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Photographs of El Sombrero Mexican Bistro sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 3, 2017

Date

2017-03-03
2017-08-28

Description

The El Sombrero Mexican Bistro sign sits at 807 South Main Street. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 807 S Main St
Sign owner: Irma Aguirre
Sign details: This modest, family-owned restaurant has been in town since the 1950's. It was then sold to the current owner, Irma Aguirre, and closed for a brief moment for renovation in 2014. They have been serving favorites like burritos, enchiladas, taco, and tamales for six decades. Even with their modern updates, they are still staying as true to their past as they possibly can.
Sign condition: 5, the sign is still in beautiful condition.
Sign form: Hanging sign
Sign-specific description: The sign for the business extends out from the property towards the street. The rectangular sign is a bright blue that matches the color of the building. On the top outer corner of the sign sits a sombrero with a red and white striped band in the middle portion of the hat. The words "El Sombrero" are painted on the brim of the hat. There are skeletal neon tubes outline the hat and the words "El Sombrero." Next to this is a small sign, within the overall design of the rest of the sign, that is designed to look ripped on both sides and reads "Mexican Food" in red letters. Neon tubes outline these words. Underneath these elements of the sign is the word "CAFE" in bold white text with a thin black border. Neon tubes fill these letters as well. Extending from the bottom of the sign is a small rectangle with the building number "807" painted in black.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign environment: The area that this restaurant sits is right between the Arts District and the excitement of Fremont Street. The locations nearby is a bail bond store, a supply stores for gaming, lawn equipment, and discount appliances. It is also a short distance from the North Premium Outlets.
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1950's
Sign - date of redesign/move: Possibly 2014, they closed this year to renovate the building and the sign looks different today from earlier images of the sign. Before they renovated the building the sign included some sort of striped scarf/cloth underneath the sombrero. However, after the renovation this must have been painted over.
Sign - thematic influences: The sombrero on the sign also lends itself to the name of the property and the "Mexican Food" sign within the sign explicitly tells you what type of restaurant this is. It tells you the theme right away.
Sign - artistic significance: The sign itself is very simple, but the few specific design elements of the sign are very distinct to the property. The sombrero is a nice touch to emphasize the name of the restaurant and the "Mexican Food" sign is helpful in letting both motorists and pedestrians know what type of food they serve.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas weekly article https://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/reviews/2014/nov/19/revamped-el-sombrero-cafe-mexican-downtown/ , Review Journal article https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/el-sombrero-a-mix-of-modern-classic/, asessor's page
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-28
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Hanging; Cantilever construction

Mixed Content

Photographs of Star Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 3, 2017

Date

2017-03-03
2017-08-21

Description

The Star Motel sign sits at 1418 South Third Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1418 S 3rd St
Sign owner: M V Star Group LLC
Sign details: 0.33 acre lot, originally constructed in 1947.
Sign condition: 4 - The sign is in excellent condition, but it does not light up at night.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The sign itself is attached to a silver pole that extends out toward 3 rd St and is planted into the ground. On the top of the pole is a bright, blue star with a smaller white star in the center. The neon tubes attached to the sign are in concentric star shapes radiating out from the center. Extending out from the star to 3 rd st and curving back towards the pole that hold the sign is a trail implying that this is a shooting star. The first third of this trail is white and then the paint changes to yellow and remains yellow for the rest of the trail. The entire trail of the star is covered with yellow incandescent light bulbs. There are three very thin steel poles on the opposite side of the star from where the trail is attached. These smaller poles run parallel to the main pole of the sign and end about the same place where the tail of the star ends at the other side of the pole. Attached to these thin poles are stars ranging in size and made out of neon tubes. About at the midpoint of the main pole supporting the sign is a minimal, bright blue arrow that has "MOTEL" painted on it in bold white letters with a black outline. Neon tubes in the shape of each letter are attached to the center of the letters. Attached to the bottom of the tail end of this arrow is a smaller, minimal, black arrow that has "VACANCY" painted on it in bold white letters. Neon tubes in the shape of these letters fill this sign as well.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel
Sign animation: Unknown, as it no longer lights. However according to RoadArch.com, at one time it might have flashed.
Sign environment: The property is in the heart of the Arts District. It resides next to many other small motels in this neighborhood. It is only a few blocks away from Main Street and Charleston where there are many art galleries, restaurants, and vintage boutiques.
Sign - date of installation: c. 1950s
Sign - date of redesign/move: Based on earlier photographs from the 1950's, the sign's main star that is blue with a smaller white star in the center was originally all white. Also, the white and yellow trail it leaves behind was initially all yellow as well. It is also believed that there were more stars attached to the metal bars that extend from the blue and white star and that they would have flashed.
Sign - thematic influences: A popular theme for properties during this time was the Space Age and this is sign is an example of that influential theme.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign shows an influence of the Space Age that was going on during the late 50's. Many motel signs in the city evoked the theme for the property and this sign does so for the Star Motel.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's website, Vintage Vegas, www.roadarch.com
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-21
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Pole sign

Mixed Content

Photographs of The Palm Piazza sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), April 18, 2017

Date

2017-04-18
2017-09-09

Description

The Palm Piazza sign sits at 1919 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 1919 Fremont St
Sign owner: Zen Real Estate Holding
Sign details: This building dates back to 1936 and was made for commercial living accommodations/ deluxe motel. Previous to the Palm Piazza opening this location was called the Ariza Motel which was abandoned for a few years. Kamran Foulad in 2013 purchased this building to renovate it in an effort to revitalize downtown. The Palm Piazza opened as an apartment complex in late 2013.
Sign condition: 4- slight fading but still in good condition
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: There is a black base of the sign that is not very tall which holds a back lit plastic sign that has an image of a lady under a palm-tree leaf canopy and the location's phone number in black numbers. Above this is a blue steel backing that in the shape of a sideways trapezoid which is about half of the width of the black sign beneath it (and is laid on the building side of the sign). This portion has black back lit plastic letters that spell out "The Palm Piazza" in a bubbly cursive font towards the top of the sign. Then below this in yellow skeletal neon tubes they have "Luxury Living" spelled out in a thin tight cursive font. On the road side of the sign there is an arrow blue steel arrow that points down towards the black portion of the sign. The arrow is outlined in yellow neon tubes and has "Enjoy Las Vegas" in clear print font skeletal neon tubes.
Sign - type of display: Neon and back lit plastic signs
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic portion of the sign
Sign environment: This area is located East Fremont close to Bruce Street. There are other motels surrounding this area.
Sign - date of installation: This sign has been up in form that we see today in 2013, though it looks as though they re-purposed/redesigned the sign that the Ariza Motel (previous property name) had. The previous sign has been up since at least 2007.
Sign - date of redesign/move: 2013- Ariza Motel blade taken down and the rest of the sign redesigned for the Palm Piazza.
Sign - thematic influences: Previous to the apartment complex it was a motel and their signs still has remnants of that 1950/60's motel sign design particularly with the arrow.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Review Journal article discussing the renovation of the building https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/developer-eyeing-overlooked-las-vegas-downtown-area-gets-city-boost/, Google map sattelite/ roadside view
Survey - research notes: On the top portion of the blue steel sign there are 3 short black steel beams coming out of it which used to hold an old MOTEL blade sign which was taken down around 2013.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-09
Sign keywords: Neon; Backlit; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign

Mixed Content

Biographical essay by Perry Oehlbaum, 2014

Date

2014

Description

Perry Oehlbaum describes her time in concentration camps in Germany and her liberation in 1945.

Text

Capri Motel Neon Survey document, September 14, 2017

Date

2017-09-14

Description

Information about the Capri Motel sign that sits at 325 Fremont St.
Site address: 325 Fremont St
Sign owner: Nemo Motel LLC
Sign details: This motel was originally constructed in 1958. Their sign states "New Rooms, Daily and Weekly", so it is unclear if they renovated or if they have new rooms daily since this has been on their sign since 2007.
Sign condition: 2- Has a lot of weathering and the paint is very faded and some neon tubing is broken
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: This pylon has a red steel base. On the top there is a rusty-red rectangle with "MOTEL" spelt out horizontally in a painted white block letter font (looks as though it had skeletal neon with most of it broken on each side). Below this is a rusty-red rectangular blade sign box that has a white plastic sign in it that states "CAPRI" vertically in Red block font letters. The base behind this sign box does look like it has holes in it every few inches as a part of its design. Below this is another rusty-red sign box that has a white plastic sign that says, "New Rooms, Daily and Weekly, Free Phone- Wifi Internet-Cable T.V.- Movies" In a mid-century modern paint effect font. This sign box looks as though there once was incandescents surrounding it but are now mostly missing.
Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent remains
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit portion of sign
Sign environment: Down on the East side of Fremont, this location has two car sales lots on either side of it and has other Motels nearby.
Sign - date of installation: Has been up since at least 2007
Sign - thematic influences: The font they use on the bottom portion listing what this location offers has that thick paintbrush effect that you would see on older signs. With this it shows that many signs were hand painted (though we do not know if this one was or not).
Survey - research locations: Asessor's Page and Google map roadside view
Survey - other remarks: Next to the Flamingo there was a motel called the Flamingo Capri Motel which is a very similar name http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/116515472029/flamingo-capri- motel-las- vegas-c1960- this.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-14
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Pole sign

Text

Crystal Palace Neon Survey document, September 6, 2017

Date

2017-09-06

Description

Information about the Crystal Palace that sits at 4680 Boulder Hwy.
Site address: 4680 Boulder Hwy
Sign owner: Tim Poole
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1977 for this Skating Center. This skating center opened during the prime skating rink roller age of the 70's/80's. The Crystal Palace does have a second location in North Las Vegas on Rancho built in 1981 which is ran by Larry & Judy Sandord though still under Tim Poole's company. Crystal Palace holds birthday parties, themed nights and open skate for all ages.
Sign condition: 4- has had some weathering over the ages.
Sign form: Pylon and building signs
Sign-specific description: On Boulder Hwy they have a roadside sign that has a yellow steel base with a yellow curved sign box that is lined with yellow incandescent light bulbs. Inside this box is a back lit plastic sign that states "Crystal Palace" in a retro 1970's/80's double lined font. Within the two words there is a red circle that showcases a navy blue pair of roller skates and then states "USA" in white letters within the red circle with two white stars on either side of it. On both sides of the building there are thin red steel words "Crystal Palace Skating Center" that is down lit by LED lights.
Sign - type of display: Incandescent, LED and backlit plastic sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Signs on building up lit by LED lights and the roadside sign is backlit plastic
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: On Boulder Hwy towards the East side of Las Vegas. There is an RV lot across the street as well as other shopping centers.
Sign - date of installation: Has been up sine at least 2007
Sign - thematic influences: The roller skate image on the sign shows symbolism for what kind of company it is, as well as the font makes you think of the classic 70's/80's roller rink style.
Sign - artistic significance: The double lined font is very 1970/80s roller rink/ video game style (similar to SEGAs logo).
Survey - research locations: Assessor's page, Crystal Palace website http://www.skatevegas.com/ , google maps satellite and road view
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-06
Sign keywords: Incandescent; Backlit; Plastic; Steel; Flashing; Building-front design; Pole sign

Text

Letter from F. O. Case (Henderson, Nev.) to Charles McCall (Las Vegas), September 26, 1944

Date

1944-09-26

Archival Collection

Description

Letter accompanying a report on the water system of Basic Magnesium Inc. Report is referenced below.

Text

Letter from G. F. Ashby (Omaha) to William Reinhardt, September 12, 1948

Date

1948-09-12

Archival Collection

Description

Ashby agreed with Reinhardt that extending water lines beyond the city limits, even for fire protection, set a dangerous precedent

Text

Letter from Walter R. Bracken (Las Vegas) to Mr. Will Wittwer (Las Vegas Ranch), May 5, 1938

Date

1938-05-05

Archival Collection

Description

Responding to complaints that water from a spring located on the Las Vegas ranch property had been contaminated, directions were given to repair and protect the spring.

Text

Letter from Leo A. McNamee (Las Vegas) to Walter R. Bracken (Las Vegas), August 23, 1939

Date

1939-08-23

Archival Collection

Description

Letter accompanying the agreements with the Las Vegas Land and Water Company and the drilling company.

Text