Pictured L-R: Las Vegas Mayor Oran K. Gragson, his wife Bonnie, with Mrs. Ed Sullivan, and Mr. Ed Sullivan. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan (September 28, 1901 – October 13, 1974) was an American television personality, sports and entertainment reporter, and longtime syndicated columnist for the New York Daily News. He is principally remembered as the creator and host of the television variety program The Toast of the Town, later popularly—and, eventually, officially—renamed The Ed Sullivan Show. Broadcast for 23 years from 1948 to 1971, it set a record as the longest-running variety show in US broadcast history. "It was, by almost any measure, the last great TV show," proclaimed television critic David Hinckley. "It's one of our fondest, dearest pop culture memories."
John Foley is the youngest of five sons bora to Roger T. and Helen Foley. John's grandfather, Thomas L. Foley was an early transplant to Nevada when he headed for Goldfield in 1907. By 1910 Grandfather Foley had persuaded his son Roger T. to move west - it was a boom time. Roger who was finishing law school in Chicago passed both the Nevada and California bar exams in 1911. Two years later he married Helen who he knew from Chicago and with that launch a legal dynasty in southern Nevada: Roger, Thomas, George, Joseph and John. Each son would enjoy participating successfully in the history of Las Vegas. In this series of interviews, John shares his personal accomplishments as well as mentions his brothers contributions and service to the community. He talks about being young men, his brothers going off to war, the part-time jobs made available by the ever changing landscape of the area, new jobs and growth. He attended Fifth Street Elementary School and Las Vegas High School, actively encouraged the creation of the Boyd Law School at UNLV, and was elected a Nevada State Senator among many other activities as well as being father to his six children. John witnessed Las Vegas outgrowing its "little sister to Reno" role and now enjoys bragging that a fourth generation of Foleys lives in Las Vegas, many of whom carry on the family tradition of being lawyers.
Information about the Lucky Cuss sign that sits at 3305 Fremont St. Site address: 3305 Fremont St Sign owner: D B N G LLC Sign details: This property was originally the Panorama Motel, which opened in the 1950's. However, the signage later changed to fit the Lucky Cuss Motel. It was removed from the property in 2008. In 2012, the old sign was restored by the Neon Museum and placed on Las Vegas Boulevard. The replacement sign is still at the property. Sign condition: 5 - appears to be well maintained Sign form: Roadside pole Sign-specific description: The sign at the property is a rectangular cabinet, with the edges at the top rounded off. The background of the cabinet is red, and the outline is blue. The words "Lucky Cuss" are white in a stylized front, and the word "Motel" in larger, block white lettering. On the side of the cabinet is the address 3305. Sign - type of display: Neon Sign - media: Steel Sign environment: Property is on Fremont St, near a car dealership and other motels Sign - date of installation: c. 2008 Sign - thematic influences: The sign does keep some of the original elements of the first sign, the 1950s era stylized font and simple outlines of neon. Sign - artistic significance: The sign, although new, does throwback to the original's 1950s creation date. Survey - research locations: Assessor's website, roadarch.com Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro Survey - date completed: 2017-09-14 Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Pole sign; Roadside