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Transcript of interview with Herbert & Erma Holtam by Marc Hechter, February 7, 1976

Date

1976-02-07

Description

On February 7, 1976, collector, Marc Hechter interviewed Herbert and Erma Holtam in the collector’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers the history of the early Las Vegas Valley area. The discussion includes an in-depth overview of the Helldorado Parade and Helldorado Village. The building of the hotels on the Strip, homesteading, and local housing developments, are also discussed.

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Transcript of interview with Judith D. Steele by Barbara Tabach, November 24, 2014

Date

2014-11-24

Description

In this interview she talks about student teaching in East Harlem, her teaching experiences in Providence, Rhode Island and the decision to reside in Las Vegas. When she was finally able to be promoted outside of the classroom, among her highlights was being Director of Special Education Programs and Services for the Clark County School District. In 1991, she served in a dual role as Manager of the Office of Development and Education Improvement for CCSD and Executive Director of the newly incorporated Clark County Public Education Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization established to improve public education in Southern Nevada. Among her many community activities is serving on numerous board and founder of the Henderson Arts Council.

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Interview with Troy Ernest Wade II, July 14, 2004

Date

2004-07-14

Description

Narrator affiliation: Deputy Manager, Dept. of Energy, NVOO and Nuclear Test Controller; Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs

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Photographs of Mandalay Bay signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date

2002
2017-08-15

Description

Photos show Mandalay Bay signs during the day and at night. 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: Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Mandalay Resort Group
Sign details: Mandalay Bay resides on the west side of the Strip, south of the Luxor. The expanse of property is surrounded with ornate foliage, jutting faux rocks, and assorted statuary accented with the flavor of an ancient island. The three-winged tower looms over the low-rise casino structure. The surface of the tower is covered with an impressive expanse of gold mirrored windows, and vertically striped with gold tubes of neon. The towers also home to the giant channel letters, which serve as the logo building text for the establishment. The ground level the property is home to two giant pylon signs at either end of the property as well. One resides on the east side of the property, while the other on the west.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: The Mandalay Bay has little signage, but is cohesively joined together into a simple yet effective use of lighting, which fits in well with it's environment. The building itself is actually the biggest piece of signage, being vertically striped with tubing of gold neon. There is actually over three miles of neon tubing which runs up and down the surface of the tower, reflecting off of the gold, mirrored, surface of the tower. The tower itself during the day is unassuming, for the off white stucco, and mirrored surface, blend to create a harmonious surface. When dark, the building transforms into a mysterious figure clad in golden stripes. On each wing of the Y shaped tower, " Mandalay Bay" is spelled in channel letters across the top edge of the surface. These giant black pans hold incandescent bulbs, which oscillate rapidly. The two pylon signs sit flanking the building on extreme edges of the property. The two pylons are rather plain in design, but are efficient and large. They are highly integrated architecturally, being essentially two giant vertical rectangles. Two massive square legs support an upshot of space defined by two internally it color screens advertising for the "Shark Reef" and for the "House of Blues" These two are squares which sit side by sides, comprising the bottom section of the face. Above that, a large LED screen stretches up to the end of this section. The three signs are closed in on either side by a set square legs capped on the top and bottom with molding. Making up the top section of the pylon another horizontal plane rises up a bit before being topped with a series of crown moldings. Two lines of channel letters spell " Mandalay Bay" and are filled with incandescent bulbs.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic; Masonry
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: Oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the channel letters which spell the text for the establishment oscillate in a pattern which makes them appear as if shimmering. This style is the most common animation next to the incandescent bulbs on the raceway.
Sign environment: The Mandalay Bay resides in exclusive company on the south end of the Strip. It stands as one of the four major establishments before Tropicana Ave. The other three include the Luxor, the Excalibur, and the Tropicana
Sign manufacturer: LED and plastic sign inside pylon were manufactured by Ad-Art
Sign - date of installation: 1999
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the Mandalay Bay is one revolving around an island paradise, transformed into a sleek ultra modern super resort, creating a sort of independent city of steel glass, neon, lush foliage, and assorted statuary. It could best be said that it is a combination of the influences of the Tropicana, the Mirage, and Treasure Island, all mixed together as one. The pylons themselves find themselves more a kin to those displayed by the large corporate properties like the Bellagio, and the Mirage. The simple vertically oriented rectangle, plays host to LED screens and backlit color advertisements, and channel letters filled with incandescent bulbs. These elements can be seen in other large properties such as the Mirage.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Oscillating; Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Masonry; Paint; Graphics

Mixed Content

Photographs of McDonald's sign, 3755 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date

2002

Description

Daytime and evening views of a McDonald's sign on the Strip at 3755 S Las Vegas Blvd. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3755 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: The McDonald's pylon sits in the parking lot just to the north of the Fatburger establishment and the Walgreen's structures. It faces north/south in the parking lot of the Cable Center Shops. It sits across a property length parking lot, near Las Vegas Blvd It is also serves as advertising for the rest of the shops in the shopping center, but the main cabinet is dedicated to the McDonald's logo cabinet. The shops behind the sign are covered in the same stucco as seen on the surface of the pylon.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 4.5 Lighting 5 Notes: It is noted that the structural integrity is intact. Certain elements of lighting are out or not working, but present still. The surface appears to be slightly deteriorating at this point.
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The pylon sign for the McDonald's and the Cable Center Shops is essentially a double sided pole sign comprised of a two sided main logo cabinet and an internally lit rectangular cabinet. The internally lit cabinet located in the middle of the pole finished it's exterior the same as the rest of the actual pole. The post is covered in an off white stucco finish, with a green channel running up the center of each face. The channel T's off as well following the supporting stretch at the top of the rise, below the main cabinet. Three gold neon bars run up the center of the green channel. The internally lit cabinets face is adorned with graphics advertising for all of the shops located within the strip mall. Its luminescence is strong for an internally lit cabinet. A blue section at the top of the plastic face is designated blue with white script reading "Cable Center" shops. The rest of the text below that reads like two-sided menu. The McDonald's cabinet at the very top of the pole is constructed of red painted steel, as well as yellow painted steel for the golden arch crown designated as the top portion of the cabinet. The face of the cabinet is encrusted with red incandescent bulbs as well as being striped horizontally across its width edge with bars of red neon. The underside of the golden arches is also encrusted with yellow incandescent bulbs, while the faces of each arch is striped horizontally with neon bars as well bordered on the edges of the ace of the arch as well. The text McDonald's is spelled in white channel letters and lined on the interiors with white neon.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign animation: Oscillating, flashing
Notes: The incandescent bulbs located on the underside of the arches, as well as on the face of the sign oscillate rapidly, while the neon bars on the width of the sign and underneath chase each other from top to bottom. The neon bars, which comprise the face of the arches, chase each other also. The rest of the arch is dark as they start at the bottom of the middle point of the "M" shape. They chase each other until the surface of the sign is covered, and at this time they all flash off, then on, then off again before the entire sequence starts over.
Sign environment: It is an interesting section of the strip between the Showcase Pylon sign and the edge of the Cable Center shops. First, it is noticeably an interesting cross section of the Strip, because vicinity has three establishments which fit a specific genre of sign. The Fatburger, Walgreen's and McDonalds are properties which function in everyday America, but are suited up to be part of the neon charged appearance of this specific location. Not only are the establishments linked by nature to everyday America, but the face that a strip mall is added to the scenery, just adds to the point. The environment is a heavily pedestrian-accessed area, bombarded by the combination of all of the signage.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the McDonald's establishment is in the realm of the well-established McDonalds corporation. The golden arches, and solid red hue, have become synonymous with the name " McDonald's," and is an image, which has been communicated to the masses of people for half a century. It is an icon, which is associated with America all over the world. McDonalds has created it's own realm and thematic influence over the years from all of it's extensive advertisements and marketing. Therefore, the theme of the establishment's signs draws from itself and the world that the name has created. Being one of the most commonly seen images in America, this sign is tailored to fit into the illustrious, illuminative properties held on the Las Vegas Strip. It fits into the category of everyday images and businesses dressed up for Las Vegas, which include, Arby's, Arco AM/PM, Walgreen's, and Fatburger.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Oscillating; Flashing; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint

Mixed Content

Photographs of Arco ampm sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date

2002

Description

Daytime and nighttime views of the Arco ampm sign on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 2728 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: Amid the few smaller properties that compose the area north between the Circus Circus and Sahara Boulevard, the Arco AM/PM is located on the west side of the Strip between the Guiness/Arby's parking lot to the north and the Fantasia gift shop to the south. Like many other everyday institutions located on Las Vegas Blvd, it's roadside advertisement fits into the neon picture with ease. The structure itself is nothing like the treatment of the pylon, which sits on the eastern most edge of the property, in close proximity to the street. The actual mini-mart, customer facility is located in the background, on the western end of the lot, and faces east. The standard array of fuel pumps occupy the majority of the remaining space on the lot.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 4 Lighting 4 notes: The structure, surface and lighting all are around the same condition. Several neon bars have come loose at the base of one of the legs, and the neon on the north side of the pylon is not functioning properly. The surface of the sign is in good shape, in need of a thorough cleaning.
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The pylon sign for Arco AM/PM resides on the southeastern corner of the property, near the street, sitting in a planter of rocks. It sits on the west side of the strip, and faces north/south. The basic shape of the double-backed roadside pylon is a simple design, similar to any other sign at a typical gas station. Two square posts support a cabinet wider in diameter with the lettering and logos for the property. Between the two posts are three, descending, square, internally lit, message boards, advertising the price for gas. It stands in a bed of rocks, in close proximity to the street and faces north/south. The two legs are finished in a polished, silver, reflective surface. The three internally lit, white plastic, cabinets advertise for the prices of fuel, and begin approximately six feet or so from the ground up into open space inside the legs. At this height, neon wraps the poles, creating a pattern up the sides. Tubes of white neon wrap the three outer sides of the pole, repeating every two inches or so, striping the surface. The legs actually support two smaller cabinets stacked on top of each other to create a larger surface. The two cabinets are the same in general dimensions with the top section having rounded corners. The bottom cabinet is black on the exterior with the inner face a giant white channel pan lined horizontally with tubes of white neon. Two sets pan channels are set onto this field. The first is the two letters "am" and the other being the finishing portion "pm" The "am" section is painted two-tone orange and red, and the "pm" is a two-tone purple and blue. The letters are lined on the inside edge with neon. The white field is bordered in neon as well. The top cabinet is a blue pan channel lined horizontally with blue neon. White channel spell "Arco" in the middle of the field, and four triangular shapes converge to form the diamond shaped Arco symbol.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: Chasing
Sign environment: The fueling station resides on the northern edge of the strip before Sahara Avenue. Directly to the east, across the street is the Sahara Hotel Casino, but is flanked by smaller non-resort related properties. Along with the other two properties to the north and to the south, they seem as functional aspects for tourists and patrons of the larger properties of the Circus Circus and the Sahara. Almost dwarfed by the two nearby giants the properties can easily go unnoticed without the treatment of the illumination
Sign manufacturer: Larsen Sign
Sign - date of installation: 31758
Sign - thematic influences: The property and sign has no real thematic influence other than being an everyday facility influenced by its environment. The surroundings of abundant neon influence the sign to its treatment in order to have an impact.
Sign - artistic significance: The sign is significant artistically for it represents a piece of everyday life, dressed up to fit in on the Las Vegas Strip. The structure of a two-legged pylon so often seen at other non neon treated gas stations is the same, yet the coat of neon turns it into a unique piece of the Las Vegas strip. Other facilities seen with the same treatment are the Walgreen's, Arby's, McDonalds, and Fatburger.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Pylon; Neon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Graphics

Mixed Content

Postcard showing the Evey Well, circa 1908-1909

Date

1908 (year approximate)

Description

Men standing next to a drilling rig looking at the Evey Well.

Transcribed Notes: Transcribed from handwritten text on back of postcard: "Mr. Squires, you can make a [?] of this if you choose. Yours Truly, [?] Brown, The Evey Spout"

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