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Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino Neon Survey document, September 8, 2017

Date

2017-09-08

Description

Information about the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino sign that sits at 129 E Fremont St.
Site name: Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 129 E Fremont St
Sign owner: Landry's INC
Sign details: This location opened in 1946 by Guy McAfee, a vice captain with the LAPD. It was bought by Steve Wynn in 1973 and remodeled in 1984.
Sign condition: 5- their sign has stayed in good condition since its installation
Sign form: Architectural
Sign-specific description: Their original concept was an old west cowboy theme and design with a Gold rush inspiration. Steve Wynn remodeled for a modest, modern design to the building almost abandoning the original design and theme. Currently there are many logos of "GOLDEN NUGGET" channeled letters containing incandescent light bulbs that have some exterior skeletal neon surrounding the letters. There are also LED lights surrounding most of the top of the first floor of the building. Also above the entrances there is a satin-like metallic gold material.
Sign - type of display: Incandescent, LED and some neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Metallic gold material above entrances
Sign animation: Flashing Incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: Located Downtown Las Vegas in the hearth of the Fremont Street Experience, across from Binion's and the Four Queens.
Sign manufacturer: AD-ART(1988)
Sign - date of installation: 1988
Sign - date of redesign/move: Mid 1980's Steve Wynn remodeled from the YESCO Kermit Wayne 1961 design to the current facade is installed between 1984-87
Sign - thematic influences: The Gold coloring in the lights and the metallic section of the sign above their entrance showcase their modern twist on their old theme.
Survey - research locations: Ad Art contact, Charles Banard's The Magic Sign, Neon Museum tour outline , Vintage Vegas Website http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Golden+Nugget
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-08
Sign keywords: Architectural; Incandescent; LED; Neon; Steel; Flashing

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McDonald's Neon Survey document, September 17, 2017

Date

2017-09-17

Description

Information about the McDonald's sign that sits at 3475 S Las Vegas Blvd.
Site address: 3475 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Mcdonalds Restaurant of NV 04873 Mcdonalds USA, LLC and Harrah's Las Vegas LLC
Sign details: Part of Harrahs property
Sign condition: 5 - great condition, fully functional seems well kept up
Sign form: Back to Back architectural sign
Sign-specific description: Large arch that rests on the side of the building playing off the name "golden arches" for Mcdonald's, a small cabinet sits on the middle of the sign with the full name of Mcdonalds and a small M on the edge of the cabinet. The arch is yellow covered in yellow neon tubing, the cabinet is red with white lettering for the name, the name in white, small M is yellow. The Neon tubing is animated in the sense it will flash on and off and then chase up the arch towards the building, the words and the M stay lit at all times. The sign is on even during the day as shown in many youtube videos. It also has a red base on the sidewalk where guests walk by with another small M in yellow. It looks like the lettering for Mcdonald's and the M are made of plastic and are internally lit.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent bulbs
Sign - media: Steel, fiberglass/plastic
Sign animation: Yes, neon flashes on and off then chases up the archway to meet in the middle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQcsd2-GdfY&t=2922s (21 minutes in)
Sign environment: Casino Resorts
Sign - thematic influences: No particular theme except for a play on the name "Golden Arches", probably made to look like the rest of the large neon signs on the strip, their take on "Las Vegas Signage".
Sign - artistic significance: Typical large and bright las vegas signage
Survey - research locations: Museum
Survey - other remarks: Almost no information on this location
Surveyor: Danny Jacobs
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-17
Sign keywords: Architectural; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Fiberglass; Plastic; Flashing; Chasing; Back to back

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Silver Nugget Neon Survey document, August 17, 2017

Date

2017-08-17

Description

Information about the Silver Nugget sign that sits at 2140 N Las Vegas Blvd.
Site name: Silver Nugget Casino (North Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 2140 N Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Lucky Silver Gaming
Sign details: Opened 1964 in North Las Vegas. This property also contains a Bowling Alley and an event center.
Sign condition: 4, looks that it needs to be cleaned and touched up.
Sign form: Super Pylon
Sign-specific description: There is a large fiberglass Silver Nugget on top of the sign that reads "Silver Nugget". Grey and white background with White channeled lettering with exterior skeletal neon and incandescent light bulbs contained in the letters. Below is a reader board.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent light bulbs
Sign - media: Fiberglass, plastic and steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Fiberglass for scuptural element and plastic for reader board
Sign animation: Flasher used for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This is located in North Las Vegas near fast food restaurants, residential areas and the North Las Vegas Library.
Sign - thematic influences: Silver Nugget Representative of old west style of themes and casinos. Along the lines of Golden Nugget and similar properties.
Sign - artistic significance: This casino opened in the same year as Jerry's Nugget and both had the same concept of the nugget in their signage. Though the fiberglass silver nugget is more remnant of Kermit Wayne's 1961 Golden Nugget bull nose sign that featured a fiberglass nugget.
Survey - research locations: Silver Nugget Casino website http://silvernuggetlv.com/
Survey - research notes: The website was the only helpful avenue of research on this property.
Survey - other remarks: The Neon Museum does have one of their older fiberglass Silver Nuggets in the Boneyard.
Surveyor: Wyatt Currie-Diamond
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-17
Sign keywords: Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Fiberglass; Plastic; Steel; Sculptural; Flashing; Reader board

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US Motel Neon Survey document, August 13, 2017

Date

2017-08-13

Description

Information about the US Motel sign that sits at 2500 Fremont St.
Site address: 2500 Fremont St
Sign owner: Catish T C 2006 Liv, Tr - Kootish & Chalung Trs
Sign details: 0.65 acre lot original constructed in 1954
Sign condition: 4 - decent condition, some rust, broken neon stars, repainted July 2017 by owners, some sun damage on reader board.
Sign form: Architectural sign (ontop of building) single sided
Sign-specific description: The architectural sign that is perched on top of the building is single sided except for the reader board that gives more info on the motel, details of reader board is painted on. Half of reader board is painted - the right side is left unpainted. Pole sign has the word "Motel" reading up and down surrounded by skeleton neon tubing, with the word ".U.S." on top of the pole with stars as the dots, skeletal neon on that as well. US MOTEL is only one sides where as the reader board is double sided. At night the word "MOTEL" would light up red with white neon outlining each letter. The stars around the U and S at the top would glow bright yellow, the "U" and "S" would glow with blue circles (unknown if neon or colored bulbs) with a yellow outline. The stars next to the word "MOTEL" light up a pale blue outline.
Sign - type of display: Neon and possible incandescent
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign environment: Motel is surrounded by other motels, stores and restaurants.
Sign - date of installation: c. 1955
Sign - date of redesign/move: Repaint July 2017
Sign - thematic influences: Patriotic
Survey - research locations: Motel site, assessor's office website
Survey - research notes: Approached owner behind front desk, he was unsure of origin of the sign, nor what company he had repaint the sign.
Surveyor: Danny Jacobs
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-13
Sign keywords: Architectural; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Reader board; Pole sign; Roof Sign

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Valley Motel Neon Survey document, October 1, 2017

Date

2017-10-01

Description

Information about the Valley Motel sign that sits at 1313 E Fremont St.
Site address: 1313 E Fremont St
Sign details: This location was around in 1957 with a Vegas Vic Sign (picture found on Vintage Vegas). Their original sign was still up in the 1980's. Currently the motel is gated up and has been shut down for a while and most of their sign is gone.
Sign condition: 1- most of it is gone
Sign form: Roadside sign
Sign-specific description: This sign in current years before it was totally stripped had the "VALLEY MOTEL" on a blue plastic sign that stated Vegas Motel. Though now all that is left is the reader board portion. The original sign that was up in the 50's had Vegas Vic on it.
Sign - type of display: Reader Board and Plastic backlit sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader board and plastic
Sign environment: This location is down on the east side of Fremont Street near Maryland Pkwy. This location has many other older motels down close to it.
Sign - date of redesign/move: Sign must have changed from the older one to the reader board one in 90's or early 2000's, and in 2016 was when the lettering on the sign was taken down.
Sign - thematic influences: The old sign had Vegas Vic was staying true to the downtown 1950's Vegas neon design and theme.
Survey - research locations: Vintage Las Vegas website http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Valley+Motel , Google maps satellite and roadside view. Could not find information on the assessor's page.
Survey - research notes: Vintage Las Vegas had pictures of the original sign with the address which helped since I could not find the Valley Motel on the Assessor's page. Then google maps roadside view helped with seeing the change in the condition of the sign. Now the only part of the sign left is the reader board portion of the sign.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-10-01
Sign keywords: Plastic; Backlit; Steel; Reader board; Roadside

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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

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Photographs of Downtowner Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017

Date

2017-06-28
2017-09-06

Description

The Downtowner Motel sign sits at 129 North Eighth Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 129 N 8th St
Sign owner: Robert and Ada Cohen
Sign details: Original Construction year of this building was 1935 and maintains the Art Deco design to the building. This location was originally built for a motel or apartments, but has mainly been used for motels since its construction.
Sign condition: 5- In great condition and looks as though it may have been restored or repainted recently because of how good it looks
Sign form: Double sided Porte Cochere (Facing both sides of the street)
Sign-specific description: This sign is above their two story building, as used as a directional sign for the tunnel passageway to the parking lot since there is a linear arrow pointing diagonally from the top of the sign to where the drivers would need to go. This arrow is lined with chasing incandescent light bulbs. To building side of the arrow there is a long thin red parallel trapezoid that spells out "MOTEL" in a painted white block font that is lined with Skeletal Neon that illuminates red at night. Underneath this one about a foot down is another long thin red parallel trapezoid that has white painted letters stating "Downtowners APTS." the downtowner part is a cursive font that illuminates blue at night,a and the Apts. part is in block letter that illuminates red at night.
Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent light bulbs
Sign - media: Steel
Sign animation: Chasing
Notes: incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: This location is on N 8th Street just a few blocks north of the Fremont Street East District, but near Ogden.
Sign - date of installation: Roadside Architecture website http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas2.html says it has been there since at least the mid 1960's
Sign - thematic influences: This sign is remnant of the vintage motorcade motel signs that one could see along any highway during the traveling era of the 50's/60's.
Sign - artistic significance: The arrow is reminiscent of the 1950's/60's directional arrows.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Roadside Architecture http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas2.html , Downtowner Motel website http://downtownerlv.com/
Survey - research notes: The building showcases remnants of Art deco style and mid-century modern architectural styles. The panels in between the doors/windows have the art deco design and then the canopies above the windows and doorways have a mid-century modern curvilinear canopies.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-06
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Chasing; Directional; Pole sign

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Photographs of Don't Tell Mama signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017

Date

2017-06-28
2017-08-14

Description

Photos show the signs for Don't Tell Mama at 517 Fremont Street Suite 110 in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 517 Fremont St
Sign owner: Assessor's page stated T-Breo II LLC (possibly owner of the property, but no owner of the bar/business was found.
Sign details: Don't Tell Mama originally opened in 2008/9 as a New York style piano bar. The name is inspired by the 1966 song "Don't Tell Mama" in the Broadway show "Cabaret". They are known for their bartenders that double as entertainers as well as having open mic every night.
Sign condition: 3- The sign does show some aging and some of the neon piano keys currently do not work
Sign form: Hanging sign and entrance sign
Sign-specific description: The hanging sign is a rectangle sign is outlined in red neon with lower case letters "don't tell mama" is spelt out in a painted white font, but at night the letters are in red cursive skeletal neon. Below the font there is a piano key design. On the building right above the entrance the sign is an image of a closed grand piano neon sign. The body of the piano during the day has blue tubes and illuminates blue at night. Some of the keys are blue and others are red. Both signs are also plastic back lit so people can see the black and white piano keys with the neon on top of it.
Sign - type of display: Neon and backlit plastic
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit sign
Sign animation: There may have been animation with the neon piano keys lighting up to look like the piano was being played but since many of these keys are not working it can not be confirmed.
Sign environment: Located in the East Fremont District in between Las Vegas blvd and 6th St. This bar has the Beauty Bar to the west of it and Le Thai restaurant to the east. Across the street is Therapy and the Emergency Arts center.
Sign manufacturer: Valley Signs and Lighting
Sign - date of installation: Sign has been up since at least 2014
Sign - thematic influences: The sign portrays the New York piano bar vibe they are going for, and since Neon is and was prominent New York it plays along with their theme as well.
Sign - artistic significance: Piano bars were prominent in the 1950's.
Survey - research locations: Don't Tell Mama website http://www.donttellmama.com/Dont_Tell_Mama/About.html, Asessor's page
Survey - research notes: There is a Don't Tell Mama in New York, but did not find an affiliation or a real connection.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-14
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Hanging; Building-front design; Fascia; Cantilever construction

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Photograph of Therapy restaurant sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017

Date

2017-06-28
2017-08-06

Description

The sign for Therapy sits at 518 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 518 Fremont St
Sign owner: Jared Weiss and Sig Rogich (Motion Corp)
Sign details: The building is from 1951, so within the restaurant there are exposed bricks and wood ceiling from the original building. Therapy restaurant opened in 2015 as a gastropub with Daniel Octiveas as the chef. Previous to turning into the Therapy restaurant this location held a Dollar Store.
Sign condition: 5, a newer sign still in very good condition
Sign form: Hanging sign and entrance sign
Sign-specific description: Pink lettering. The T is a solid print type font, then the rest of the letters are in cursive. There is a period at the end of the word Therapy. Each individual letter is in its own channeled block to contain the light for each letter. Also above their door there is a small black rectangular sign with the Therapy logo (same manufacturing style as the letters previously noted). There is a pink arrow starting from the farthest (from the entrance) top of the sign pointing towards the entrance. On this arrow there are sparking incandescent light bulbs.
Sign - type of display: Neon and Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel
Sign animation: Flasher for Incandescent light bulbs on the arrow to show the entrance of the property.
Sign environment: This property is in between 6th and Las Vegas Blvd. on the North side of Fremont St. This district in the past few years has shaped into its own creative and artsy area.
Sign manufacturer: Vision Signs
Sign designer: Gerrit Blok and Rob McGuire
Sign - date of installation: 2015 when the restaurant opened
Sign - thematic influences: The sign above the door has the arrow which was a popular trend in 1950s signs with the car consumer era, but also helps with the pedestrian traffic on Fremont St.
Sign - artistic significance: The simple yet beautiful cursive font shows that there is simplicity and elegance. Also the arrow above the entrance could be a hint of subliminal messaging, as well as a great direction indicator. The channeled letters shows how to capture illumination compared to skeletal Neon.
Survey - research locations: Therapy website http://www.therapylv.com/ , Las Vegas Weekly Article https://lasvegasweekly.com/dining/reviews/2015/aug/12/therapy-downtown-restaurant-review-fremont-east/ , Acessor's office, discussion with owner and contact with Vision signs
Survey - research notes: Eater Las Vegas (2015 article) shows cool pictures of the building being renovated. https://vegas.eater.com/2015/6/25/8845981/las-vegas-restaurants-therapy#5
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-06
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Flashing; Hanging; Building-front design; Fascia; Cantilever construction

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Photographs of Vanguard Lounge sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017

Date

2017-06-28
2017-08-11

Description

The Vanguard Lounge sits at 516 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Sheet.
Site address: 516 Fremont St
Sign owner: Andrew and Jennifer Wheatley
Sign details: The building was originally constructed in 1951. Previously to the lounge opening it was Fremont Street Guitars. Andrew and Jennifer Wheatley opened the lounge in 2010 after 30 years of experience together in the industry. This trendy bar has Modern-Industrial Decor, as you can see with their black building with a glass garage door entrance.
Sign condition: 5- newer sign that lights up brightly at night
Sign form: Hanging sign
Sign-specific description: Right above the entrance is a black canopy, but at night a white neon tube illuminates the perimeter of the canopy. The canopy also showcases their street address 516 in white channeled numbers. Above the canopy there is a beam which acts as a support for their main sign. Their main sign is a black rectangle which is also attached to the building. The sign states Vanguard Lounge in white skeletal neon letters. The word Vanguard is in a thick block-type print letters. Lounge is written in a smaller but similar type-font.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign environment: This is located in the Fremont East district in between Las Vegas Blvd. and 6th St. This locations storefront is located in between the Therapy restaurant and Red dance club (used to be the old Coin Insert bar).
Sign manufacturer: Valley Signs and Lighting
Sign - date of installation: 2010
Sign - date of redesign/move: Vanguard used the old sign box that the previous company used and added their logo in neon in 2010.
Sign - thematic influences: The skeletal neon showcases a simple yet classic design. It also showcases the Modern trendy vibe.
Sign - artistic significance: The sign does have a modern vibe but is staying true to the Neon culture of downtown.
Survey - research locations: Vanguard lounge website http://www.vanguardlv.com/vanguard_lounge_venue , Las Vegas Sun https://lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/20/vanguard-lounge-opens-fremont-street/ , Assessor's page
Survey - research notes: Definition of Vanguard is a group of people leading the way in new developments/ideas. This is possibly alluding to their theme of being different than the other bars downtown. Coincidentally there was a dance club in L.A. also called Vanguard, but no connection found between the properties besides their modern dance vibes.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Hanging; Pole sign; Roof Sign

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