Includes meeting agenda and minutes. CSUN Session 15 Meeting Minutes and Agendas.

The Rummel Motel sits north of The Strip at 1809 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1809 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Yeh Chia-Hong
Sign details: The motel was founded by Marvin Rummel in 1945 (VintageLasVegas, n.d.), although the Clark County Assessor lists the original construction year as 1951 (Assessor, n.d.). Undated vintage postcards, one describing the motel as "new" (Rummel Motel, 1809 So. 5th St. U.S. 91 - L.A. Highway Las Vegas, Nevada original vintage postcard, n.d.) show that a two-story building was later added to the back of the motor court (VintageLasVegas). The addition may explain the discrepancy in construction dates. The Roles family purchased the property in 1958 (VintageLasVegas; Noted bowler, hotel owner dies, 2002). Ralph Roles also operated the Del Mar Motel (the Del Mar's sign, designed by Betty Willis, is now at the Neon Museum). A vintage postcard from 1958 shows that motel was endorsed by the Automobile Association of America and another automobile club (Garofalo, 2011). The motel was severely damaged by fire on April 30 2017 (VintageLasVegas; Hershkovitz, 2017) and is currently closed.
Sign condition: The condition is 2, fair. The lower portion of the cabinet is dented and access panels are damaged or missing. The upper portions of the cabinet display numerous metal patches. The plastic on the reader board has holes. The remaining neon tubing appears to be intact. All incandescent light bulbs are missing.
Sign form: Pylon sign
Sign-specific description: The sign is supported by a rectangular blue metal pylon. A blue metal-framed reader board and orange metal upper cabinet are cantilevered out from the pylon toward the street. In the center of the upper cabinet is an amoeba-shaped area which is painted black and outlined by white skeleton neon. Inside the black amoeba are individual cursive letters which spell out "Rummel Motel" in white paint traced by white skeleton neon. Atop the upper cabinet is a smaller orange metal cabinet which is wing-shaped. Above the wing is a blue metal circle. Inside the channel of the circle are six concentric circles of empty light sockets. On the outside of the circle is a semi-circular metal frame which holds five white skeleton neon five-pointed stars.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent and reader board
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Incandescent light bulbs and a reader board
Sign environment: This is located on Las Vegas Boulevard South just north of the Las Vegas Strip
Sign - date of installation: The current sign dates back to at least 1958, but probably is not the original motel sign. A vintage postcard shows that before the two-story addition, the motel had a simple double pole sign with the name "Rummel Motel" enclosed by an open oval (Rummel Motel, 1809 So. 5th St. U.S. 91 - L.A. Highway Las Vegas, Nevada original vintage postcard, n.d.). The colors, lettering style and oval shape of the former sign appear to have inspired the design of the sign seen in a postcard from 1958 (Garofalo, 2011). The latter sign, with heavy modification, is the sign seen on the property today. The sign as currently configured is recognizable in a postcard from the late 1950's or early 1960's (Las Vegas motels then and now, n.d.).
Sign - date of redesign/move: The circa 1958 sign (Garofalo, 2011) was supported by double poles. The pole on the street side of the sign can still be seen on the upper cabinet, but it no longer reaches to the ground. The pole on the motel side of the sign ran from the ground toward the center of the sign, and then doglegged inward toward the motel to support the sign from the side. That pole appears to be the same one now enclosed by the pylon. The shadow of the pole can be seen inside the current reader board, which was a later addition attached below the circa 1958 sign. Automobile club shields at the bottom of the circa 1958 sign have been removed. A black metal directional arrow pointing toward the motel from the street side of the sign has also been removed. A circular white or light yellow metal cabinet with concentric rows of incandescent lightbulbs in the interior and a semi-circle of neon stars on the exterior has been moved from the top of the former directional arrow to the top of the wing-shaped cabinet. The circa 1958 wing-shaped cabinet was flush with the street side of the sign and contained skeleton neon which advertised, "HEATED POOL". The current wing-shaped cabinet contains no neon and has been pushed to the center of the sign. The lower cabinet of the circa 1958 sign was painted orange and black, which is now all orange. The amoeba shape was painted blue and is now black. Below the amoeba were skeleton neon letters which spelled out, "NO VACANCY" and "24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE". The neon is now gone. A small black metal cabinet attached at the bottom of the sign contained what appear to be either painted or skeleton neon letters which state, "COOLED BY REFRIGERATION". That portion of the sign is now gone.
Sign - thematic influences: This sign showcases 1950's and 1960's Googie trends. This also conveys earlier motor court designs in the building and the sign.
Survey - research locations: Clark County Assessor, Parcel No. 162-03-310-007, Retrieved from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/PropertyRecords.aspx?H=redrock&P=assrrealprop/pcl.aspx Garofalo, M. (2011 November 2). Still standing-Rummel Motel. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/vintageroadtrip/6304823598/ Hershkovitz, R. (2017 April 30). Fire damages vacant downtown Las Vegas motel. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/fire-damages-vacant-downtown-las-vegas-motel/ Las Vegas motels-Then and now. (n.d.). Rummel Motel. Retrieved from http://stefanidrivesvegas.com/8.html Noted bowler, motel owner Roles dies. (2002 July 30). Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/jul/30/noted-bowler-motel-owner-roles-dies/ RoadsideArchitecture. (n.d.) The Rummel Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas3.html Rummel Motel, 1809 So. 5th St. U.S. 91 - L.A. Highway Las Vegas, Nevada original vintage postcard. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Rummel-Motel-1809-So-U-S/dp/B00P9LEQCS VintageLasVegas. (n.d.). Rummel Motel. Retrieved from http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/160953547509/rummel-motel-1809-s-las-vegas-blvd-built-by
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-18
Sign keywords: Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Reader board; Plastic; Steel

Includes meeting agenda and minutes. CSUN Session 28 Meeting Minutes and Agendas.

Daytime and nighttime views of the Gameworks' signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3785 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: Game Works is located on the underground level of The Showcase Plaza, which is also home to such establishments as M&M World and the Show case theatres. Two small gateway pylons for the Game Works center, stand on other side of staircases that lead to the underground facility. Just east of there a large wall front design hands approximately nine feet above the ground on the structure of the mall.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 4 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: The large wall marquee that reads GAMEWORKS in all capitals, utilizes deep, yellow, steel, channel letters painted black on the exteriors. The slightly arched sign is on the West wall of the building, facing West from the East side of the strip. The interior of the text contains double rows of yellow neon. The cabinet, which the words sit upon, is a black steel cabinet shadowing the individual letters in one cabinet. The backing cabinet itself is illuminated from its interior, with middle section of the width of the cabinet is made of a steel grating. This function allows the blue neon on the inside to cast a blue glowing halo seen from the exterior. Sitting on top of the right hand side of the marquee are two steel boxes manufactured into the shape of a male and female figure dashing to the end of the sign. These figures are made of black steel box like formations while retaining a cartoon-ish silhouette. Their posture suggests motion or running. These figures are constructed in the same fashion as the black cabinet, which the text is supported upon. They too are glowing with the blue interior neon halo. In front of the large wall sign are the two, single sided, gateway pylons. They serve as markers for the stairs that lead the underground facility. They sit on either end of the large channel cut into the sidewalk. One faces South on the South entrance, and one faces North at the North end. The signage is actually a smaller replica of the large building front logo. The same interior lit cabinet supports the same design of yellow channel letters, with the backing "shadow" cabinet. A difference between the larger and smaller cabinets is that the cabinets are surfaced with the grated material. The only difference in the channel letters besides their obvious discrepancy in size, is that single rows of neon comprise the interior of the channel letters. On either side of the sign, two, "space age" themed posts provide support. They are topped with a sculpted cylindrical fashion capital. The bases for which they are attached to the concrete with, are blue in color. The actual shaft of the pole is made of several smaller pipes, with a plastic cylindrical tube in the center. Inside this tube is a string of attached incandescent bulbs running vertically. Below the text, suspended with two rods, is an oval shaped, aluminum cabinet. In the face of the cabinet there are the words "cafe" and "lounge" painted in blue. Over the painted text is blue neon. From both sides of the sign, the blue neon scrawl is visible Separating the two words is a black circle with a red neon rectangular shape in the center. The ends of the cabinet are made small circular cabinets approximately seven inches in diameter.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic; Fiberglass
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign animation: none
Sign environment: The Game Works facility is located directly across the street from the pedestrian "Brooklyn Bridge" element of the New York New York and sit is the shadow of the MGM super pylon. The vibrant yellow of the sign do stand out as distinct among the tremendous and attractive signage of the Showcase plaza. The large channel cut into the sidewalk, along with its large surrounding counterparts, makes the entrance reminiscent of that of a subway. The plaza itself is self-contained and while standing along the front a person is enveloped in the plaza without being distracted by the rest of the strip itself. The large signage looms over a pedestrian while walking by, or shouts at you while sitting along the shrub filled flowerbeds.
Sign - thematic influences: The actual theme of the sign is correspondent to that of the business, which the sign advertises. The property is an interactive gaming facility and lounge. The use of the glow of a monitor or computer screen. The polished aluminum poles supporting the gateways are reminiscent of the futuristic, or "space-age" theming associated with the classic representations of science fiction in movies and television throughout the twentieth century. Such examples of this classic representations may be seen in television programs from the past like "Lost in Space," or even literary descriptions in Orson Well's "War of The Worlds" of Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles" The combination of materials along with the innovative use of lighting also suggests electricity and digital elements which associate with the function of the facility.
Sign - artistic significance: If not significant for simply combining different elements to create a completely self-contained sign, it fits into the movement in Las Vegas's history , which is geared more toward the family. Not only the space that it occupies, but also the function itself in intended to attract young people if not children into it domain. It is an obvious standout for the vote to make Las Vegas move toward a more family oriented town. Aesthetically the signage is modern innovation on a classic design.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Fiberglass; Paint

Photos show Monte Carlo signs during the day. 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: Monte Carlo Resort and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Mandalay Resort Group (50%), MGM Mirage (50%)-Mandalay manages the property
Sign details: The Monte Carlo is located on the west side of the strip just past the New York New York. The signage on the front of the Monte Carlo is limited, with the dominant honors going to the architectural aspects instead. The front facade is made to represent the classical architecture actually found in Monte Carlo. Giant patina fountains are flanked by sweeping staircases, where giant recessed arches and niches hold an abundant array of diversely positioned statuary.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: Through the main arch behind the fountain, located on the south east corner, an entrance is guarded from above by black channel letters spelling "Monte Carlo" and filled with incandescent bulbs. This entrance faces southeast. The architecture continues with relief entablature upon fluted columns supporting Corinthian caps, and more statuary. Light posts adorn the sweeping walk in front of the property. Throughout the architecture you can see pools and fountains contained between arches and recessed into other area. Another entrance in the same fashion as the southeast entrance sits facing northeast. Another set of channel letters is set above these doors as well. Just north of the last entrance is the pylon for the Monte Carlo. The pylon fits into the category commonly seen at resorts such as The Mirage, or Luxor. Essentially a giant rectangle in its general silhouette, a multi leveled collection of signs are designated into geometrical planes by the use of classical architectural elements. The sign is at the north end of the Monte Carlo property and faces north/south, and is double sided. The bottom half of the structure is occupied by a tall arch, creating a pedestrian element, allowing passage through the sign. The two legs that flank the arch are created utilizing a pair of double columns supporting a series of crowned ledges supporting yet another architectural element of a pilaster. The resultant effect is two rather massive collections of elements creating the outer legs of columns, combined with pilasters, for the recessed borders of the impressive arch. Above the arch the cabinet rises up divided into two planes, one on top of the other, each holding a message cabinet with a pair of the square post as seen on the structure just below. It creates another pilaster from the front with rows of stacked columns on the structures width. The two arrangements are identical in structure and facade. The difference lies in the different types of display each on holds. The top is a back lit color advertisement currently for magician Lance Burton, while the bottom is an LED matrix screen . The top is an entablature crowned with sweeping overhangs, and containing the text Monte Carlo in black channel letters and filled with incandescent bulbs. The signage on the towers of the hotel are the repeated Monte Carlo logos in giant black channel letters, and filled with incandescent bulbs. On each face of each one of the wings Monte Carlo is spelled in it's trademark text, in black channel letters and filled with incandescent bulbs.
Sign - type of display: Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign animation: Oscilllating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the channel letters oscillate, at the entrances on the building as well.
Sign environment: The environment the Monte Carlo creates with its various forms of advertisement abruptly changes in aesthetic contrast to its southern companion and precursor to the northbound traveler. One minute the pedestrian is listening to the nasal audio streaming from the ESPN Zone loudspeakers, to the delicately ornate facade of the Monte Carlo's fountains and highly detailed statuary. Once you cross the drive it is not hard to be attracted the by classical architecture which serves its purpose of bringing in the patron with the limited space utilized for pedestrian passage across the front. I say limited, even though it is one of the more ornate and expansive ones, that is in comparison to its related properties of the Mirage and the Bellagio. The use of architecture makes the utmost use of this great strength of aesthetic by making it interactive for the pedestrian by allowing them to pass up close to the elements while entering the building or traversing the facade. The two giant wings on either end of the property act as arms to pull in people using swooping steps and large fountains. The signage is integrated into this environment, blending in nicely, in similar fashion as the previously mentioned examples. The oscillating incandescent bulbs can be found inside the channel letters, which is the most common animation seen in this type of signage in the other properties as well.
Sign - date of installation: 1995
Sign - thematic influences: The Monte Carlo theme is that of an understated European elegance.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Oscillating; Pylon; Fascia; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic

Includes meeting minutes and agenda.