Search Results
Photographs of Desert Moon Motel sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), April 18, 2017
Date
2017-04-18
2017-08-22
Archival Collection
Description
The Desert Moon Motel sign sits at 1701 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site name: Desert Moon Motel (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 1701 Fremont St
Sign owner: Jerzy and Celina Kosla
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1942 (Assessor). According to one commentator, the Desert Moon motel opened on the site in 1952 (Roadside Architecture.com). The cars on a vintage postcard of the motel appear to date from the late 1940's or early 1950's (Ebay). The same vintage postcard (Ebay) shows the motel as a member of United Motor Courts, an early motel referral chain founded in 1933 which published a travel guide until the early 1950's (Wikipedia). Based in Santa Barbara, California, United Motor Courts was made up of "a friendly group of independent owners of motor lodges..." (Historic Highways). The Quality Inn motel franchise was a spinoff of United Motor Courts (Wikipedia). The motel has been renovated by its current owner, Polish immigrant George (Jerzy) Kosla (Glionna, 2017).
Sign condition: The sign is Condition 4, good. The paint appears slightly faded but there is no flaking or peeling. The cabinets, reader boards, and fiberglass moon are all in good condition. The neon is intact.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The sign pole and metal cabinets are painted pink. The design and lettering are the same on both sides of the sign. The trapezoid-shaped lower cabinet extends horizontally toward the street. It contains a rectangular white plastic lightbox which states "FREE ADULT MOVIES" in red sans serif letters and "FLAT SCREEN TV'S in smaller black san serif letters. To the left of the letters is the black silhouette of a female figure. On the metal below the plastic screen are clear sans serif neon letters which spell out, "NO VACANCY" in red when illuminated. The upper metal cabinet hangs from the street side of the pole. White painted san serif letters, covered by clear sans serif neon letters which glow red when illuminated, run vertically down the cabinet to spell out, "XXX MOVIES". Five metal cabinets attached to the street side of the sign run vertically to spell out, "M-O- T-E- L" in white painted sans serif letters covered by yellow sans serif neon letters. On top of the pole is a white p
Sign - type of display: Neon, Lightbox
Sign - media: Steel, Plastic, Fiberglass
Sign - non-neon treatments: Lightbox
Sign environment: East Fremont Street, surrounded by other motels.
Sign - date of installation: c. 1950s
Sign - date of redesign/move: The now pink or faded red sign cabinets were painted blue in a 2003 photograph
Sign - thematic influences: Desert, Space Age, Western
Sign - artistic significance: The current sign appears to have taken the Western/Lunar theme from the previous sign and transformed it into a 1950's/1960's Space Age/Lunar theme
Survey - research locations: Assessor's website
Survey - research notes: Ebay. Las Vegas NV Desert Moon Motel roadside Nevada vintage linen postcard ca 1940s. Retrieved from https://picclick.com/LAS-VEGAS- NV-Desert- Moon-Motel- Roadside-Nevada- 141923576051.html Glionna, J. M. (2017 April 23). Motel, once a haven, now a crime-ridden jungle in downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las- vegas/downtown/motel-once- a-haven- now-a- crime-ridden- jungle-in- downtown-las- vegas/ Historic Highways. (2007 July 14). Archive for the "Motel Associations" category: Looking for a motel in 1933. Retrieved from https://historichighways.wordpress.com/category/motel-associations/ Roadside Architecture. com (n.d.). Las Vegas Signs: Desert Moon Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas.html RoadsidPeek.com. (n.d.). Downtown motels Las Vegas: Desert Moon Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/nevada/vegas/lvmotel/lvdownmotel/index5.htm Wikipedia. (n.d.). Motel: 2.6 R
Survey - other remarks: A postcard circa early 1950's features a different sign with a saguaro cactus and quarter moon (Ebay). The current sign appears to have taken the Western/Lunar theme from the previous sign and transformed it into a Space Age/Lunar theme, which may indicate that the sign dates from the date from the late 1950's or 1960's.
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-22
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Fiberglass; Pole sign; Light box; Sculptural
Site name: Desert Moon Motel (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 1701 Fremont St
Sign owner: Jerzy and Celina Kosla
Sign details: The building was constructed in 1942 (Assessor). According to one commentator, the Desert Moon motel opened on the site in 1952 (Roadside Architecture.com). The cars on a vintage postcard of the motel appear to date from the late 1940's or early 1950's (Ebay). The same vintage postcard (Ebay) shows the motel as a member of United Motor Courts, an early motel referral chain founded in 1933 which published a travel guide until the early 1950's (Wikipedia). Based in Santa Barbara, California, United Motor Courts was made up of "a friendly group of independent owners of motor lodges..." (Historic Highways). The Quality Inn motel franchise was a spinoff of United Motor Courts (Wikipedia). The motel has been renovated by its current owner, Polish immigrant George (Jerzy) Kosla (Glionna, 2017).
Sign condition: The sign is Condition 4, good. The paint appears slightly faded but there is no flaking or peeling. The cabinets, reader boards, and fiberglass moon are all in good condition. The neon is intact.
Sign form: Pole sign
Sign-specific description: The sign pole and metal cabinets are painted pink. The design and lettering are the same on both sides of the sign. The trapezoid-shaped lower cabinet extends horizontally toward the street. It contains a rectangular white plastic lightbox which states "FREE ADULT MOVIES" in red sans serif letters and "FLAT SCREEN TV'S in smaller black san serif letters. To the left of the letters is the black silhouette of a female figure. On the metal below the plastic screen are clear sans serif neon letters which spell out, "NO VACANCY" in red when illuminated. The upper metal cabinet hangs from the street side of the pole. White painted san serif letters, covered by clear sans serif neon letters which glow red when illuminated, run vertically down the cabinet to spell out, "XXX MOVIES". Five metal cabinets attached to the street side of the sign run vertically to spell out, "M-O- T-E- L" in white painted sans serif letters covered by yellow sans serif neon letters. On top of the pole is a white p
Sign - type of display: Neon, Lightbox
Sign - media: Steel, Plastic, Fiberglass
Sign - non-neon treatments: Lightbox
Sign environment: East Fremont Street, surrounded by other motels.
Sign - date of installation: c. 1950s
Sign - date of redesign/move: The now pink or faded red sign cabinets were painted blue in a 2003 photograph
Sign - thematic influences: Desert, Space Age, Western
Sign - artistic significance: The current sign appears to have taken the Western/Lunar theme from the previous sign and transformed it into a 1950's/1960's Space Age/Lunar theme
Survey - research locations: Assessor's website
Survey - research notes: Ebay. Las Vegas NV Desert Moon Motel roadside Nevada vintage linen postcard ca 1940s. Retrieved from https://picclick.com/LAS-VEGAS- NV-Desert- Moon-Motel- Roadside-Nevada- 141923576051.html Glionna, J. M. (2017 April 23). Motel, once a haven, now a crime-ridden jungle in downtown Las Vegas. Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las- vegas/downtown/motel-once- a-haven- now-a- crime-ridden- jungle-in- downtown-las- vegas/ Historic Highways. (2007 July 14). Archive for the "Motel Associations" category: Looking for a motel in 1933. Retrieved from https://historichighways.wordpress.com/category/motel-associations/ Roadside Architecture. com (n.d.). Las Vegas Signs: Desert Moon Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas.html RoadsidPeek.com. (n.d.). Downtown motels Las Vegas: Desert Moon Motel. Retrieved from http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/nevada/vegas/lvmotel/lvdownmotel/index5.htm Wikipedia. (n.d.). Motel: 2.6 R
Survey - other remarks: A postcard circa early 1950's features a different sign with a saguaro cactus and quarter moon (Ebay). The current sign appears to have taken the Western/Lunar theme from the previous sign and transformed it into a Space Age/Lunar theme, which may indicate that the sign dates from the date from the late 1950's or 1960's.
Surveyor: Mitchell Cohen
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-22
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Plastic; Fiberglass; Pole sign; Light box; Sculptural
Mixed Content
Photographs of Backstage Bar & Billiards, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2016-2017
Date
2016-04-28 to 2017-08-11
Archival Collection
Description
The sign for Backstage Bar & Billiards sits at 601 Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 601 Fremont St
Sign owner: DJ Lethal co-owned with DJ Scotty
Sign details: This building dates back to 1957. Triple B opened in 2012 as a billiard hall bar and concert venue. It is filled with a lot of Rock Memorabilia which includes a "turntable library" which they claim showcases over 8 decades of rock history. This location was furnished by rock outfitter Anvil Cases. This property got its name by being "backstage" to the adjoining Fremont Country Club.
Sign condition: 5- looks relatively new and still in great condition
Sign form: Variation of a Bull Nose Sign
Sign-specific description: Their entrance is on the corner of 6th (going South) and Fremont with a blue bull nose type sign in a triangle shape. The base of the triangle sign is right above the entrance. The triangle border has a blue (argon) strip with incandescents lining both sides of the neon tubing. At the base of the sign there is a blue (argon) curved platform (half circle placed adjoining to the base of the triangle). On this platform there are 5 separate strips of argon tubes. Above the platform states "Backstage Bar & Billiards" in white cursive channeled letters. Above the words Backstage and Billiards there are two martini glasses with a pool ball and flag in each glass. At the top of the triangle portion of the sign there is their logo "Triple B" in cursive with Triple in Blue and B in white. Below the bull nose sign there is a reader board that wraps around the building. This reader board is also lined with incandescent light bulbs. In the middle of the of the reader board there is a black background rectangle with 3 rhombus's lined in incandescent light bulbs in a design.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent and reader board
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader Board
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: Fremont East district East District, next to other bars and restaurants. This location is right across the street from the El Cortez. Also they claim to be "backstage" to the adjoining Fremont Country Club which inspired their name.
Sign manufacturer: Ultra Signs' recently bought out by Jones Las Vegas ( of Jones SIgns) who did not have records of this sign.
Sign - date of installation: 2012 when the bar opened
Sign - thematic influences: On Fremont many of the entrances are at the corner intersections, so the bull nose sign has been prominent design type to draw attention to the entrance of the company. This is remnant of the Golden Nugget and Binion's Horseshoe put up their bull nose signs in 1961.
Sign - artistic significance: The curved platform at the bottom of their bull nose sign looks like an old retro movie theater style sign platform that you would see in the 1940's/50's. Particularly with their reader board with incandescent light bulbs speaks to this era as well.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's page, triple B website http://www.backstagebarlv.com/ , Las Vegas Weekly Newspaper article https://lasvegasweekly.com/nightlife/lowball-diary/2012/dec/05/triple-b-fills-downtowns-watering-hole-hole/
Survey - research notes: Fremont Bars.com has a photo of their main sign being installed. http://www.fremontstreetbars.com/2012/11/29/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-backstage-bar-billiards/
Survey - other remarks: The Ultra Signs logo is visible on the left side of the sign.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Flashing; Reader board; Bullnose; Marquee
Site address: 601 Fremont St
Sign owner: DJ Lethal co-owned with DJ Scotty
Sign details: This building dates back to 1957. Triple B opened in 2012 as a billiard hall bar and concert venue. It is filled with a lot of Rock Memorabilia which includes a "turntable library" which they claim showcases over 8 decades of rock history. This location was furnished by rock outfitter Anvil Cases. This property got its name by being "backstage" to the adjoining Fremont Country Club.
Sign condition: 5- looks relatively new and still in great condition
Sign form: Variation of a Bull Nose Sign
Sign-specific description: Their entrance is on the corner of 6th (going South) and Fremont with a blue bull nose type sign in a triangle shape. The base of the triangle sign is right above the entrance. The triangle border has a blue (argon) strip with incandescents lining both sides of the neon tubing. At the base of the sign there is a blue (argon) curved platform (half circle placed adjoining to the base of the triangle). On this platform there are 5 separate strips of argon tubes. Above the platform states "Backstage Bar & Billiards" in white cursive channeled letters. Above the words Backstage and Billiards there are two martini glasses with a pool ball and flag in each glass. At the top of the triangle portion of the sign there is their logo "Triple B" in cursive with Triple in Blue and B in white. Below the bull nose sign there is a reader board that wraps around the building. This reader board is also lined with incandescent light bulbs. In the middle of the of the reader board there is a black background rectangle with 3 rhombus's lined in incandescent light bulbs in a design.
Sign - type of display: Neon, incandescent and reader board
Sign - media: Steel and Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Reader Board
Sign animation: Flasher for incandescent light bulbs
Sign environment: Fremont East district East District, next to other bars and restaurants. This location is right across the street from the El Cortez. Also they claim to be "backstage" to the adjoining Fremont Country Club which inspired their name.
Sign manufacturer: Ultra Signs' recently bought out by Jones Las Vegas ( of Jones SIgns) who did not have records of this sign.
Sign - date of installation: 2012 when the bar opened
Sign - thematic influences: On Fremont many of the entrances are at the corner intersections, so the bull nose sign has been prominent design type to draw attention to the entrance of the company. This is remnant of the Golden Nugget and Binion's Horseshoe put up their bull nose signs in 1961.
Sign - artistic significance: The curved platform at the bottom of their bull nose sign looks like an old retro movie theater style sign platform that you would see in the 1940's/50's. Particularly with their reader board with incandescent light bulbs speaks to this era as well.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's page, triple B website http://www.backstagebarlv.com/ , Las Vegas Weekly Newspaper article https://lasvegasweekly.com/nightlife/lowball-diary/2012/dec/05/triple-b-fills-downtowns-watering-hole-hole/
Survey - research notes: Fremont Bars.com has a photo of their main sign being installed. http://www.fremontstreetbars.com/2012/11/29/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-backstage-bar-billiards/
Survey - other remarks: The Ultra Signs logo is visible on the left side of the sign.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-11
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Flashing; Reader board; Bullnose; Marquee
Mixed Content
Photographs of Gold and Silver Pawn Shop signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 3, 2017
Date
2017-03-03
2017-08-12
Archival Collection
Description
The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop sits at 713 South Las Vegas Boulevard in Downtown Las Vegas. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 713 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Richard Harrison
Sign details: This pawn shop was opened by Richard Harrison in 1988. Rick , Richard and Corey Harrison along with Austin Russell made this store famous with the History Channel reality T.V. show Pawn Stars which started airing in 2009. This show has made this location a tourist destination, so much so there is even a line to get in sometimes. With the rise of popularity they added Rick Harrison's Pawn Plaza which is a shopping center with eateries.
Sign condition: 4- looks relatively new and not too faded
Sign form: Rectangular Blade
Sign-specific description: The whole blade sign is outlined with a gold trim and red LED lights surrounding the gold. The main long rectangle blade spells out "PAWN" lengthwise in black on white backdrop. Right above the white part of the blade is a black rectangle (long side of rectangle is above the white blade) stating "Gold & Silver" written in white thin printed letters. Above this is a little white diamond. Below the white PAWN blade is a white rectangle stating "OPEN 24 HRS" in red block print letters. This blade-type sign is held right next to the building on a big white beam that has their address "713" painted on it. On the building above the entrance states "World Famous (in yellow) Gold and Silver (In red) Pawn Shop ( in Green) in back lit plastic letters. Also to the left of the entrance they have 3 plastic rectangle back lit signs that they have switched out over the years, but the current ones have been up since 2011/12. The one in the middle states "World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop" in an elaborate white cursive font written on a black background. The other two showcase the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Logo but states "World Famous Gold & Silver Las Vegas" . Below these three rectangle signs there is another smaller one with a white background stating "We Never Close" in thick blue type font letters.
Sign - type of display: Back lit plastic signs, LED lights
Sign - media: Steel, Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Back lit plastic
Sign animation: Charger with red LED's
Sign environment: Halfway between the strip and downtown on Las Vegas Blvd. There are a few antique shops near the pawn shop. Right next door is now Rick Harrison's Pawn Plaza Shopping Center as well as a nice sized parking lot to accommodate their guests.
Sign - date of installation: Has been up since at least 2007
Sign - date of redesign/move: Some of the plastic back lit signs have been switched out over the years
Sign - thematic influences: Gold+ Silver- could refer to the mining times in Nevada and since it is a pawn shop it could mean that you can strike it rich with bringing something there. Similar to finding gold or silver.
Sign - artistic significance: The blade type sign was popular in the 50's for directions in the car consumer and traveling era.
Survey - research locations: Acessor's page, Nevada Magazine http://nevadamagazine.com/home/inside-the-magazine/city-limits/gold-silver-pawn-shop/ , Gold and Silver Pawn Shop website https://gspawn.com/ , history.com for information on the show
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-12
Sign keywords: Backlit; Plastic; LED; Steel; Pole sign
Site address: 713 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Richard Harrison
Sign details: This pawn shop was opened by Richard Harrison in 1988. Rick , Richard and Corey Harrison along with Austin Russell made this store famous with the History Channel reality T.V. show Pawn Stars which started airing in 2009. This show has made this location a tourist destination, so much so there is even a line to get in sometimes. With the rise of popularity they added Rick Harrison's Pawn Plaza which is a shopping center with eateries.
Sign condition: 4- looks relatively new and not too faded
Sign form: Rectangular Blade
Sign-specific description: The whole blade sign is outlined with a gold trim and red LED lights surrounding the gold. The main long rectangle blade spells out "PAWN" lengthwise in black on white backdrop. Right above the white part of the blade is a black rectangle (long side of rectangle is above the white blade) stating "Gold & Silver" written in white thin printed letters. Above this is a little white diamond. Below the white PAWN blade is a white rectangle stating "OPEN 24 HRS" in red block print letters. This blade-type sign is held right next to the building on a big white beam that has their address "713" painted on it. On the building above the entrance states "World Famous (in yellow) Gold and Silver (In red) Pawn Shop ( in Green) in back lit plastic letters. Also to the left of the entrance they have 3 plastic rectangle back lit signs that they have switched out over the years, but the current ones have been up since 2011/12. The one in the middle states "World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop" in an elaborate white cursive font written on a black background. The other two showcase the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Logo but states "World Famous Gold & Silver Las Vegas" . Below these three rectangle signs there is another smaller one with a white background stating "We Never Close" in thick blue type font letters.
Sign - type of display: Back lit plastic signs, LED lights
Sign - media: Steel, Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Back lit plastic
Sign animation: Charger with red LED's
Sign environment: Halfway between the strip and downtown on Las Vegas Blvd. There are a few antique shops near the pawn shop. Right next door is now Rick Harrison's Pawn Plaza Shopping Center as well as a nice sized parking lot to accommodate their guests.
Sign - date of installation: Has been up since at least 2007
Sign - date of redesign/move: Some of the plastic back lit signs have been switched out over the years
Sign - thematic influences: Gold+ Silver- could refer to the mining times in Nevada and since it is a pawn shop it could mean that you can strike it rich with bringing something there. Similar to finding gold or silver.
Sign - artistic significance: The blade type sign was popular in the 50's for directions in the car consumer and traveling era.
Survey - research locations: Acessor's page, Nevada Magazine http://nevadamagazine.com/home/inside-the-magazine/city-limits/gold-silver-pawn-shop/ , Gold and Silver Pawn Shop website https://gspawn.com/ , history.com for information on the show
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-12
Sign keywords: Backlit; Plastic; LED; Steel; Pole sign
Mixed Content
Della Coates interview, March 18, 1978: transcript
Date
1978-03-18
Archival Collection
Description
On March 18, 1978, collector Bill Hitchcock interviewed Della Coates (b. June 17th, 1919 in Birmingham, Alabama) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the interview, Della Coates discusses her time working for the telephone company. She also speaks about the changes in education and about changes throughout Las Vegas.
Text
Carole Fisher oral history interview: transcript
Date
2016-12-14
Archival Collection
Description
Oral history interview with Carole Fisher conducted by Barbara Tabach on December 14, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Fisher discusses her family background and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1979. Fisher talks about Nathan Adelson Hospice, programs that they provide for the Las Vegas senior community, and the increase of hospices in Las Vegas. She describes how Nathan Adelson Hospice is able to provide care for uninsured people, fundraising events they organize, and how their hospice differs from traditional hospital care. Lastly, Fisher discusses the significance of death in the Jewish religion.
Text
