Search Results
Photograph of Donn Arden with Renee Fraday, Paris (FRA), 1985
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Image
Work continues on the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center as seen from Convention Center Drive with the Circus Circus hotel and casino in the background, looking west-northwest in Las Vegas, Nevada: digital photograph
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Photographed as part of the UNLV Special Collections and Archives' Building Las Vegas collecting initiative started in 2016. This photo series documents ongoing construction work at the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion site.
Image
Helen Mott Cecil oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Helen Mott Cecil conducted by Claytee D. White on April 24, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Helen Mott Cecil discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Westside, including seeing the Helldorado parades and Hoover (Boulder Dam). She also discusses working for Farmers Home Association and in the medical care and entertainment industry during the 1930s. She then discusses her divorce and other topics like the atomic bomb testing, the bus system, and downtown Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Aruba Hotel (Thunderbird) Neon Survey document, August 30, 2017
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Site name: Thunderbird Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 1215 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: 1215 Las Vegas Blvd LLC; C.F. Saticoy, LP
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1964 (Assessor). A vintage postcard from 1967 shows the Lotus Inn Motel and a Sambo's restaurant (VintageVegas.com, 2017). The hotel was renamed the Monte Carlo Inn in 1979, but reverted in the 1980's to the Lotus Inn (VintageVegas, 2017). In 1985, it became the Tally Ho (VintageVegas). Casino owner Bob Stupak renamed it the Thunderbird in 1986 or 1987 (VintageVegas). Stupak proposed building 15-story, $400 million resort hotel called the Titanic on the site, but vocal opposition from residents of the nearby John S. Park neighborhood and a trademark controversy derailed the project (Knightly, 2014). The property was renamed the Aruba Hotel in the early 2000's and became the Thunderbird in 2016 (O'Brien, 2016; VintageVegas). As of April 2017, a 15-story residential building was planned for the site (Carter, 2017).
Sign condition: Condition is 5, excellent. The lower portion of the sign is wrapped in plastic. The exposed upper portion of the sign shows the cabinet, paint and neon all in new condition. All of the neon tubes are intact and functioning.
Sign form: Blade
Sign-specific description: The lower portion of the rectangular metal cabinet is wrapped in black plastic. "THUNDERBIRD" is spelled out in white blocks and red serif letters which run vertically down both sides of the plastic wrap. The upper portion of the cabinet is exposed. The cabinet is topped by a bird shape facing the street. The bird and visible part of the rectangular cabinet are painted forest green. Both sides of the bird are covered in white, blue, pink, yellow and green skeleton neon. Underneath the bird , a horizontal yellow skeleton neon tube is visible.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign environment: Las Vegas Blvd north of the Strip. Property is surrounded by other motels and wedding chapels.
Sign - date of installation: c. 2007
Sign - thematic influences: Tropical, Caribbean and Old Vegas. The parrot on top of the sign closely resembles the symbol of the former Thunderbird hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The property has used the Thunderbird name intermittently since the 1980's, even when it was the Aruba hotel and the word "THUNDERBIRD" appeared over an "Aruba" sign. (Vegas24Seven, 2012)
Survey - research locations: Assessor's website
Survey - research notes: Carter, J. (2017 April 27). Fights are brewing over a proposed 15-story building downtown. Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved from https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/apr/27/fights-are- brewing-over- proposed-building- downtown/ Knightly, A. M. (2014 August 31). A history of landmarks never built. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/a-history- of-landmarks- never-built/ O'Brien, J. (2016 January 21). Thunderbird Hotel reopening with former Arts Factory owner at helm. Retrieved from http://vegasseven.com/2016/01/21/thunderbird-hotel- reopens/ http://www.vegas24seven.com/substance-cd- release-sinicle- the-great- circuiting-mechanical- death-a- sinners-confession- at-the- aruba-hotel- saturday-june- 30th/ Vegas24Seven.com. (2012). Substance CD Release, Sinicle, The Great Circuiting, Mechanical Death, A Sinners Confession at The Aruba Hotel Saturday June 30th . Retrieved from Vintage Vegas. (2017 February 16). Archive: Lotus Inn Motel, c. 1967. Retrieved from http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/157345077754/lotus-inn- las-vegas Zeitzer, I. (2007 June 29). On The One, The Aruba Hotel " Las Vegas, NV- 6/22. Retrieved from http://www.jambands.com/reviews/shows/2007/06/29/on-the- one-the- aruba-hotel- las-vegas- nv-6-22#ixzz4rBUwxlkh
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-30
Sign keywords: Blade; Neon; Steel
Text
Cox, Norma
Norma Cox was born July 18, 1925, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cox attended primary and secondary school in Las Vegas, Nevada, and attended college in Long Beach, California.
Cox was affiliated with the Nevada Test Site as an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Public Health Serice (PHS) Administrator.
Person
English, Donald E., 1926-
Donald "Don" E. English was born on April 13, 1926 in Oakland, California. Don married Flora on August 16, 1952 and they had two children: Gina and Kevin.
English went to high school and photographer school.
English was enlisted in the United States Air Corps.
English is a retired photographer formally employed as News Bureau Photo Coverage for the Nevada Test Site.
Person
Grier, Dorothy Jean
Dorothy Jeaan Grier (née Whitcomb) was born October 4, 1922 in Hayden, Indiana. Dorothy married Herbert E. Grier on September 5, 1954. Herbert had two children from a previous relationship, Joan Arnold and Herbert Grier III. Together they had their son David L. Grier.
Grier has a bachelor of arts degree in English and philosophy.
During World War II, Grier was a secretary for the Air Inspector at the United States Air Force.
Person
James, Donald David
Donald "Don" David James was born on March 10, 1933 in Erie, Colorado. Donald married Maxine M. on May 30, 1962 and they had one child: Kathleen Cook.
James graduated high school and attended on year of college at the Colorado State Colleg ein Greely, Colorado.
James was an environmental protection specialist for thr Nevada Test Site.
Person
Ciarlo, Dorothy Day
Dorothy Day Ciarlo was born December 16, 1933, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dorothy married James Ciarlo on August 11, 1963, and they have two children: Catherine Ciarlo and David Ciarlo.
Ciarlo obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago.
Ciarlo is a retired clinical psychologist. She worked in community mental health as a psychologist and clinical director and then worked in private clinical practice until her retirement.
Person