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Photographs of Bonanza Gift Shop, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 6, 2017

Information

Creator

Creator: Soto, Nicole

Date

2017-03-06
2017-08-12

Description

The Bonanza Gift Shop sits at 2440 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The shopping center holds a space of forty-thousand square feet and is self-proclaimed, "The World's Largest Gift Shop." Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 2440 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Haim Gabay
Sign details: The Bonanza Gift Shop opened in 1981 marketing as the world's largest gift shop. Though in 1963 a portion of the property opened as an Honest John's Casino. In 1971 the Big Wheel opened next to Honest John's Casino. After 1974 Big Wheel changed to Centerfold Casino 1975-1977. In 1977 the Centerfold Casino changed to Jolly Trolley Restaurant, Saloon and Dining Depot. From 1977-1981 Jolly Trolley remained at the location; it seems at one point Jolly Trolley took over the entire shopping center and casinos. Between 1977 and 1981, a 24 Hour Adult Book Store was taken over by Jolly Trolley that allowed Bonanza Gift Shop to purchase the whole property. The sign's design and theme has stayed the same from 1963 to current. The gift shop was sold for $50 million in 2016 to Haim Gabay.
Sign condition: 3- the paint is peeling off, and the signs have holes in them. The incandescent light bulbs and marquee are not working to full capacity; some portions do not light up at all.
Sign form: This is considered an architectural sign with the reader boards-marquee built into the building. The sign at the end of the corner is considered a cantilever construction.
Sign-specific description: The sign is mainly rusty red and a gold-yellow that surrounds the building with multiple "Bonanza Gift Shop" logos in a old west type font. Also there is a reader board surrounding the building as well.
Sign - type of display: The Display used is a reader board, neon, incandescent, and fluorescent lighting.
Sign - media: Plastic, Steel and Fiberglass
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic for reader board
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: Incandescent light bulbs that surround the building and logos
Sign environment: The property is on the west corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Sahara. The stores surrounding the establishment are Naughty Town, Walgreens, Essence Cannabis, Strip Gun Club and Diversity Tattoos.
Sign - date of installation: Estimated 1963 or earlier
Sign - date of redesign/move: 1963 Honest John's cantilever construction. 1971 Big Wheel opened up and added the projection sign. In 1974 the Big wheel changed to Centerfold Casino and in 1977 name changed to Jolly Trolley. In 1981 the Jolly Trolley projection and cantilever construction sign changed to Bonanza Gift Shop.
Sign - thematic influences: The sign dates back to 1963 and resembles the golden nugget decorated shed concept along with the cantilever construction sign similar to golden nugget's 1946 sign, except circular rather than organic. The actual sign uses color psychology to attract consumers to the gift shop. The theme is definitely western themed.
Survey - research locations: https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/bonanza-gift-shop-in-las-vegas-sold-for-50m-records-show/ about new owner purchase. Vintage Las Vegas http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Bonanza+Gift+Shop helped with dates of property change. Author Paul W. Papa's book "Discovering Vintage Las Vegas: A Guide to the City's Timeless Shops"
Surveyor: Gisselle Tipp
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-12
Sign keywords: Architectural; Plastic; Steel; Incandescent; Chasing; Reader board; Neon; Marquee; Fluorescent; Roof Sign

Digital ID

neo000122
    Details

    Citation

    neo000122. Southern Nevada Neon Survey Records, 2002-2018. PH-00401. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d1794123d

    Rights

    This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. It may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproduction and use (https://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/research_and_services/reproductions) or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.

    Standardized Rights Statement

    Digital Provenance

    Original archival records created digitally

    Date Digitized

    2017-03-06
    2017-08-12

    Language

    English

    Publisher

    University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

    Format

    image/tiff
    application/pdf