The Desert Star Motel sign sits aglow at 1210 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet. Site address: 1210 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Desert Star Motel Enterprises Sign details: The original construction of this motel was in 1961 and has acted as a motel since. Sign condition: 3, sign is in decent condition. Some portions of it do not light up anymore. Sign form: Roadside pole sign Sign-specific description: This sign sits directly on the roadside along Las Vegas Boulevard. The sign consists of a large black pole with many different back lit signs extending toward Las Vegas Boulevard attached to it. Staring from the top of the sign. There is a plastic back lit sign reading "DESERT STAR" in bold white letters against a red background. Under this are individual square signs each containing one letter. Moving down the length of the pole they spell out the word "MOTEL". Each of these letters are red against a white background. Under this series of letters is a star shaped back lit sign reading "DESERT STAR" in bold red text against a white background. This sign is outlined by a neon tube that no longer works. Attached to the bottom points of the star is a rectangular back sign with "VACANCY" painted on it in white. Neon tubes outline the word "NO" as well as "VACANCY." Under this sign is another plastic back lit sign reading "Check Out our Weekly & Daily Rates" in white letters against a red background. Finally, the last portion of this sign is another plastic back lit sign reading "Free Local Calls" in white letters against a red background. Sign - type of display: Neon and back lit plastic sign Sign - media: Steel and plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit sign Sign environment: This motel sits very close to the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston. It is a short distance away from the Arts District and Fremont Street. It is a few blocks north of the Stratosphere hotel. A few properties that are close to this motel are the Little White Wedding Chapel as well as many other hostels and motels. Sign - date of redesign/move: From an earlier photograph, this sign has changed from what appears to might have been their original sign. There is no exact year when the sign changed. The sign that they had in the 60s looks similar to their sign today, but with different colors. The earlier sign had the same "MOTEL" running down the side of the pole, but the letters were black against a yellow background and the pole was white. The star under this was white with forest green letters reading "DESERT STAR." There were three other rectangular signs under this. Each of these had forest green letters against a white background. The sign under the star sign and the "NO VACANCY" attached to that read " TV PHONES." The second sign said "REFRIGERATION." And the third said "AAA HEATED POOL." Sign - thematic influences: The name "DESERT STAR" could've taken influence from the Space Age. There were plenty of motels that had a star theme or "star" in their name all throughout the city. Sign - artistic significance: This is a good example of how roadside signs could be simple, yet eye catching to motorists and pedestrians. It does keep in theme with many of the other motel signs throughout the city by sitting directly along the roadside to be noticeable. Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Stephani Drives Las Vegas Website http://stefanidrivesvegas.com/8.html Survey - research notes: There in not much information on the history of this property. Surveyor: Emily Fellmer Survey - date completed: 2017-09-09 Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Backlit; Steel; Roadside; Pole sign
Oral history interview with Eric Mendoza conducted by Holly O'Donnell on November 29, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Eric Mendoza shares his family's chain migration history from Manila, Philippines to the United States and his difficult immigration and naturalization process once arriving in America in 1996. He talks about what brought him to live in Las Vegas, Nevada, his education and professional pursuits, what his life is like in the United States compared to that of the Philippines, and the lives of his eight siblings. Eric Mendoza discusses the historical past of the Philippines, the infrastructure in place there, and government corruption. He also speaks to Filipino traditions and festivals, food and customs, his cultural identity, and assimilating to American culture.
Oral history interview with Christina Gruber conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 2, 2019 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Gruber shares her experience living in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1997 and as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), mother of two, and physical fitness enthusiast. She recalls being shot during the Route 91 Harvest Festival and being rescued by strangers. She recalls the chaos of the evening, but also how strangers worked together to comfort each other amidst the terror. She discusses dedicated her athletic races to those who were murdered that evening, and how it has helped her recovery.
Dr. Thomas Holder grew up in San Diego, completed graduate work at the University of Washington, and then spent a year in Europe painting. Upon returning to the States, he checked out job opportunities in Las Vegas and San Diego. The chance to build a program from scratch appealed to him and he settled at UNLV in 1971. Tom has seen many changes in the university, the art program, and the city itself. He has encouraged students to show their work in various venues around Las Vegas and is always searching out new places to exhibit. In addition to staying current with his own work, Tom supports First Friday and a visiting artist program. To ensure quality education for Nevada students and to encourage enrollment at UNLV, he oversees a new project called "August in the Schools". Faculty members go out into the area high schools to speak about the art program and invite the students to attend Today, Dr. Holder is chairing the art department, works on a self-study of the department for the purpose of accreditation with the Nat'l Association of Schools of Art and Design, and continues with his own artistic endeavors. He plans to travel with his family as well.
Black and white photo taken by C. P. Squires on the occasion of planting the first tree in the courthouse park, Las Vegas, Nevada. Date, March 1911, as near as can be fixed. The building shown at left is the first Clark County Court House (now used for Las Vegas City Library) which had been constructed by popular subscription by Las Vegas Business men as promised by them during the county division campaign in 1908-1909. This building provided sufficient quarters for the county offices for five years, following which, the present court house was built. Persons shown, so far as their identity can be remembered are: holding the tree- Ed W. Clark and using the shovel is Judge E. J. L Taber. Others, left to right: Charlie Ronnow, Judge W. R. Thomas, unidentified, unidentified, Bob Dillon, Frank A. Stevens, Harley A. Harmon, and Dr. Roy W. Martin.