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Photographs of Davy's Locker sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), November 20, 2016

Date

2016-11-20 to 2017-08-22

Description

The sign for the permanently closed Davy's Locker dive bar sits at 1149 East Desert Inn Road. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1149 E Desert Inn Rd
Sign owner: Was Cindy Slight since 2010. Albert Hamika bought the property in 2016. Derek Stonebarger went to the property after they took the sign down and the fish portion of the sign is currently in his possession.
Sign details: The property was originally opened in 1968 by Davey Pearl, who was most known for being a boxing referee and later inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame. The actual opening date of the bar is unknown, but property records have shown that its building was constructed in 1968. The bar was known for the welcoming environment inside and inexpensive drinks. The sign itself drew people in because of its unique design. Right before their closure they started to have a variety of events taking place there such as: open mic night, trivia, and genre specific music nights. The current owners have demolished the iconic and beloved sign for the bar. The only portions that remain are white sign that reads "Cocktails" in red and the waves that the fish once "swam" above. The current owner of the property has told the Las Vegas Weekly, "I want to emphasize I wasn't like, 'Ok let's destroy this sign.' I like the sign, and I like the historic memorabilia"I tried. The only thing I can I can say is, it was time for it to come down." After hearing about this news Derek Stonebarger, who owns ReBar on Main Street, was distraught when he heard the news of the sign being taken down so he went to the property to find its remains. He hopes to restore as much of the sign as he can and possibly display it in a Nevada-themed restaurant he plans to open up.
Sign condition: Since the sign has been taken down it is a 0.
Sign form: Roadside pole sign
Sign-specific description: This sign was designed to look like a fish was swimming in the ocean. The top of the sign give the appearance of waves. A neon tube was attached to the implied waves. Underneath this was a large, white fish whose tail and nose extended beyond the confines of the square shape of the sign. The fish appeared to have a large smile and two smaller fish "swimming" beside it. One of these smaller fish was near the larger fish's mouth and the "L." The other fish was located right under the "ker" in "Locker." Both of these fish were a light blue color, the same blue that matched the wave on top of the sign and surrounded the larger fish. In the middle of the large fish that makes up much of the sign were the words "Davy's Locker" in bright red and an elaborate cursive style font. Neon tubes outlined these letters, as well as all three fish included in the sign. Underneath all of this is a neon tube in the shape of a wave that is difficult to see in photos of the sign during the day, but glowed brightly at night. Below this signage was a back lit plastic sign reading "Cocktails" in a red script and "Gaming Spirits Pool" under that in a sans-serif, bold, dark blue font. Extending from the top of the sign at the end near the street was a pole with two, small square signs attached to that. The top one was yellow and read "OPEN 24 HRS." The one below that was white and read "COLD BEER." There are other photos of this sign where the plastic portion of the sign reads "COCKTAILS" in red still, but "Slots Video Poker" in blue and "Package Liquor" under that in red.
Sign - type of display: Neon and backlit plastic sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit portion
Sign environment: The surrounding environment of Davy's Locker was in a district that was close to UNLV as well as another popular bar that still caters to locals, Champagnes Cafe. It was located in a bustling area along to Maryland Parkway that locals travel on a daily basis. Davy's Locker was a popular watering hole for many people in the neighborhood due to its convenient location.
Sign - date of installation: Around the 1960's
Sign - date of redesign/move: It was first restored in 2011 and another time in 2014. Sign was taken down from the property in 2017.
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the sign appears to take inspiration from the phrase "Davy Jones' Locker." This is a common phrase that refers to "the bottom of the sea" or even "the mythical resting place of drowned mariners." Davy Jones is also believed to be an evil spirit from the bottom of the sea; therefore, the sign shows the influence of these aquatic origins that possibly inspired the name of the property.
Sign - artistic significance: The theme of the sign is aquatic, which also ties into the name of the property. The name of the property appears to take influence from the myth of Davy Jones, the evil spirit of the sea.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas weekly articles https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2016/mar/23/beloved-dive-bar-davys-locker-sold-old-vegas/ https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/jan/11/davys-locker-neon-sign-demolished/ https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/jan/13/davys-locker-bar-neon-sign-recovered-stonebarger/ , Las Vegas Sun article https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2016/mar/25/popular-dive-bar-to-take-a-breather-while-sports-b/ , Roadside Architecture http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas3.html , Phrase website http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/davy-jones-locker.html
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-22
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Neon; Roadside; Pole sign; Back to back

Mixed Content

Brendan Ly oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03754

Abstract

Oral history interview with Brendan Ly conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on March 27, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Brendan discusses his background growing up in communist Vietnam in the early 1970s and fleeing with his family as refugees; they immigrated to Hong Kong, China before moving to the United States to live briefly in North Carolina before settling in California. Brendan talks about working at a young age picking fruit, working in catering, and having positions in retail before pursuing higher education and studying pharmaceuticals. He shares stories of his work experience with Walgreens and how this led to him opening a pharmacy with his brother, which they've managed together for the past 18 years.

Archival Collection

Lisa Song Sutton oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03813

Abstract

Oral history interview with Lisa Song Sutton conducted by Cecilia Winchell, Vanessa Concepcion, and Stefani Evans on November 19, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.

Lisa shares her personal history and childhood memories moving from Seoul, South Korea to Sierra Vista, Arizona at the age of five. She discusses her educational and professional pursuits in business litigation, bankruptcy law, entrepreneurship, modeling, and her time in the pageant circuit winning Miss Vegas and Miss Nevada in 2013. Lisa also talks about her activism and community engagement efforts to empower women within Las Vegas. She concludes her interview with insight into her Korean heritage, traditional celebrations, and religion.

Archival Collection

Dr. Ruben Acherman oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03671

Abstract

Oral history interview with Ruben Acherman conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Laurents Bañuelos-Benítez on July 18, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Acherman discusses growing up in Palmira, Colombia, where his father emigrated to from Romania. He talks about how accepted he felt in a Catholic community, moving to Cali, Colombia to study medicine, and describes completing his rural residency in San Pedro, Colombia. Acherman then recalls specializing in cardiology at the University of Southern California (USC). Later, Acherman explains why he chose to specialize in cardiology, his interests in pediatric cardiology, and his inability to continue studying due to the lack of financial stability and his immigration status. Acherman describes his move to the Summerlin residential community in Las Vegas, Nevada after being offered a position to work for Dr. Bill Evans in 2001, and compares the differences in health care between the United States and Columbia. Lastly, Acherman discusses his first balloon dilation procedure and talks about the illustrations he has created in cardiology textbooks.

Archival Collection

Donald Snyder oral history interviews

Identifier

OH-03175

Abstract

Oral history interviews with Don Snyder conducted by Stefani Evans on April 20, 2017, July 28, 2017, September 26, 2017, January 09, 2018, and March 14, 2018 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In these interviews, Snyder discusses his early life and arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. He talks about First Interstate Bank, his involvement with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Foundation, and his career in banking. Snyder describes banking regulations, his resignation from First Interstate Bank, and the opening of Bank West of Nevada (Bank of Nevada) in 1994. He talks about the Downtown Progress Association, Fremont Street Experience, and joining Boyd Gaming. Snyder discusses his career at UNLV and serving as Dean of the UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality from 2010 to 2013. Lastly, Snyder is joined by Bo Bernhard, the Executive Director for the UNLV International Gaming Institute. The two discuss UNLV's involvement in building Allegiant Stadium, the creation of the Campus Improvement Authority Board, and their goal to move UNLV toward Tier 1 status.

Archival Collection

Ruby Gordon oral history interview

Identifier

OH-04006

Abstract

Oral history interview with Ruby Gordon conducted by Claytee D. White on October 29, 2004 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview, Gordon talks about her birth and early upbringing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Las Vegas, Nevada, where her parents moved when she was seven years old. She discusses her parent's decision to move for better opportunities and the kind of work they did, then speaks extensively about her education through high school, her early marriage, and raising six children. She also talks about the difficulties that mothers faced while trying to work and raise children, especially those with health issues. Later she talks about her involvement with the Elks fraternal organization and explains that there were different lodges for whites and Blacks, based primarily on location, the lodges regularly interacted and worked together on civic and charity programs. Finally, she expands on her own work history in early childhood education, working for the state, and for Child Haven.

Archival Collection

Geraldine Kirk-Hughes oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02200

Abstract

Oral history interview with Geraldine Kirk-Hughes conducted by Larry Sampson on November 28, 2014 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In this interview Kirk-Hughes relates her birth and upbringing in Simmersport, Louisiana, becoming a teen mother, earning a GED and earning her first college degree before marrying and moving to Greece and Dubai. She then explains how she returned to the United States to earn her masters degree before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978. She discusses her second marriage, her decision to attend law school, and her decision to go into private practice instead of working for a law firm. She talks about cases she worked on, people in the community she knew, and the effects of discrimination on her work and career. She ends by talking about her third marriage and sharing thoughts on how the Las Vegas African American community has lost some of the cohesiveness and unity of earlier decades.

Archival Collection

Edward Baca oral history interview

Identifier

OH-02533

Abstract

Oral history interview with Edward Baca conducted by Claytee D. White on January 28, 2016 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Baca opens his interview describing his parents and his youth in Wyoming. He then discusses moving to Bryce, Utah in the 1940s, his career in coal mining, and the process of removing coal from the mine. Baca describes his brief time working for the federal government, going to trade school to learn morse code, and working for the railroad. He then talks about switching careers to to work as an air conditioning insulator, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969. Baca then describes how he found religion, his efforts to learn more about Christianity, and forming a ministry where he preaches. He discusses his Christian radio program, his singing ministry, and his efforts to save a Christian radio station from closing. Lastly, Baca discusses his religious music albums, touring in a religious music group, and faith healing.

Archival Collection

Tom Hawley oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03791

Abstract

Oral history interview with Tom Hawley conducted by Claytee D. White and Su Kim Chung on September 21, 2021 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.

Tom Hawley was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, but found home in Las Vegas, Nevada where his father worked as a professional musician. A local historian and TV reporter from a helicopter, Hawley reported the traffic and contributed local stories of great interest. After radio and TV jobs in the mid-1980s, Tom began reporting in 1988 and joined the News 3 team in 1995. Outside of the workplace, he enjoyed classical music and hiking. He played with the Henderson Symphony where his instrument was the string bass. Hiking has taken him to the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and to the apex of Mount Charleston. Three weeks after the conclusion of this interview, Tom Hawley passed away after his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old.

Subjects discussed include: Star Policy; Production Shows; KUNV; Bob Stoldal; Henderson Symphony.

Archival Collection

Elda Membreno oral history interview

Identifier

OH-03563

Abstract

Oral history interview with Elda Membreno conducted by Elsa Lopez on February 15, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Elda Membreno discusses her childhood and young adulthood growing up in El Salvador. She recalls her family struggling financially throughout her childhood, which caused her parents to make the trip to the United States and began financially supporting Elda and her siblings abroad. Membreno shares how she became a single mother at a young age and the struggles that came along with that. After remarrying, Elda and her new husband immigrated to California. In 2004, the couple moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Membreno began working as housekeeper. Membreno discusses the problems she faced in her marriage and shares how her experiences have caused her to become outspoken about the problems she has faced throughout her life. Elda is a big advocate for therapy, and she talks about how many Latin households must break the stigma of domestic abuse. Finally, Membreno discusses her involvement in the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and her various civic engagements.

Archival Collection