description

Oral history interview with Mei Yang conducted by Jourdin Wilson on November 10, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) professor and graduate coordinator Mei Yang talks about her family and childhood in Shanxi Province, southwestern China. She shares her educational background pursuing her bachelor's and master's degrees in China before immigrating to the United States to earn her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Texas, Dallas. Mei Yang talks about her move to Las Vegas, Nevada, her work and professorship at UNLV, and her thoughts on pursuing a STEM (science technology engineering math) career as a woman. She shares how she raises her daughters in the United States away from her husband overseas, the Chinese community within Las Vegas, and traditions she celebrates.

Text

Photographs of Fergusons Motel sign at sundown, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017

Date
2017-06-28
2017-08-16
Description
The Fergusons Motel sign, restored by Downtown Project, sits at 1028 Fremont Street. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 1028 Fremont St
Sign owner: 1028 Fremont LLC (Assessor) /Downtown Las Vegas Project (Bruzda, 2016; Millward, 2017; Schoenmann, 2013; Snel 2014)
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1946 (Assessor). The business opened originally as the Franklin Motel (RoadsideArchitecure.com). The motel may have been renamed Ferguson's in 1962 (Las Vegas motels-Then and Now). The current sign probably dates from the late 1950's or 1960's and is not from the Franklin (RoadsideArchitecture.com). Downtown Project partners purchased Fergusons Motel in December 2012 and the property was closed as of 2013 (Schoennmann, 2013). The Downtown Project planned to convert the motel's 69 rooms into retail shops, offices, taverns and a restaurant (Schoenmann). As of May 2017, no construction had been completed and The Downtown Project had altered its plans to instead use the site for residences, restaurants and art space (Millward, 2017).
Sign condition: Condition is 5. The sign has been reconditioned to look like new.
Sign form: Pole
Sign-specific description: The sign is mounted on a rectangular metal pole which is painted yellow. Attached to the street side of the pole are several metal cabinets joined to form an "L" shape which points toward the motel. The bottom cabinet contains the word "KITCHENS", which runs horizontally in white painted sans serif letters and white sans serif skeleton neon letters. Below "KITCHENS" is a white plastic light box. Below the lightbox are two rows of intertwining clear light bulbs. The bottom of the metal cabinet is shaped like two undulating waves. Over the top of "KITCHENS" is a small cabinet which spells out "VACANCY" in white san serif letters which are covered by clear skeleton neon sans serif letters spelling out, "Sorry NO VACANCY". The word "MOTEL" runs vertically down the sign in white painted and white neon letters, all san serif. Neon tubes outline the letters while another tube runs down the center. Running down the street side of the sign are three intertwining rows of clear light bulbs. The top of the cabinet is painted green in the shape of a chevron or boomerang. The bottom sides of the boomerang intersect at a perpendicular angle and the top is curved. The tip of the boomerang juts out from the sign toward the hotel. The interior of the boomerang is traced by three rows of skeleton neon. On top of the boomerang is a yellow circle outlined in light blue. The blue outline contains 16 clear light bulbs. The yellow interior of the circle has 16 spiral rows of clear light bulbs running from the exterior to the interior of the circle. The yellow pole which supports the sign runs through a lozenge shaped blue metal cabinet. The cabinet states, "FERGUSONS" in Googie style white letters and skeleton neon and "DOWNTOWN" is sans serif white letters and skeleton neon. Above the cabinet, attached to a pole, is a white statue of a climbing figure which is similar to other figures on Fremont Street and was likely added to the sign by the Downtown Project.
Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent
Sign - media: Steel and plastic. Possibly fiberglass for the climbing figure.
Sign - non-neon treatments: Incandescent light bulbs, light box
Sign environment: In the East Fremont district this motel is surrounded by other motels many of which are also currently closed.
Sign - date of installation: Circa late 1950's/ 1960's
Sign - date of redesign/move: The sign is probably from the late 1950's or 1960's (RoadsideArchitecture.com). A postcard from the 1960's shows the background of the "MOTEL" portion of the sign painted black (Garofalo, 2011). Below "FERGUSONS" hung two smaller signs: the top sign displayed the AAA symbol and the words, "Phone", "Pool" and "T-V" (Garofalo, 2011). The lower sign displayed three badges (auto clubs?).
Sign - artistic significance: The sign design style is Googie.
Survey - research locations: Bruzda, N. (2016 May 2). Construction planned for Fergusons Motel in downtown Las Vegas still yet to be seen. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/construction-planned-for-fergusons-motel-in-downtown-las-vegas-still-yet-to-be-seen/ Clark County Assessor. Parcel No. 139-35-201-006. Retrieved from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/PropertyRecords.aspx?H=redrock&P=assrrealprop/pcl.aspx Garofalo, M. (2011 November 1). Still standing-Fergusons[sic] Motel [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/vintageroadtrip/6305057708/in/photolist-aBa4Zw-qeNAZa-fxWx3V-54q1dr-7qs1A1-81uYMJ-9i1MAF-pUfCjM-m57jkW-8BzGrN-nM1Nyq-zCCx9s-EJBciL-BkTrgS-zpiF94-aW6aKv-2ZFRQ4-opLfq5-riESKk-n8Wdz-qmMWgN-riESNg-FW15N3-dvx2N-7As5GF-aC7z44-omUMSx-qmMWKy-5XLHvx-evbtLo-onbi7i-635ftN-UhMyz7-8sfVoW-BVWgRY-m8qWB8-ev8mFD-6sadvS-8FdMPf-pBdbtQ-etP68R-pfCeRE-54HNiA-9uFAxg-3b4UbW-FWTWBt-pjCShX-8Bv6mp-aUDgVc-qUKBLu Las Vegas motels-Then and now. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://stefanidrivesvegas.com/2.html Millward, W. T. (2017 May 8). Plans to turn Fergusons Motel into mixed-use campus advance. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/plans-to-turn-fergusons-motel-into-mixed-use-campus-advance/ RoadsideArchitecture.com. Fergusons Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas2.html Schoenmann, J. (2013 July 3). Joe Downtown: Ferguson Motel being converted into taverns, retail spaces. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jul/03/joe-downtown-ferguson-motel-being-converted-tavern/ Snel, A. (2014 August 5). New plans proposed for rundown Fremont Street motel. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/new-plans-proposed-for-rundown-fremont-street-motel/
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-16
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Fiberglass; Incandescent; Pole sign; Neon

Mixed Content

Photographs of Casino Royale and Denny's signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date
2002
Description
Daytime and nighttime views of the Casino Royale and Denny's signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3419 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Tom Elardi
Sign details: The Casino Royale is located on the east side of the strip facing west, just south of the Venetian. The smaller establishment shares its space with a Denny's restaurant, which was present before the Royale was opened. The exterior is adorned with a stylized, European-esque, architecture, including apparent windows, domes, towers, and a cohesive landscape of connected buildings. The exterior of the Royale is a brightly lit facade of white raceways, lined with incandescent bulbs, boxing in vibrantly toned walls, and subdued neon. The colors correspond with those seen in the sign itself, as well the neon placed inside the edges of the windows. One section displays purple, the next a teal color, next a blue, then a red. Total signage of the property includes a two LED screens, one on the west side of the building, and the other housed in the logo cabinet on the south west corner of the property. Two logo cabinets, one in the aforementioned spot, and the second facing west over the main entrance on the west side of the building. Two double-faced cabinets lie on the northern end of the west side of the building, advertising for Denny's restaurant. Two small logos signs are also placed on the west face of the structure, for Caffe Trilussa.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5
Sign form: Fascia
Sign-specific description: Upon the southwest corner of the building, a blue cabinet houses an LED screen in the rectangular body of the cabinet. The cabinet continues upward where the blue steel face supports white channel letters bordered in red neon and filled with incandescent bulbs. The text is written in two lines. The cabinet continues upward and is transformed into the sculpted design of a pink, purple, red, and blue crown on channel faced scrolls and sweeping shapes. The interiors of each section are lined with neon of a corresponding color to the paint treatments. Around to the west side of the building, the same style of text and scrolling adornments are used in a different marquee sign denoting the main entrance to the establishment. The same style of text seen on the southwestern sign is present with the same pattern of scroll work, crafted in a cabinet style, with channel faces. The major difference between the two signs is the size. The main entrance sign is much larger than the corner sign, as well as not having a LED screen incorporated below the text. The western sign possesses more scroll work below the text instead. The neon treatments are the same, as well as the incandescent bulbs, inside of the text. The lower roofline of the property plays host to the small but noticeable signage for Caffe Trilussa. Upon a extended surface of the roof line, two separate signs for the establishment are present. The roof shape is three sided with the signage on the northwest and southwest sides of the extension. Inside a section of the entablature created with white raceways, brown channel letters, spell the text "Trilussa," stretching across the length of the surface. The brown letters sit upon a yellow surface and are filled with incandescent bulbs, which are as wide as the channel letters themselves. Spelled in bent neon tubing, the word "Caffe" is spelled in all capital letters, sitting just above the left hand side of the title text. The right of the collection is occupied by a graphically treated, two-dimensional cut-out of a palm tree. The palm tree is treated on the surface with neon tubing as well. The tubing glows green and a gold corresponding to the graphical treatments. At the northern end of the property, two signs sit outside facing north, south. The double backed, internally lit cabinets represent the advertisements for the Denny's restaurant attached to the Royale. The first is at ground level outside the main entrance of the restaurant, the six sided, green cabinet, sports a yellow plastic face with red graphic text, reading "Denny's" in script text. Around the border of the face, incandescent bulbs run in a raceway pattern, and are covered in a plastic sheath. An angular cabinet rests on top of the other cabinet, creating a shallow peak. The internally lit, white face reads "Casino Royale" in black text. The same cabinet can be seen cantilevering off of the west side of the building above its partner sign. The cabinets are of identical design except for there is no plastic sheath covering the raceway of incandescent bulbs, and the plastic face of the main section of the cabinet is treated in different graphics. The script reads "Denny's" similar red script, but with a different background.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: Chasing, oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the channel letters of the main text oscillate, while all incandescent bulbs on the raceways along the building chase each other also. The incandescent bulbs, which surround the Denny's cabinet, also chase each other.
Sign environment: The Casino Royale stands independently on it's own even though it is surrounded on all sides by casino giants. To the north stands the Venetian, to the South stands Harrah's, and the Mirage lies west across the street. Yes, the property itself seems to be dwarfed by the immense neighbors, but the ultra bright, clear external signage and facade create a charming and bright environment that announces its presence.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign - date of installation: 1992
Sign - date of redesign/move: The Royale was once the Nob hill, which was closed in 1980. It was reopened in 1992 as the Casino Royale.
Sign - thematic influences: The theme seems to be tied to a European theme with the French term "Royale" in the title. The scrollwork is reminiscent of confetti or Mardi Gras theme. Such a combination of elements to suggest a theme is seen in the Harrah's property also. The party themed reminiscent sculpted cabinets are also reminiscent of the Fleur de Li. Believe it or not, the property is tied to many other larger, corporate, properties in one respect regarding its facades. The facade of a town or city, shrunken down and stylized into the facade of the property is present all over the Strip. Such properties which utilize this technique, to one degree or the next, include: New York New York, Oshea's, Treasure Island, Bellagio, The Venetian, The Luxor, The Tropicana, and the Excalibur.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Oscillating; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic

Mixed Content

Photographs of Luxor signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date
2002
2017-08-15
Description
Photos show Luxor signs during the day. Two surveys were conducted to gather information about this sign. One was conducted in 2002 and one was conducted in 2017. PDFs are available for both surveys. See the 2017 survey PDF for additional information that is not included in the object description.
Site name: Luxor (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 3900 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Mandalay Resort Group
Sign details: The giant black, glass, pyramid rises out of the desert as certainly one of the most unique structures. The pyramid is also accompanied by a monolithic, heavily geometric structure, finished in the same black, panels of windows. Just to the north. The front of the property is dominated by an array or Egyptian architectural landmarks such as an giant obelisk, the Sphinx, various statues of Egyptian gods and pharaohs line the multi tiered expanse of concrete and stucco. The property is pedestrian interactive, being able to pass underneath the giant obelisk, and through and beneath the giant Sphinx. The feel produced by area is appropriate for the desert environment.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia; Porte-cochère
Sign-specific description: On the expanse of concrete in front of Las Vegas Blvd, just north of the obelisk, a double-sided pylon sign joins the ancient composition. The pylon actually is more akin to the pylons seen at properties such as the Monte Carlo or the Mirage. It is located in the northern portion of the property on the west side of the strip-facing northwest along Las Vegas Blvd Two square posts support a two-sided square cabinet which houses a back lit advertisement and a set of crafted letters spelling the name of the establishment. Occupying the upper portion of the space between the legs another internally lit, two sided, cabinet, atop a small pair of internally lit sculpted cabinets. From a distance the cabinets look like thumbs holding up the cabinet. The shapes are graphically treated on the surfaces to look like colorful recreations of a hieroglyphic bird, the wings being the elongated portion of the cabinet. The only art attached to the cabinet is the portion designated for the head of the creature. Three sets of sculpted cornices, create borders for the different planes. The bases of the legs are treated with the ledging, the section separating the top cabinet, from the rest of the sign, and finally another set around the top crowning edge of the sign. Both sides of the top edge have a sculpted element in the very center. A flat circle, presumably a representation of the sun, flanked by two snakes are set on a pair of large wings spreading to either side. This element is ambiently lit from underneath. The text, which spells "Luxor," is composed of polished gold channel letters, with closed faces with graphic treatments in blue upon the faces. The faces are painted to appear if the letters are faceted into three dimensions. They are lit from behind with whit neon creating a halo effect around the letters. The surface of the actual structure is finished to appear as if it is constructed of limestone, utilizing false joints and seams. The south end of the property close to the street is the four-sided obelisk. The text on the obelisk is the same word treated in the same fashion, structurally and aesthetically, as the pylon sign. The only difference is that it reads vertically from top to bottom. Statuary adorn the base of the obelisk in a repeating pattern as well as it being covered in hieroglyphic patterns. A tunnel allows for the pedestrian to pass underneath the obelisk. The porte cochere is located underneath the body of the Sphinx, another use of the architecture to incorporate the pedestrian element. If you head east through the sphinx, a tunnel opens up into a small courtyard where a shuttle bus may be caught. The ceiling of the porte cochere is adorned with a circular chandelier, composed of metal representations of leafy branches radiating around a rounded center. The ends of the arms hold length-wise half cylinder lamps. The ceiling above is painted blue. The most spectacular element of the Luxor is its super powerful light in the place of the capstone at the very peak. The beam is one of the most powerful lights in the world, and can be seen from high above into the earth's atmosphere as well. The edges of the pyramid are also raceways, which can be seen in action in the dark. An animation of bulbs makes it appear as if a single bulb of light streams up the base to the very peak. The animation runs at an interval of every couple of seconds. On the very south edge of the property, actually on the southeast corner, is a sculpted, small pylon which houses a color led screen.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel; Masonry
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plaster
Sign animation: Chasing
Sign environment: Standing next to the Mandalay Bay on the west side of the southern end of Las Vegas Blvd, the Luxor's front exterior is a sprawling mass of smooth vertical planes turning into eloquent statue and stucco walls. They are interlaced with drives and signage complete with a platform at the base of the Sphinx, which is just east of where the valet and porte cochere are grounded in the base of the beasts belly. From the edge of a Platform a tram station is located and also a view of the signage can be seen as well. The Luxor's environment is a very pedestrian one as well. Being in an isolated part of the strip, the noise clutter brought about by the surging traffic is considerably better than the heart of the strip.
Sign designer: Veldon Simpson
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the Luxor is obviously that of ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptian imagery is placed among the same images but represented in the shiny black glass, giving a touch of future meets the past. The image seen are some of the most commonly seen images when talking about the Ancient Egyptian culture. The Sphinx stands guard at the base of the giant black pyramid, one sign is attached to an obelisk. Various statuary adorn the entire plaza. The environment created with the motif obviously fits into the desert like dust, but still retains the surreal nature associated with the themed hotel. The aesthetics appear to be fantastic, but are a bit odd due to the arrangements and limitations on space. It does however fir into an interesting sub category of resort that is themed around a culture. Yes it is themed around a city, but the culture shines through with more dominance. Another example of this is the Imperial Palace. It is not necessarily themed after a particular city, but the architecture and imagery suggests the Asian culture.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Pylon; Fascia; Porte-cochère; Neon; Steel; Masonry; Plaster

Mixed Content

Photographs of Imperial Palace signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date
2002
Description

Nighttime views of the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3535 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Ralph Engelstad
Sign details: Shadowing Oshea's, the Imperial palace looms high above the street. The tower for the hotel is located just east of the strip, but one of the main entrances is the unique porte-cochere and facade on the east side of the strip. The main tower resides east, seen behind the Harrah's Carnival Court. Signage includes Giant channel letters on the tower, five cabinets of the Imperial Palace logo initials placed along the towers, internally lit sculpted cabinets on the front tower, as well as the an LED screen, and a vastly lit porte- cochere, along with cabinets.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 4 The structure of the Imperial Palace's main tower signs seem to be intact, while the front towers signage and porte cochere are in great repair. The surfaces of the main tower are rather dull and pale during the day, but the light color aids in the luminescence at night. The lighting is in excellent repair.
Sign form: Fascia; Porte-cochère
Sign-specific description: The structure is themed after an Asian palace, complete with multi tiered swooping tiled Asian style roof lines, and wooden square beams placed to be representative of rice paper doors and windows, and symbols of dragons. Between two gaping square entrances of the front tower, sliding doors almost cower below a giant color LED message center, flanked by two back-lit , color, flex-front, two-dimensional dragons. The dragons stand upright pawing at each side of the central cabinet. The entire array sits on the lowest swooping Asian design roof level in blue tiles. As the building rises upwards, the center section repeats in multi tiered, blue roof lines, finally crowning with a fourth one, peaked at the top. The bottoms of each ones of these rooflines is bordered on the bottom with blue tubes of neon. The two main drives into to covered porte cochere, head east then turn inward, forming a squared U shape. Obviously one door is for entrance and one an exit. The ceiling is comprised of polished aluminum square panels, each one with four large, spherical, incandescent bulbs. The effect is an engaging field of animated bulbs, interrupted only by the presence of five large circular cabinets, which hang facing the floor. One hangs just into the entrance and exit, and one in the center of the north/south connecting sections of the two flanking tunnels, and two more set in the corners. The two just into the mouth, and in the corner of the tunnels, are polished aluminum themselves, with internally lit plastic fronts. These fronts are blue and white, pained graphically with an Asian geometric design, which fills the entire surface. The one cabinet is treated in the same exterior finish, but the design is created out of blue neon. Above the doors to the casino, in this cove, polished channel letters with blue plastic fronts, and borders created with narrow channels, are lined with incandescent bulbs. The tower set back into the property is adorned by a set of two story tall, white channel letters, facing west just below a long blue tiled roof, spell "Imperial Palace" and are filled with blue neon. Letters can be seen on the East face of the tower as well. On the same level of the southern end of the tower, a square, blue, channel edged cabinet, holds the channel letter initials "I" and "P." Another cabinet faces north on the north side of the tower. The channels and initials are lined with blue neon. The same arrangement can be found on the east side of the tower as well. The I and P can also be seen on the north and south end of the tower, but without the border. All of the rooflines on the tower are lined with blue neon as well. Both towers are ambiently lit with blue spotlights, casting a blue hue all over the property. At the very top of the front tower, a spike rises into the air, and is adorned with rings of blue neon.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics
Sign animation: Oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs covering the ceiling of the porte cochere, oscillate vibrantly, creating a shimmering cave of light.
Sign environment: The Imperial Palace is placed in an unusual position, with the front tower pushed right up to the street, with cars and taxis zipping in and out of the large square entrances. Just to the north is the Harrah's Carnival Court, which pushes right up to the edge of the north face of the front tower. Just to the south O Shea's sits in the great blue shadow of the Imperial palace.
Sign - date of installation: The hotel opened as the Imperial Palace in 1979. The front tower was built in 1981. The hotel was finished in three phases 1981, 1982, and 1987-1989.
Sign - thematic influences: The Imperial Palace is themed after an Asian palace, signifying the theme through several structural elements seen on the exterior. The stylized roofline, and actual shape of the roof are the representative of the classic eastern palace design seen throughout most Asian cultures in their history. The text on the main towers is stylized and representative of western text written to resemble the graceful brush stroke of Asian characters. Another obvious aspect is the backlit Asian dragons on either side of the giant LED screen on the front of the tower containing the porte-cochere. The Imperial Palace is a themed hotel, revolving around a culture, like that seen in Paris or the Bellagio. The significance of the signage relies in its Porte cochere. Related to the Riviera's parking garage due to the fact that it is located inside of one of the buildings, hidden away from plain sight. The stunning array of incandescent bulbs, lining the ceiling, and reflecting off of the high use of reflective panels. The use of the reflective metals is evidence of the leftover trend massive trend used in the 1970's due to an energy shortage. It itself, is a one of a kind porte-cochere and, is one of the most vibrant still in existence.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Oscillating; Fascia; Porte-cochère; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics

Mixed Content

Photographs of Blue Note signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date
2002
Description
Views of the Blue Note club signs on the Las Vegas Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3663 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Blue Note International: Father & Son team of Danny and Steven Bensusan
Sign details: The Blue Note is located a short distance east, down Harmon Ave., on the north side of the street, facing south. It is part of the Aladdin Hotel Casino. A vacant lot resides on the corner, and is the only thing that separates the Blue Note from the Strip. Signage for the property includes two logo wall signs on the west wall of the building, a vertical blade sign and an entrance sign over the main port to the establishment.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5
Sign form: Fascia
Sign-specific description: Just east off of Las Vegas Blvd, down Harmon Ave, lies the entrance to the "Blue Note: Jazz Capital of the World." The Blue Note is actually part of the Aladdin property, residing in the eastern most wing of the building, on the south side of Harmon. The majority of the signage hangs on the front of the building, which faces south toward Harmon Ave., with additional signage on the west face of the structure that extends from the Aladdin property. A vacant lot on the north east corner separates the Blue Note from the rest of the strip. The structure of the building and the design of the signage are juxtaposed with the building still being finished in a Persian Palace theme. While the signs are reminiscent of roaring twenties style font and theatre front design. Several different types of signs adorn the Blue Note. Two wall /logo signs hang on the west side of the building, while a sculpted entrance marquee, a hanging logo sign, and a vertical blade sign hung on the south side of the building. The west wall logo sign is composed of blue channel letters spelling the text " Blue Note," separated by a circular cabinet with a tube of neon bent to emulate the shape of a musical note placed in the middle. Five steel bars just out from either side of the cabinet. Below the text, a white steel cabinet with rounded ends, support a thin set of blue channel letters reading, "Jazz capital of the world." Further to the right a set of pink channel letters rest upon the upper portion of the corner of the structure. The letters are filled with pink neon. Along the South face of the building the first sign, hung in close proximity to the southwest corner, a vertical blade sign sits on a radius base of shaped molding jutting out of the wall. The actual body of the sign is a double backed cabinet finished in polished aluminum, with blue pin striping along the edges as well as along the rounded edge of the top. Near the top of the sign, the same rounded cabinet seen on the west wall of the structure, is integrated into the blade facing east/west. The cabinet is thicker in width to compensate for the width of the actual sign. The edges of the steel structure are painted in the same blue tone. The afore mentioned blue neon tubing fashioned into the shape of the note resides in this cabinet also. Along the east/west sides of the sign the text "The Blue Note," runs vertically from top to bottom, in blue channel letters only interrupted by the circular cabinet. The panel, which the text resides is painted white. Along the edge of the blade, which faces south, the text "Blue Note" is spelled vertically in blue channel letters. Sitting along the edge of the base, which the sign sits on, thin red channel letters stand almost independently, wrapping around the radius of the base. Starting on the west side of the sign and finishing on the east side, the text reads "Club & Cafe." These letters are filled with tubes of red neon. The letters are attached to a backing radius band of metal appearing to be gold. Further down the face of the building the main entrance to the building plays host to an overhead marquee/logo sign incorporating sculptural elements as well. Directly in the center of the composition, a long horizontal cabinet plays host to the red channel letters filed with red neon, reading, "World's Finest Jazz Club." Sitting on the top edge of the cabinet the same configuration of the Blue Note logo sign along with the circular cabinet, rests in front a sculpted piece of black steel. This piece of black painted steel is cut to appear as if it is the open top to a piano. Along the interior edge of the lid tubes of blue neon form a blue border. Between the piano top and the Blue Note logo, a horizontal steel grate serves as a divider as well as support for the blue channel letters. This entire section sits on a long horizontal ledge composed of a long polished steel section with a long LED message center just below that. Slightly recessed below the message center another width of overhang constructed of steel is painted to appear as if it is made of piano keys. Along the wall, just above the door, the pink channel letters read "Insomnia" with pink neon on the interior.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel; Fiberglass
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign environment: Situated just east off the strip, down Harmon Avenue, the Blue Note is the only attraction in its immediate area. Even though it is part of the Aladdin complex, the closest property is the Harley Davidson Cafe on the south east corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd At night, the property loses its Arabian Nights architecture emitting a sultry glow of neon. It is hard to miss, if a pedestrian peers down the street while traveling north or south, on the east side of the strip. During the day, the architecture helps to blend in the property to appear as it is, part of the Aladdin.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign - date of installation: 2000
Sign - thematic influences: The building itself is part of the actual Aladdin property, so the faced of the structure is themed in the manner of an ancient Persian city. It is an interesting juxtaposition for the sleek, modern finish and colors of the signage, with the organic facade of domed towers and stone facade. The Blue note signage is themed around the subject of music, specifically Jazz and Blues music. The blue hue of the neon, and the cabinet containing the crafted musical note are all evidence of this. The blade sign is thematically influenced by marquee building signs for theaters and music clubs from the first part of the century, specifically the forties and fifties. Such examples that utilized a similar designed blade sign were properties from the 1930's 40's and 50's such as The Boulder Club, The Pioneer Club, and the Las Vegas Club.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Fascia; Neon; Steel; Fiberglass; Paint

Mixed Content