Search Results
Mary Leo interview, February 27, 1980: transcript
Date
1980-02-27
Archival Collection
Description
On February 27, 1980, Rafael Reyes-Spindola interviewed Mary Leo (b. Mary Susanne Kaime Leo in 1949 in Santa Barbara, California) about her life growing up in the Las Vegas Valley and her varied career path. Leo, having moved to Las Vegas as a toddler, talks about what the city was like when she arrived, the landscape, schooling and local life in general. She remembers the construction of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and the growth of the city and population. Through her anecdotes, Leo shares the local attitude towards the Strip that Las Vegans develop as a result of being raised in the city and focuses the beginning half of her interview on life outside of the Strip. The interviewer and Leo move their conversation towards her career path, beginning in a coffee shop at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, her time in the travel industry, as a Las Vegas showgirl in the famed Folies Bergere show, her return to the Riviera as the director of sales and catering, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind with her career.
Text
Meeting minutes for Consolidated Student Senate University of Nevada, Las Vegas, March 11, 2002
Date
2002-03-11
Archival Collection
Description
Includes meeting minutes.
Text
Photographs of Little Church of the West signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002
Date
2002
2017-08-02
Archival Collection
Description
Photos show Little Church of the West 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: Little Church of the West
Site address: 4617 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Greg Smith
Sign details: The Little Church of the West now resides on the south end of the Strip, along the east side among the smaller roadside hotels. Surrounded with pleasant landscaping the property is a charming and welcome sight among the more barren area of the strip.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 4 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: There are two specific signs which are significant to the property. The first being the double backed internally lit pylon roadside sign which sits on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd and faces east/west. The 10 feet at its widest, and thirty seven feet tall. The structure consists of a center pole upon which an internally lit plastic sculpted message board sits. Painted in an old west script upon the plastic are the words "Little Church Of The West Wedding Chapel," with painted scrollwork on the top and the bottom of the plane. The entire message board is bordered in neon. Sitting on top of the message cabinet is a small, sculpted apse and bell. The original sign from its original construction still exists atop the actual structure of the Little Church of the West. It is an image of a cross outlined in white neon.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: none
Sign environment: The property sits among the dying roadside motel environment of the South end of Las Vegas Blvd It stands as on of the properties that is still in good repair. The pleasant landscaping and grass provide a pleasant establishment among the southern strip. It seems to capture the environment it has always tried to attain, of the picturesque country church.
Sign manufacturer: Larsen Sign
Sign - date of installation: It was originally part of William J. Moore's Last Frontier Village, which was assembled in the late 1950's. The current pylon sign was manufactured in 1996.
Sign - date of redesign/move: Originally, it resided in the Las Frontier until it was demolished in 1954. The Little Church of the West stood approximately in the spot where Sax Fifth Avenue is located. When the New Frontier was constructed, it was moved to the east side of the Strip approximately where the Silver Slipper was located. It stood in this location until 1978 when it was moved to the south edge of the Hacienda's property. The property was moved to its current location in 1996.
Sign - thematic influences: The thematic influence of the Little Church of the West draws from its original property which was the Old Western theme of the Frontier Hotel Casino. The Last Frontier Village was assembled from actual Western towns and reassembled on the Last Frontier's Property. With its wooden facade, brown color tones, script and pylon structure, the Little Church of the West rings true with its origins, while still incorporating the subtle elements of Las Vegas such as neon.
Sign - artistic significance: The Little Church of the West is reminiscent of old west theme which extends back to the very beginnings of Las Vegas and which dominated the themes for a period of time. " Before it became filled with themed western architecture, Las Vegas was an actual western town with a Spanish Style train station and false front facades fronting plank sidewalks"-Alan Hess, After Hours Architecture. Such properties, which dominated the early years of Las Vegas, were the Pioneer Club, the El Rancho Vegas, the El Cortez, the Last Frontier, Binion's Horseshoe, and the Silver Slipper.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics; Paint
Site name: Little Church of the West
Site address: 4617 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Greg Smith
Sign details: The Little Church of the West now resides on the south end of the Strip, along the east side among the smaller roadside hotels. Surrounded with pleasant landscaping the property is a charming and welcome sight among the more barren area of the strip.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 4 Lighting 5
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: There are two specific signs which are significant to the property. The first being the double backed internally lit pylon roadside sign which sits on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd and faces east/west. The 10 feet at its widest, and thirty seven feet tall. The structure consists of a center pole upon which an internally lit plastic sculpted message board sits. Painted in an old west script upon the plastic are the words "Little Church Of The West Wedding Chapel," with painted scrollwork on the top and the bottom of the plane. The entire message board is bordered in neon. Sitting on top of the message cabinet is a small, sculpted apse and bell. The original sign from its original construction still exists atop the actual structure of the Little Church of the West. It is an image of a cross outlined in white neon.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: none
Sign environment: The property sits among the dying roadside motel environment of the South end of Las Vegas Blvd It stands as on of the properties that is still in good repair. The pleasant landscaping and grass provide a pleasant establishment among the southern strip. It seems to capture the environment it has always tried to attain, of the picturesque country church.
Sign manufacturer: Larsen Sign
Sign - date of installation: It was originally part of William J. Moore's Last Frontier Village, which was assembled in the late 1950's. The current pylon sign was manufactured in 1996.
Sign - date of redesign/move: Originally, it resided in the Las Frontier until it was demolished in 1954. The Little Church of the West stood approximately in the spot where Sax Fifth Avenue is located. When the New Frontier was constructed, it was moved to the east side of the Strip approximately where the Silver Slipper was located. It stood in this location until 1978 when it was moved to the south edge of the Hacienda's property. The property was moved to its current location in 1996.
Sign - thematic influences: The thematic influence of the Little Church of the West draws from its original property which was the Old Western theme of the Frontier Hotel Casino. The Last Frontier Village was assembled from actual Western towns and reassembled on the Last Frontier's Property. With its wooden facade, brown color tones, script and pylon structure, the Little Church of the West rings true with its origins, while still incorporating the subtle elements of Las Vegas such as neon.
Sign - artistic significance: The Little Church of the West is reminiscent of old west theme which extends back to the very beginnings of Las Vegas and which dominated the themes for a period of time. " Before it became filled with themed western architecture, Las Vegas was an actual western town with a Spanish Style train station and false front facades fronting plank sidewalks"-Alan Hess, After Hours Architecture. Such properties, which dominated the early years of Las Vegas, were the Pioneer Club, the El Rancho Vegas, the El Cortez, the Last Frontier, Binion's Horseshoe, and the Silver Slipper.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics; Paint
Mixed Content
Photographs of Gateway Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 12, 2017
Date
2017-03-12
2017-08-30
Archival Collection
Description
The Gateway Motel sign sits in early evening light at the northeast corner at 928 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet
Site address: 928 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Vinod Soni and Gateway Motel Inc
Sign details: The Gateway Motel dates back to early 1930's and could be considered one of the earliest motels to pop up in Las Vegas. Before the name changed to Gateway Motel it was named as the Gateway Auto Court circa 1930-1946 it was known as the Gateway Auto Court. The first sign was built circa 1930's and their new remodeled sign which is still in use today was built circa 1950's. The 1950's sign was originally painted darker colors and had a larger graphic of a gate. The original 1930's sign has the streamline modern influence that was prominent in 1930's and 40's. The sign itself is a pole sign with a square structure at the top. The font Auto-Court is in pure neon with that fire-red hue; the font is placed in the middle to stand out the most. The word Gateway is on top of Auto-Court in black with black streamline lines surrounding the word. Underneath is a small wooden board hanging probably stating no vacancy. The background color of the square structure is in pure white and the pole is chrome.
Sign condition: The condition of the sign is a 3.5. Some of the neon is not working when it's turned on at night. The paint has some sun/UV damage since it looks faded. The reader board has a stained effect from sun damage.
Sign form: Pylon with three separate signs converged into one.
Sign-specific description: The sign is made out of glass, steel, plastic, and concrete. The color palette is light blue, white and a cream white. The sign is designed in separate sections. The white cream based portion is situated at the top with a gate and bridge illustrative design in glass tubes and neon. The gate itself lights up yellow with red on the side. The font Gateway is larger than the gate and is in the color white when lit up. Underneath the Gateway word is a subliminal directional arrow pointing towards the motel buildings This section is in the color sky blue with the word motel in massive white letters. Underneath the directional arrow is the reader board surrounded by the steel light blue border. The reader board states Free Wi-Fi and HBO. Underneath in the left corner is a small light blue board that states "no vacancy" in neon. These three separate signs are all connected like blocks with a concrete pillar structure holding up the sign. During the evening, the light blue paint is not shown and is just pure black with the neon illuminating the sign.
Sign - type of display: Neon and plastic back lit sign
Sign - media: Steel, plastic and concrete
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit portion
Sign environment: This location is on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Charleston. This is right next to the original Dona Maria Tamales restaurant.
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1950's
Sign - date of redesign/move: From a 1930's streamline modern sign to a 1950's Mid-Century modern architectural roadside motel sign.
Sign - thematic influences: The sign is influenced by Mid-Century Modern roadside architecture, with the directional arrow as a staple in many motel roadside designs of the 1950's and 60's to accommodate the car consumer era.
Sign - artistic significance: One main trends of the 1950's designs with neon signs is using illustrative motifs with the inclusion of directional arrows to lend to the highway travelers an idea of where the property is located. To make sure these travelers don't miss the establishment in an empty road.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Roadside Architecture Website http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas.html , Neon Museum book Spectacular, Vintage Las Vegas http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Gateway+Motel
Surveyor: Gisselle Tipp
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-30
Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Backlit; Steel; Concrete; Roadside; Reader board; Back to back
Site address: 928 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Vinod Soni and Gateway Motel Inc
Sign details: The Gateway Motel dates back to early 1930's and could be considered one of the earliest motels to pop up in Las Vegas. Before the name changed to Gateway Motel it was named as the Gateway Auto Court circa 1930-1946 it was known as the Gateway Auto Court. The first sign was built circa 1930's and their new remodeled sign which is still in use today was built circa 1950's. The 1950's sign was originally painted darker colors and had a larger graphic of a gate. The original 1930's sign has the streamline modern influence that was prominent in 1930's and 40's. The sign itself is a pole sign with a square structure at the top. The font Auto-Court is in pure neon with that fire-red hue; the font is placed in the middle to stand out the most. The word Gateway is on top of Auto-Court in black with black streamline lines surrounding the word. Underneath is a small wooden board hanging probably stating no vacancy. The background color of the square structure is in pure white and the pole is chrome.
Sign condition: The condition of the sign is a 3.5. Some of the neon is not working when it's turned on at night. The paint has some sun/UV damage since it looks faded. The reader board has a stained effect from sun damage.
Sign form: Pylon with three separate signs converged into one.
Sign-specific description: The sign is made out of glass, steel, plastic, and concrete. The color palette is light blue, white and a cream white. The sign is designed in separate sections. The white cream based portion is situated at the top with a gate and bridge illustrative design in glass tubes and neon. The gate itself lights up yellow with red on the side. The font Gateway is larger than the gate and is in the color white when lit up. Underneath the Gateway word is a subliminal directional arrow pointing towards the motel buildings This section is in the color sky blue with the word motel in massive white letters. Underneath the directional arrow is the reader board surrounded by the steel light blue border. The reader board states Free Wi-Fi and HBO. Underneath in the left corner is a small light blue board that states "no vacancy" in neon. These three separate signs are all connected like blocks with a concrete pillar structure holding up the sign. During the evening, the light blue paint is not shown and is just pure black with the neon illuminating the sign.
Sign - type of display: Neon and plastic back lit sign
Sign - media: Steel, plastic and concrete
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit portion
Sign environment: This location is on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Charleston. This is right next to the original Dona Maria Tamales restaurant.
Sign - date of installation: Circa 1950's
Sign - date of redesign/move: From a 1930's streamline modern sign to a 1950's Mid-Century modern architectural roadside motel sign.
Sign - thematic influences: The sign is influenced by Mid-Century Modern roadside architecture, with the directional arrow as a staple in many motel roadside designs of the 1950's and 60's to accommodate the car consumer era.
Sign - artistic significance: One main trends of the 1950's designs with neon signs is using illustrative motifs with the inclusion of directional arrows to lend to the highway travelers an idea of where the property is located. To make sure these travelers don't miss the establishment in an empty road.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Roadside Architecture Website http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas.html , Neon Museum book Spectacular, Vintage Las Vegas http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Gateway+Motel
Surveyor: Gisselle Tipp
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-30
Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Backlit; Steel; Concrete; Roadside; Reader board; Back to back
Mixed Content
Photographs of Travelers Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2017
Date
2017-04-18
2017-06-28
2017-08-18
Archival Collection
Description
The Travelers Motel sign sits at 1100 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1100 Fremont St
Sign details: This location was constructed in 1926. Though the year of when the Traveler's Motel opened in unknown though its sign states, "Your Best Bet In Las Vegas Since 1936'. Though Vintage Las Vegas' blog states that the Traveler's Motel acquired some of their land from the Lucky Motel. Currently the Traveler's Motel is closed and gated up.
Sign condition: 3, the sign is fairly in condition. However, the sign does not light up at night. The sign that used to read "Traveler's Motel" that was affixed to the iron gate-like structure appears to have the majority of its sign taken down or destroyed in recent times.
Sign form: Blade Pole sign and Porte Cochere
Sign-specific description: This sign is attached to the building that belongs to and extends outward to Fremont Street. The lower portion of this sign has the same details on each side of the sign. The top portion of this sign is a trapezoid with "Traveler's" painted on it in a cursive text except for the "t." This is done in white on a rust colored background. Neon is also affixed to "Traveler's." Underneath this is a plastic back lit sign detail the various accommodations of the property, such as: phone, cable T.V., microwave, refrigerators, "totally remodeled rooms," "daily * weekly rental," and "Your Best Bet In Las Vegas Since 1936." Under this is another, smaller trapezoid that has the street address painted on it in bold white numbers with a rust background. Extending from the top portion of this sign is a rust colored pole that has five other poles with various lengths extending out from that towards Fremont Street. Attached to these poles are letters that spell out "MOTEL," the top supports the "M" and each pole following hold each of the others letters to spell out the word. Each of these are diamond shaped plastic, possibly back lit signs. The plastic is off-white and each of the letters is black. The marquee sign attached to the iron gate-like structure that connects one side of the building to the next. This sign is a long, rectangular back lit sign that has a white background and bold red text reading "Traveler's Motel. " This sign also was attached to an longer, yellow rectangle with rounded sided on the left and right side of the sign.
Sign - type of display: Neon, possibly back lit (sign doesn't light up any more)
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit portion
Sign animation: The sign is no longer in use; therefore, it is difficult to determine this. There is also no record of the sign having any animation.
Sign environment: This property resides in the area east of the Fremont East District with many new businesses surrounding it, such as: PublicUs, the Bunkhouse Saloon, Chow, The Writer's Block, and 11th Street Records. However, there are quite a few other closed Motel properties that reside near the Traveler's Motel as well.
Sign - thematic influences: The sign is extremely reminiscent of many of the signs from the 50's and 60's that belong to the other motels in the downtown area. The sign has many geometric elements to it that make it appear that it could be from this time period.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign does not have a specific theme to it. However, the plastic figure climbing on the sign stresses that this motel would be for those who do enjoy traveling and adventures. This sign does follow a very basic trend regarding motel signs on Fremont Street. It is attractive and very noticeable to those moving along Fremont Street. The overall design of the sign is very geometric, which is a common aesthetic among signs made in the 50's and 60's.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page and Vintage Las Vegas website http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Traveler+Motel
Survey - research notes: It was difficult to find any history or old photographs of this property.
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-18
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Pole sign
Site address: 1100 Fremont St
Sign details: This location was constructed in 1926. Though the year of when the Traveler's Motel opened in unknown though its sign states, "Your Best Bet In Las Vegas Since 1936'. Though Vintage Las Vegas' blog states that the Traveler's Motel acquired some of their land from the Lucky Motel. Currently the Traveler's Motel is closed and gated up.
Sign condition: 3, the sign is fairly in condition. However, the sign does not light up at night. The sign that used to read "Traveler's Motel" that was affixed to the iron gate-like structure appears to have the majority of its sign taken down or destroyed in recent times.
Sign form: Blade Pole sign and Porte Cochere
Sign-specific description: This sign is attached to the building that belongs to and extends outward to Fremont Street. The lower portion of this sign has the same details on each side of the sign. The top portion of this sign is a trapezoid with "Traveler's" painted on it in a cursive text except for the "t." This is done in white on a rust colored background. Neon is also affixed to "Traveler's." Underneath this is a plastic back lit sign detail the various accommodations of the property, such as: phone, cable T.V., microwave, refrigerators, "totally remodeled rooms," "daily * weekly rental," and "Your Best Bet In Las Vegas Since 1936." Under this is another, smaller trapezoid that has the street address painted on it in bold white numbers with a rust background. Extending from the top portion of this sign is a rust colored pole that has five other poles with various lengths extending out from that towards Fremont Street. Attached to these poles are letters that spell out "MOTEL," the top supports the "M" and each pole following hold each of the others letters to spell out the word. Each of these are diamond shaped plastic, possibly back lit signs. The plastic is off-white and each of the letters is black. The marquee sign attached to the iron gate-like structure that connects one side of the building to the next. This sign is a long, rectangular back lit sign that has a white background and bold red text reading "Traveler's Motel. " This sign also was attached to an longer, yellow rectangle with rounded sided on the left and right side of the sign.
Sign - type of display: Neon, possibly back lit (sign doesn't light up any more)
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic back lit portion
Sign animation: The sign is no longer in use; therefore, it is difficult to determine this. There is also no record of the sign having any animation.
Sign environment: This property resides in the area east of the Fremont East District with many new businesses surrounding it, such as: PublicUs, the Bunkhouse Saloon, Chow, The Writer's Block, and 11th Street Records. However, there are quite a few other closed Motel properties that reside near the Traveler's Motel as well.
Sign - thematic influences: The sign is extremely reminiscent of many of the signs from the 50's and 60's that belong to the other motels in the downtown area. The sign has many geometric elements to it that make it appear that it could be from this time period.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign does not have a specific theme to it. However, the plastic figure climbing on the sign stresses that this motel would be for those who do enjoy traveling and adventures. This sign does follow a very basic trend regarding motel signs on Fremont Street. It is attractive and very noticeable to those moving along Fremont Street. The overall design of the sign is very geometric, which is a common aesthetic among signs made in the 50's and 60's.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page and Vintage Las Vegas website http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/Traveler+Motel
Survey - research notes: It was difficult to find any history or old photographs of this property.
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-18
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Pole sign
Mixed Content
North Las Vegas Library Photograph Collection on North Las Vegas, Nevada
Identifier
PH-00277
Abstract
The North Las Vegas Library Photograph Collection on North Las Vegas, Nevada (approximately 1905-1989) depicts life in Southern Nevada. The collection consists of over one thousand images dated from 1905 to 1989. The images consist of activities at Nellis Air Force Base, Southern Nevada politicians, celebrities, schools, churches, and city development.
Archival Collection
Blanch Jackson Photograph Collection
Identifier
PH-00243
Abstract
The Blanch Jackson Photograph Collection (approximately 1900-1941) contains black-and-white photographic prints and negatives from the Jackson family’s life in Tonopah, Nevada and their travels to mining sites in Nevada and Arizona. Blanch, her husband Clyde, her father-in-law Colonel David Howell Jackson, their two sons, and some acquaintances are pictured in the photographs.
Archival Collection
K. O. Knudson Photograph Collection
Identifier
PH-00108
Abstract
The K. O. Knudson Photographs (approximately 1920-1969) depict the Las Vegas Grammar School and service, fraternal, and veterans organizations gathered by retired Las Vegas, Nevada school administrator and World War I veteran K. O. Knudson (also known as K. Oscar Knudson). The collection includes images of Knudson, Las Vegas Masonic Lodge members, American Legion members, and school dances. The photographs primarily feature Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection