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Photograph of Mayor Oran K, Gragson speaking at the pre-telethon production meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1974
Date
1974
Description
Las Vegas Mayor Oran K. Gragson (at the podium) addressing the general session at the pre-telethon production meeting for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon was an annual telethon held each Labor Day in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The show was founded and hosted by actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, who hosted the broadcast from its 1966 inception until 2010. The history of MDA's telethon dated back to the 1950s, when the Jerry Lewis Thanksgiving Party for MDA raised funds for the organization's New York City area operations. The telethon was held annually on Labor Day weekend beginning in 1966, and would raise $2.45 billion for MDA from its inception through 2009. The telethon aired up to 21½ hours, starting on the Sunday evening preceding Labor Day and continuing until late Monday afternoon on the holiday itself. MDA called its network of participating stations the "Love Network". The show originated from Las Vegas for 28 of the years it was broadcast. Beginning in 2011, coinciding with Lewis's controversial departure, MDA radically reformatted and shortened the telethon's format into that of a benefit concert, shortening the length of the special each successive year. Successive telethons from 2012 to 2014 renamed the show as the MDA Show of Strength and further cut its airtime. The 2012 edition was reduced to three hours as a primetime-only broadcast. The 2012 edition did not refer itself as a "telethon". The 2013 Show of Strength discontinued the long-standing format of being syndicated to individual stations of varying network affiliation and aired on a major national network instead of being syndicated to individual stations, airing on ABC on Sunday, September 1, 2013, and being reduced to two hours. While the 2012 edition did not refer itself as a "telethon", it referred itself as such for the 2013 edition. The final edition, for 2014, aired on ABC on August 31, again as a two-hour special beginning at 9PM ET/PT. This was the final edition for the telethon, as it was announced on May 1, 2015 that the MDA would be discontinuing the annual event.
Image
Photographs of Official Tourist Bureau and Viva Vegas Gifts signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002
Date
2002
Description
Daytime views of the Official Tourist Bureau and Viva Vegas Gifts signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3734 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: The signage of the property is a wrapping fascia of horizontal message boards, which advertise for the businesses present. The building is a two story complex on the west-side of Las Vegas Blvd, facing east with a small parking lot along the front and on the south sides. The signage is present on the south and east walls. The signage acts as an artificial marker denoting the difference between the row of doors and wall size windows below, and the large panes of glass and tan stucco finish of the upper level.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: Fascia
Sign-specific description: The advertisements are broken up into two distinct sections, but are treated aesthetically the same to retain the continuity of the property. The first is a red steel cabinet, which wraps the southeast corner. The faces of the east and south sides are bordered with aluminum, gold polished raceways, lined with incandescent bulbs. The backlit panels possess text which occupies the majority of the white surface. In red text, both of the sides read, "Official tourist bureau," above "Information-reservations." On the east side of the building above the cabinet, two tan horizontal steel boxes, support green channel letters that read in two lines, "Official," then "Tourist Bureau." Above the south face of the signage two separate sections of the green text read "Information" on the left side of the sign, and "Reservations" on the right hand side. They are treated the same as the previous text on the east face, with letters that possess green neon on the interior, and are in all caps. Further north, on the east face of the building, is another cabinet. This sign is only one side, occupying the flat plane of the remainder of the east face of the building. It too is a red steel cabinet with a back-lit face. On the left hand side of the face the two lined text reads "Viva Vegas," a top the word "Gifts." The second line of the text is flanked on either side by red graphic images of diamonds. The right hand portion of the sign reads prices for T-shirts and souvenirs, in black, blue and red text.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: The incandescent bulbs which surround the cabinets chase each other.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic
Site address: 3734 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: The signage of the property is a wrapping fascia of horizontal message boards, which advertise for the businesses present. The building is a two story complex on the west-side of Las Vegas Blvd, facing east with a small parking lot along the front and on the south sides. The signage is present on the south and east walls. The signage acts as an artificial marker denoting the difference between the row of doors and wall size windows below, and the large panes of glass and tan stucco finish of the upper level.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: Fascia
Sign-specific description: The advertisements are broken up into two distinct sections, but are treated aesthetically the same to retain the continuity of the property. The first is a red steel cabinet, which wraps the southeast corner. The faces of the east and south sides are bordered with aluminum, gold polished raceways, lined with incandescent bulbs. The backlit panels possess text which occupies the majority of the white surface. In red text, both of the sides read, "Official tourist bureau," above "Information-reservations." On the east side of the building above the cabinet, two tan horizontal steel boxes, support green channel letters that read in two lines, "Official," then "Tourist Bureau." Above the south face of the signage two separate sections of the green text read "Information" on the left side of the sign, and "Reservations" on the right hand side. They are treated the same as the previous text on the east face, with letters that possess green neon on the interior, and are in all caps. Further north, on the east face of the building, is another cabinet. This sign is only one side, occupying the flat plane of the remainder of the east face of the building. It too is a red steel cabinet with a back-lit face. On the left hand side of the face the two lined text reads "Viva Vegas," a top the word "Gifts." The second line of the text is flanked on either side by red graphic images of diamonds. The right hand portion of the sign reads prices for T-shirts and souvenirs, in black, blue and red text.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: The incandescent bulbs which surround the cabinets chase each other.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic
Mixed Content
Photograph of Pollyanna Inn sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002
Date
2002
Description
Photo shows a daytime view of the Pollyanna Inn sign on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 4915 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: North of the Klondike on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd., the Pollyana Inn sits separated on both sides by vacant lots. The establishment is no longer functioning, but is still present and standing. Inside an ornate, and locked, wrought iron gate, the Pollyana Inn sits dark, no cars present, and no patrons around. The closed facility sits separated from the street by a small parking lot. It too follows the true form of the roadside motel with its front office combined with a covered car port, then opening up into a square parking lot surrounded by lowrise stretches of adjacent rooms. The salmon and white alternating stripes of the buildings exterior surface is reminiscent of the color schemes popular in the establishment's heyday. In the cracked and broken pavement in the parking lot, small statuary of animals adorn the dying flowed beds, and shrubbery. Many of the plants still exist and flourish on the property. On the north side of the parking lot a statuette of a lion looks out onto the street and a fountain sits next to the building. In the center of the front of the lot, a triangular shaped, brick planter, home to bushes, a statuette of an elephant along with the pole sign for the property. The right of the lot is bordered off by a large non-functional, broken down internally lit message cabinet.
Sign condition: Structure 3 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: pylon
Sign-specific description: The pylon sign for the establishment's roadside pole sign is located in the triangular planter, facing north/south on the west edge of the property. A white steel pole supports an internally lit, double backed, white, plastic faced message cabinet. The cabinet is actually two narrow, horizontal, rectangular cabinets stacked on top of each other. The exterior steel casing is painted a dark olive hue. The top cabinet spells "Pollyanna Motel" in red plastic letters, with vinyl lettering on the message board below. Small steel cabinet is attached to the west side of the underbelly of the sign. "Vacancy is spelled in white text with neon spelling "No". The pole continues up through the top of the cabinet and is crowned with a small ,internally lit, brown cabinet. A yellow raceway with incandescent bulbs runs along the entire outer edge. The yellow plastic face has the image of a tilted sombrero on it.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent, backlit
Sign - media: steel, plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: graphics, paint
Sign animation: chasing, flashing
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Graphics; Paint; Steel; Plastic; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Site address: 4915 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: North of the Klondike on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd., the Pollyana Inn sits separated on both sides by vacant lots. The establishment is no longer functioning, but is still present and standing. Inside an ornate, and locked, wrought iron gate, the Pollyana Inn sits dark, no cars present, and no patrons around. The closed facility sits separated from the street by a small parking lot. It too follows the true form of the roadside motel with its front office combined with a covered car port, then opening up into a square parking lot surrounded by lowrise stretches of adjacent rooms. The salmon and white alternating stripes of the buildings exterior surface is reminiscent of the color schemes popular in the establishment's heyday. In the cracked and broken pavement in the parking lot, small statuary of animals adorn the dying flowed beds, and shrubbery. Many of the plants still exist and flourish on the property. On the north side of the parking lot a statuette of a lion looks out onto the street and a fountain sits next to the building. In the center of the front of the lot, a triangular shaped, brick planter, home to bushes, a statuette of an elephant along with the pole sign for the property. The right of the lot is bordered off by a large non-functional, broken down internally lit message cabinet.
Sign condition: Structure 3 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: pylon
Sign-specific description: The pylon sign for the establishment's roadside pole sign is located in the triangular planter, facing north/south on the west edge of the property. A white steel pole supports an internally lit, double backed, white, plastic faced message cabinet. The cabinet is actually two narrow, horizontal, rectangular cabinets stacked on top of each other. The exterior steel casing is painted a dark olive hue. The top cabinet spells "Pollyanna Motel" in red plastic letters, with vinyl lettering on the message board below. Small steel cabinet is attached to the west side of the underbelly of the sign. "Vacancy is spelled in white text with neon spelling "No". The pole continues up through the top of the cabinet and is crowned with a small ,internally lit, brown cabinet. A yellow raceway with incandescent bulbs runs along the entire outer edge. The yellow plastic face has the image of a tilted sombrero on it.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent, backlit
Sign - media: steel, plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: graphics, paint
Sign animation: chasing, flashing
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Graphics; Paint; Steel; Plastic; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Mixed Content
Photographs of Desert Oasis sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002
Date
2002
Description
Daytime views of the Desert Oasis motel sign. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 4445 Diamond Head Dr
Sign owner: Volunteers of America/HUD
Sign details: The Desert Oasis Apartments is on the south end of the strip, south of the Pit Stop. The low rise tan stone structure of the apartments sits just east of the strip separated by a small parking lot.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The Desert Oasis Apartments is on the south end of the strip, south of the Pit Stop. The low rise tan stone structure of the apartments sits just east of the strip separated by a small parking lot. Just outside the main entrance, extremely close to the building, facing north south, two brown, sculpted, steel legs, support an internally lit message center. The two legs look to be representative giant Tiki heads. In the space between the legs, and on the bottom edge of the message cabinet, a clear plastic box hold neon sculpted into the words "Vacancy" underneath the word "No." The cabinet is painted a rusted color and the face is fluted plastic with vinyl lettering. Two square posts rise out of the top of the cabinet, a short distance, before they support a larger double backed internally lit cabinet. A center pole resides between the two legs, rising into the center of the cabinet as well. The cabinet is crafted out of a polished gold metal. The face of the sign is a graphically treated surface. Desert Oasis is written in red cursive script across the top of the sign. A small graphically painted green palm tree, sits just to the right of the text. The middle of the board is occupied by large all capital text reading "Motel," in black text. Two black horizontal scrolls flank the text. A band of red runs horizontally across the bottom of the sign, with white painted text reading "Apartments."
Sign - type of display: Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics
Sign animation: none
Sign environment: The Desert Oasis is located between the Laughing Jackalope to the south and the Motel 8 establishment to the north. It stands very inconspicuous among the environment of the southern end of the strip, easily passed by the motorist or wandering pedestrian.
Sign - thematic influences: Even though the establishment fits into the genre of a roadside motel, the sign itself doesn't quite fit in to the motif. The building itself is reminiscent of standard architecture of the era and location, the sign itself has elements of a Polynesian flavor. The legs of the sign appear to be Tiki like figures, but the details are quite vague.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Pylon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics
Site address: 4445 Diamond Head Dr
Sign owner: Volunteers of America/HUD
Sign details: The Desert Oasis Apartments is on the south end of the strip, south of the Pit Stop. The low rise tan stone structure of the apartments sits just east of the strip separated by a small parking lot.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The Desert Oasis Apartments is on the south end of the strip, south of the Pit Stop. The low rise tan stone structure of the apartments sits just east of the strip separated by a small parking lot. Just outside the main entrance, extremely close to the building, facing north south, two brown, sculpted, steel legs, support an internally lit message center. The two legs look to be representative giant Tiki heads. In the space between the legs, and on the bottom edge of the message cabinet, a clear plastic box hold neon sculpted into the words "Vacancy" underneath the word "No." The cabinet is painted a rusted color and the face is fluted plastic with vinyl lettering. Two square posts rise out of the top of the cabinet, a short distance, before they support a larger double backed internally lit cabinet. A center pole resides between the two legs, rising into the center of the cabinet as well. The cabinet is crafted out of a polished gold metal. The face of the sign is a graphically treated surface. Desert Oasis is written in red cursive script across the top of the sign. A small graphically painted green palm tree, sits just to the right of the text. The middle of the board is occupied by large all capital text reading "Motel," in black text. Two black horizontal scrolls flank the text. A band of red runs horizontally across the bottom of the sign, with white painted text reading "Apartments."
Sign - type of display: Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics
Sign animation: none
Sign environment: The Desert Oasis is located between the Laughing Jackalope to the south and the Motel 8 establishment to the north. It stands very inconspicuous among the environment of the southern end of the strip, easily passed by the motorist or wandering pedestrian.
Sign - thematic influences: Even though the establishment fits into the genre of a roadside motel, the sign itself doesn't quite fit in to the motif. The building itself is reminiscent of standard architecture of the era and location, the sign itself has elements of a Polynesian flavor. The legs of the sign appear to be Tiki like figures, but the details are quite vague.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Pylon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics
Mixed Content
Photographs of The Ambassador Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), April 28, 2016
Date
2016-04-28 to 2017-08-14
Description
The Ambassador sign, restored by Downtown Project sits at a parking lot near the intersection of 9th Street and East Fremont Street. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survery Data Sheet.
Site address: 9th St and Fremont St
Sign owner: Jackie Gaughan(ca.1952)
Sign details: Opened ca. 1940 by Joseph Mikulich but was called Ambassador Auto Court, Jackie Gaughan renamed it in 1952 as "Jackie Gaughan's Ambassador East". This location closed down in 1996 and was demolished 2007. Currently this location holds a parking lot, but the sign was restored in 2013 and put back in its original location.
Sign condition: 5- Was recently restored and is in great condition.
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The building has been demolished, the sign has been restored and put on Fremont street. It is large red signage with a googie style "A" on top that looks like an arch. Vertically are the letters " MOTEL" in red neon. In a ribbon fashion around the letters are chasing incandescent light bulbs. In smaller white letters used to say "Ambassador Motel East" but now it states "Llamas stay for free" in a cursive white neon font. Beneath the letters is a reader board.
Sign - type of display: Neon, Incandescents and backlit reader board.
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader board and Incandescents.
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: incandescent light bulbs.
Sign environment: This is located East side of Fremont Street across the street from Atomic Liquors.
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1950
Sign - date of redesign/move: 2013 Restoration
Sign - thematic influences: This sign has been a part of the recent trend to restore old signs on Fremont Street to keep the downtown neon culture alive.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign has a retro 50's/ 60's motel sign trend to it.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Sun Article -https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jun/21/joe-downtown-motel-long-gone-ambassador-sign-being/ Classic Vegas website -http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/classic-las-vegas-blog/2007/12/19/the-ambassador-east.html Vintage Las Vegas Website -http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Ambassador+Motel+
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-17
Sign keywords: Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Chasing; Steel; Plastic; Reader board; Back to back
Site address: 9th St and Fremont St
Sign owner: Jackie Gaughan(ca.1952)
Sign details: Opened ca. 1940 by Joseph Mikulich but was called Ambassador Auto Court, Jackie Gaughan renamed it in 1952 as "Jackie Gaughan's Ambassador East". This location closed down in 1996 and was demolished 2007. Currently this location holds a parking lot, but the sign was restored in 2013 and put back in its original location.
Sign condition: 5- Was recently restored and is in great condition.
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The building has been demolished, the sign has been restored and put on Fremont street. It is large red signage with a googie style "A" on top that looks like an arch. Vertically are the letters " MOTEL" in red neon. In a ribbon fashion around the letters are chasing incandescent light bulbs. In smaller white letters used to say "Ambassador Motel East" but now it states "Llamas stay for free" in a cursive white neon font. Beneath the letters is a reader board.
Sign - type of display: Neon, Incandescents and backlit reader board.
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader board and Incandescents.
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: incandescent light bulbs.
Sign environment: This is located East side of Fremont Street across the street from Atomic Liquors.
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1950
Sign - date of redesign/move: 2013 Restoration
Sign - thematic influences: This sign has been a part of the recent trend to restore old signs on Fremont Street to keep the downtown neon culture alive.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign has a retro 50's/ 60's motel sign trend to it.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Sun Article -https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jun/21/joe-downtown-motel-long-gone-ambassador-sign-being/ Classic Vegas website -http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/classic-las-vegas-blog/2007/12/19/the-ambassador-east.html Vintage Las Vegas Website -http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Ambassador+Motel+
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-17
Sign keywords: Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Chasing; Steel; Plastic; Reader board; Back to back
Mixed Content
Photographs of Las Vegas Club signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 24, 2016
Date
2016-06-24 to 2017-09-02
Description
The permanently closed Las Vegas Club Casino sits at 18 Fremont Street at the Fremont Street Experience. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survery Data Sheet.
Site name: Las Vegas Club (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 18 Fremont St
Sign owner: Las Vegas Club
Sign details: The Las Vegas Club originally opened on the opposite side of Fremont than it is today in the 1930's. It held one of the first few Neon signs on Fremont which was installed around ca.1930. In 1949 the Las Vegas Club reopened in its new location on Main and Fremont Street, and once held a large Baseball Hall of Fame. It has closed down in 2015 and demolition of the building began in 2017.
Sign condition: 4- Signage was working well and still had bright paint before the building had undergone demolition
Sign form: Pylon and architectural
Sign-specific description: They convey sports themes throughout their signs. There was a bronze-type sculptural baseball player. Large Neon and incandescent sign that wrapped around the whole building. Though above each entrance there is a plain graphic lettering with neon surrounding the letters.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel and bronze-type material (baseball player)
Sign - non-neon treatments: Sculptural element and incandescent
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent
Sign environment: This location is on the north corner of Main and Fremont St. It is just north of the Golden Gate and across the street from the Plaza. It also had the Golden Goose, Glitter Gulch and Mermaids to the East of it.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign designer: Brian "Buzz" Lemming
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1960's
Sign - thematic influences: They convey sports/baseball themes within their signage which showcases the theme of their Baseball Hall of Fame.
Survey - research locations: Neon Museum Tour Hand book, Vintage Vegas http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Las+Vegas+Club Images, Charles Barnard The Magic Sign.
Survey - research notes: The original Las Vegas Club in the 1930's had the tallest tallest sign in downtown Las Vegas until it was superseded by the Lucky Casino sign about a decade later.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-02
Sign keywords: Architectural; Steel; Sculptural; Incandescent; Flashing; Neon; Bullnose
Site name: Las Vegas Club (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 18 Fremont St
Sign owner: Las Vegas Club
Sign details: The Las Vegas Club originally opened on the opposite side of Fremont than it is today in the 1930's. It held one of the first few Neon signs on Fremont which was installed around ca.1930. In 1949 the Las Vegas Club reopened in its new location on Main and Fremont Street, and once held a large Baseball Hall of Fame. It has closed down in 2015 and demolition of the building began in 2017.
Sign condition: 4- Signage was working well and still had bright paint before the building had undergone demolition
Sign form: Pylon and architectural
Sign-specific description: They convey sports themes throughout their signs. There was a bronze-type sculptural baseball player. Large Neon and incandescent sign that wrapped around the whole building. Though above each entrance there is a plain graphic lettering with neon surrounding the letters.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel and bronze-type material (baseball player)
Sign - non-neon treatments: Sculptural element and incandescent
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent
Sign environment: This location is on the north corner of Main and Fremont St. It is just north of the Golden Gate and across the street from the Plaza. It also had the Golden Goose, Glitter Gulch and Mermaids to the East of it.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign designer: Brian "Buzz" Lemming
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1960's
Sign - thematic influences: They convey sports/baseball themes within their signage which showcases the theme of their Baseball Hall of Fame.
Survey - research locations: Neon Museum Tour Hand book, Vintage Vegas http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Las+Vegas+Club Images, Charles Barnard The Magic Sign.
Survey - research notes: The original Las Vegas Club in the 1930's had the tallest tallest sign in downtown Las Vegas until it was superseded by the Lucky Casino sign about a decade later.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-02
Sign keywords: Architectural; Steel; Sculptural; Incandescent; Flashing; Neon; Bullnose
Mixed Content
Photographs of Las Vegas Library sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 3, 2017
Date
2017-03-03
2017-08-04
Description
The Las Vegas Library sign sits at 833 North Las Vegas Boulevard. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 833 N Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: City of Las Vegas is the owner of the property since 2015, but it is an Independent government agency ran by a board of trustees chosen by the city and county
Sign details: Opened since 1990. Used to be paired with the Lied Children's Discovery Museum but has been solely the library since the Children's Discovery museum moved to its new location in 2013. The Library property was sold to the city of Las Vegas October 2015.
Sign condition: 4-Lights up very brightly at night and the graphics are still relatively visible during the day, but the Lexan covering makes it a little cloudy looking during the day.
Sign form: Small rectangular roadside sign
Sign-specific description: Rectangular sign about 4ft by 3.5 feet but raised off the ground by nearly 7-8 feet. Double sided slate of concrete with painted font stating "Las Vegas Library". The letter light up red (neon) at night and the border of the sign is blue (argon)
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Concrete
Sign - non-neon treatments: Lexan to cover the Neon tubing
Sign environment: Across the street from Cashman Field. Located in the Cultural Corridor about a mile north of Fremont St. near the beginning of North Las Vegas.
Sign manufacturer: Fluresco Lighting and Sign
Sign - date of installation: 43143
Sign - date of redesign/move: Pre 2012- there was a roadside sign for the children's museum and library but no neon features on that sign.
Sign - thematic influences: Basic skeletal neon, but great use of Neon and Argon. Also the use of concrete as the background is very interesting and not seen as commonly as steel or wood backings for signs.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign shows that any type of company or property here in Las Vegas can have a Neon sign, thus perpetuating the culture of Las Vegas and how Neon defines the town.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Sun Article https://lasvegassun.com/guides/about/public_libraries/ , Clark County Library website http://www.lvccld.org/about/branch_info.cfm?id=4 , Discovery Children's museum website https://www.discoverykidslv.org/ , contact with Stephen Rice the Library's General Services Director
Survey - research notes: The building is defined by the tall cylinder tower that used to be an observatory for the Children's museum.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-04
Sign keywords: Neon; Concrete; Roadside
Site address: 833 N Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: City of Las Vegas is the owner of the property since 2015, but it is an Independent government agency ran by a board of trustees chosen by the city and county
Sign details: Opened since 1990. Used to be paired with the Lied Children's Discovery Museum but has been solely the library since the Children's Discovery museum moved to its new location in 2013. The Library property was sold to the city of Las Vegas October 2015.
Sign condition: 4-Lights up very brightly at night and the graphics are still relatively visible during the day, but the Lexan covering makes it a little cloudy looking during the day.
Sign form: Small rectangular roadside sign
Sign-specific description: Rectangular sign about 4ft by 3.5 feet but raised off the ground by nearly 7-8 feet. Double sided slate of concrete with painted font stating "Las Vegas Library". The letter light up red (neon) at night and the border of the sign is blue (argon)
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Concrete
Sign - non-neon treatments: Lexan to cover the Neon tubing
Sign environment: Across the street from Cashman Field. Located in the Cultural Corridor about a mile north of Fremont St. near the beginning of North Las Vegas.
Sign manufacturer: Fluresco Lighting and Sign
Sign - date of installation: 43143
Sign - date of redesign/move: Pre 2012- there was a roadside sign for the children's museum and library but no neon features on that sign.
Sign - thematic influences: Basic skeletal neon, but great use of Neon and Argon. Also the use of concrete as the background is very interesting and not seen as commonly as steel or wood backings for signs.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign shows that any type of company or property here in Las Vegas can have a Neon sign, thus perpetuating the culture of Las Vegas and how Neon defines the town.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas Sun Article https://lasvegassun.com/guides/about/public_libraries/ , Clark County Library website http://www.lvccld.org/about/branch_info.cfm?id=4 , Discovery Children's museum website https://www.discoverykidslv.org/ , contact with Stephen Rice the Library's General Services Director
Survey - research notes: The building is defined by the tall cylinder tower that used to be an observatory for the Children's museum.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-04
Sign keywords: Neon; Concrete; Roadside
Mixed Content
Photographs of Pamplemousse Le Restaurant, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 3, 2017
Date
2017-03-03
2017-08-27
Description
Pamplemousse Le Restaurant, Las Vegas' oldest French restaurant, sits at 400 East Sahara Avenue. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 400 E Sahara Ave
Sign owner: Georges La Forge
Sign details: Just a block away from the Strip, this French restaurant, which the name means "grapefruit" in French, has been a mainstay in Las Vegas for over forty years. Georges La Forge has created a wonderful atmosphere set as a "cozy French cottage with Tuxedo-clad waiters" and uses soft candlelight and French music to set the tone of the restaurant. A few of their most popular dishes include Escargots Bourguignonne, Fresh Foie Gras "au Torchon", Breast of Duck & Leg Confit, and Creme Brulee. It has received rave reviews and won many award since they opened in 1976. They have been voted as the "Most Romantic and Best French Restaurant" just to name a few.
Sign condition: 4, the sign is in good condition. It shows some wear from age.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The sign has a very simple design. It is a pole sign that sits right next to the street; therefore, it is extremely visible for motorists and pedestrians. This is also a back lit sign and the plastic that is used is a soft pink. The sign reads "Pamplemousse Le Restaurant" in a bold, script-style font and maroon color on both sides of the sign.
Sign - type of display: Back lit plastic
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic
Sign environment: The restaurant sits just a block away from the Strip. It is near the SLS, the Westgate, and the Stratosphere Hotels as well as the Bonanza Gift Shop. It is also just down the street from another classic Las Vegas restaurant, the Golden Steer Steakhouse.
Sign - date of installation: 1976
Sign - thematic influences: The linkage to the property in this signage is that the text is in French, indicating that is it s a French restaurant. The signage is very modest and straightforward because it just tells you the name of the restaurant.
Sign - artistic significance: The linage to the property in this signage is that the text is in French, indicating that is it s a French restaurant. Other than that the signage is very modest and straightforward because it just tells you the name of the restaurant.
Survey - research locations: Pamplemousse restaurant website http://www.pamplemousserestaurant.com/ , Las Vegas Weekly article https://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/2015/jun/03/rick-moonen-column-pamplemousse-french-restaurant/ , Assessor's Page http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/searchbybusinessname.aspx
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-27
Sign keywords: Backlit; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign
Site address: 400 E Sahara Ave
Sign owner: Georges La Forge
Sign details: Just a block away from the Strip, this French restaurant, which the name means "grapefruit" in French, has been a mainstay in Las Vegas for over forty years. Georges La Forge has created a wonderful atmosphere set as a "cozy French cottage with Tuxedo-clad waiters" and uses soft candlelight and French music to set the tone of the restaurant. A few of their most popular dishes include Escargots Bourguignonne, Fresh Foie Gras "au Torchon", Breast of Duck & Leg Confit, and Creme Brulee. It has received rave reviews and won many award since they opened in 1976. They have been voted as the "Most Romantic and Best French Restaurant" just to name a few.
Sign condition: 4, the sign is in good condition. It shows some wear from age.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The sign has a very simple design. It is a pole sign that sits right next to the street; therefore, it is extremely visible for motorists and pedestrians. This is also a back lit sign and the plastic that is used is a soft pink. The sign reads "Pamplemousse Le Restaurant" in a bold, script-style font and maroon color on both sides of the sign.
Sign - type of display: Back lit plastic
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic
Sign environment: The restaurant sits just a block away from the Strip. It is near the SLS, the Westgate, and the Stratosphere Hotels as well as the Bonanza Gift Shop. It is also just down the street from another classic Las Vegas restaurant, the Golden Steer Steakhouse.
Sign - date of installation: 1976
Sign - thematic influences: The linkage to the property in this signage is that the text is in French, indicating that is it s a French restaurant. The signage is very modest and straightforward because it just tells you the name of the restaurant.
Sign - artistic significance: The linage to the property in this signage is that the text is in French, indicating that is it s a French restaurant. Other than that the signage is very modest and straightforward because it just tells you the name of the restaurant.
Survey - research locations: Pamplemousse restaurant website http://www.pamplemousserestaurant.com/ , Las Vegas Weekly article https://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/2015/jun/03/rick-moonen-column-pamplemousse-french-restaurant/ , Assessor's Page http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/searchbybusinessname.aspx
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-27
Sign keywords: Backlit; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign
Mixed Content
Photographs of Economy Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), April 18, 2017
Date
2017-04-18
2017-09-10
Description
The Economy Motel sign sits at 1605 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 1605 Fremont St
Sign owner: Las Vegas Dragon Hotel LLC
Sign details: This building was constructed in 1953 for commercial living and motels and has been used for this since. This location was recently remodeled in 2016. The property previous to the Economy Motel was the Rangler Motel.
Sign condition: 5-looks newly restored
Sign form: Blade
Sign-specific description: The top of the sign is a red rectangular blade with the word "ECONOMY" in white skeletal neon tubes spelt out horizontally. Below the word Economy is the word "MOTEL" spelt out Vertically in channeled white letters with a blue border. Underneath this portion of the sign is a sign box where they have a plastic rectangular sign with their phone number on it. Under the sign box is "WELCOME" painted on the west side of the sign and "BIENVENDIO" on the east side. On the building side of the side box is a rectangular yellow arrow pointing down to the lobby of the motel.
Sign - type of display: Neon and plastic backlit sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit sign
Sign environment: This location is on the East side of Fremont Street located close to many other motels some closed and some still open.
Sign - date of installation: Sign has been up but in a different form since at least 2007
Sign - date of redesign/move: Late 2016/ early 2017 repainted/ restored since it previously said Rangler Motel on the sign (had a plastic cover saying economy over that previous logo for a few years)
Sign - thematic influences: The arrow portion of this sign is a popular 1950's/60's motel sign theme.
Sign - artistic significance: It is a trend down on Fremont to take an old Motel sign and renovate it into the new motel's name and logo.
Survey - research locations: Owner's website http://www.1dragonhotel.com/about_us , assessor's map, Google map satellite view
Survey - research notes: The previous sign for the Rangler motel was repurposed for the Economy Motel, so the same MOTEL blade portion had the same font but channeled neon was added, as well as repainted.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-10
Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign; Electronic Message Center
Site address: 1605 Fremont St
Sign owner: Las Vegas Dragon Hotel LLC
Sign details: This building was constructed in 1953 for commercial living and motels and has been used for this since. This location was recently remodeled in 2016. The property previous to the Economy Motel was the Rangler Motel.
Sign condition: 5-looks newly restored
Sign form: Blade
Sign-specific description: The top of the sign is a red rectangular blade with the word "ECONOMY" in white skeletal neon tubes spelt out horizontally. Below the word Economy is the word "MOTEL" spelt out Vertically in channeled white letters with a blue border. Underneath this portion of the sign is a sign box where they have a plastic rectangular sign with their phone number on it. Under the sign box is "WELCOME" painted on the west side of the sign and "BIENVENDIO" on the east side. On the building side of the side box is a rectangular yellow arrow pointing down to the lobby of the motel.
Sign - type of display: Neon and plastic backlit sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit sign
Sign environment: This location is on the East side of Fremont Street located close to many other motels some closed and some still open.
Sign - date of installation: Sign has been up but in a different form since at least 2007
Sign - date of redesign/move: Late 2016/ early 2017 repainted/ restored since it previously said Rangler Motel on the sign (had a plastic cover saying economy over that previous logo for a few years)
Sign - thematic influences: The arrow portion of this sign is a popular 1950's/60's motel sign theme.
Sign - artistic significance: It is a trend down on Fremont to take an old Motel sign and renovate it into the new motel's name and logo.
Survey - research locations: Owner's website http://www.1dragonhotel.com/about_us , assessor's map, Google map satellite view
Survey - research notes: The previous sign for the Rangler motel was repurposed for the Economy Motel, so the same MOTEL blade portion had the same font but channeled neon was added, as well as repainted.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-10
Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign; Electronic Message Center
Mixed Content
Photographs of White Cross Market, Las Vegas (Nev.), February 15, 2017
Date
2017-02-15
2017-08-11
Description
The permanently closed White Cross Market sits at 1700 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Vickie's Diner, housed inside, remains open. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1700 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Vickie Kelesis
Sign details: This location opened ca. 1950 as White Cross Pharmacy and remained opened until around 2013. This location transitioned in between 2013-2015 into the White Cross Market. The Diner attached to Market has been open since 1952. This is considered one of the oldest standing diners in Las Vegas. The Diner was originally named Tiffanys Diner , but in 2014 it changed ownership from Pete Kelesis to his Daughter Vickie Kelesis who Renamed it Vickies Diner.
Sign condition: 3-4- has had some fading and weathering over the years
Sign form: Pylon and building sign.
Sign-specific description: Blue lettering on a white background on the Building. Pylon has a white cross topping the sign, as well as blue lettering and white plastic back lit sign as the background. There are lights down lighting the building and pylon sign.
Sign - type of display: Plastic back lit sign and down lighting
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: No neon was seen on the sign, and was mostly spotlit
Sign environment: This location is a few blocks north of the Stratosphere on Las Vegas Blvd. as well as a few blocks south of where Dino's Lounge is. This is located in between the Strip and the Downtown area.
Sign - date of installation: The owner stated that the signage on the building as remained nearly unchanged since circa-1955.
Sign - date of redesign/move: The plastic back lit portion of the pylon has changed a few times.
Sign - thematic influences: Since the signage for the White Cross Market is still up even though the company has shut down shows the importance of this property for its history and admiration from the community.
Survey - research locations: Visit to Vickies Diner and discussion with the owner. Las Vegas Weekly https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2014/nov/19/tiffanys-cafe-now-vickies-diner-downtown-landmark/, assessors, and recorders office.
Survey - research notes: From the discussion with the owner: The diner has been open for 65 years, making it the oldest diner in Las Vegas. Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and many more celebrities would frequent the Pharmacy and the diner. The Pharmacy was first 24/7 pharmacy in Las Vegas.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Building-front design; Pole sign; Back to back; Roof Sign
Site address: 1700 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Vickie Kelesis
Sign details: This location opened ca. 1950 as White Cross Pharmacy and remained opened until around 2013. This location transitioned in between 2013-2015 into the White Cross Market. The Diner attached to Market has been open since 1952. This is considered one of the oldest standing diners in Las Vegas. The Diner was originally named Tiffanys Diner , but in 2014 it changed ownership from Pete Kelesis to his Daughter Vickie Kelesis who Renamed it Vickies Diner.
Sign condition: 3-4- has had some fading and weathering over the years
Sign form: Pylon and building sign.
Sign-specific description: Blue lettering on a white background on the Building. Pylon has a white cross topping the sign, as well as blue lettering and white plastic back lit sign as the background. There are lights down lighting the building and pylon sign.
Sign - type of display: Plastic back lit sign and down lighting
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: No neon was seen on the sign, and was mostly spotlit
Sign environment: This location is a few blocks north of the Stratosphere on Las Vegas Blvd. as well as a few blocks south of where Dino's Lounge is. This is located in between the Strip and the Downtown area.
Sign - date of installation: The owner stated that the signage on the building as remained nearly unchanged since circa-1955.
Sign - date of redesign/move: The plastic back lit portion of the pylon has changed a few times.
Sign - thematic influences: Since the signage for the White Cross Market is still up even though the company has shut down shows the importance of this property for its history and admiration from the community.
Survey - research locations: Visit to Vickies Diner and discussion with the owner. Las Vegas Weekly https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2014/nov/19/tiffanys-cafe-now-vickies-diner-downtown-landmark/, assessors, and recorders office.
Survey - research notes: From the discussion with the owner: The diner has been open for 65 years, making it the oldest diner in Las Vegas. Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and many more celebrities would frequent the Pharmacy and the diner. The Pharmacy was first 24/7 pharmacy in Las Vegas.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Building-front design; Pole sign; Back to back; Roof Sign
Mixed Content
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