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Photographs of Harley Davidson Cafe signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002

Date

2002

Description

Daytime and nighttime views of the Harley Davidson Cafe signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3725 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Marc Packer
Sign details: Just north of the Tourist center the Harley Davidson cafe sits on the corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd, facing west, with the corner pointing to the northwest. This properties exterior signage consists of two wall marquee wall signs on the west and north faces of the building, a small hanging sign above the entrance, a tall north/south facing pylon sign on the south end of the concrete courtyard that comprises the front of the property. A giant three-dimensional sculpture of a Harley Davidson motorcycle is integrated into the structure of the building to appear as if it is bursting out of the northwest corner of the building. Above the motorcycle is a marquee cabinet advertising for the cafe.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5 Notes: See description
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: On the west and north faces of the building, "Harley Davidson Cafe" is spelled in a continuous channel design, only being interrupted by the break between the rest of the text and the word "Cafe." This text is supported by a sleek, black, steel cabinet, that mimics the style of font used for the logo. The letters are crafted of red, shallow, steel channel letters, with white neon around the border as well as red neon on the interior. Standing on the South end of the property the pylon sign is reminiscent of old roadside pole signs, for it is mostly pole. The faceted pole is finished in polished stainless steel giving it highly metallic finish. At the top of the sign a sculpted marquee cabinet holds the advertisement for the cafe. The top portion of the cabinet is the Harley Davidson text logo, supported by an inverted triangle shape, with two lengths running along the underside of the text. The design for the letters is the same as that found on the buildings wall signs with white neon outlining the text, with red neon on the interior. The cabinet itself, without the text, is bordered with red neon, illuminating the highly polished surface of the cabinet. Underneath the Harley Davidson text on the outstretched arms the text "Las Vegas" is spelled in small, black, channel letters with white neon on the interior. Inside the inverted triangle shape created by the cabinet, is another inverted red triangle created by an open channel pan. Cutting across the triangle is channel letters, which spell the word "cafe" painted white on the interior. This text is filled with white neon. The pole continues above the cabinet a short distance. Along the length of the pole, "V" shaped channels repeat, forming a sort of directional sign pointing toward the ground. The channels are filled with tubes of red neon. These chase each other downward pointing toward the plaza and a small blurb of text painted at eye level in red paint. The phrase reads "The best BBQ in Las Vegas," in all caps. The text is then overlaid with red neon. The cabinet on the top of the pylon is repeated over the giant replica motorcycle, facing northwest, upon the northwest face of the wall. The neon scheme is the same as the pylon sign but the "cafe text" is filled with incandescent bulbs. Beneath the motorcycle, and directly over the door, a small back-lit version of the northwest wall above head height.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics
Sign animation: Chasing, flashing, oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the text reading "Paris" on the balloon oscillate rapidly.
Sign environment: Harmon and Las Vegas Boulevard plays host to the Aladdin, which includes the Blue Note jazz and blues club. The Harley Davidson Cafe's sun drenched patio creates the west facade while it stretches east down Harmon to face the Blue Note. This orientation actually creates an intimate feel to the street, seemingly separated from the strip.
Sign manufacturer: Mikhon Lighting and Sign
Sign designer: Roger Pratt
Sign - date of installation: 1999
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the exterior revolves around the design of the Harley Davidson motorcycle. The slightly italicized Impact text is reminiscent of the text seen on the motorcycles' fuselages. The vertical pylon sign is clearly influenced by roadside, marquee pylon signs, treated in a material also reminiscent of the steel beasts. The exposed metal exterior of the poles can only be associated with the aesthetic so commonly associated with the vehicles.
Sign - artistic significance: Similar to properties that are representative of everyday establishments such as McDonald's and Walgreen's, the Harley Davidson is representative of the themed restaurant, catered to a family environment. It too is an everyday occurrence, of a cafe, dressed with a theme to attract patrons, as well as survive and fit it in the context Las Vegas Blvd Even though the themed restaurant is a popular idea abroad, The Harley Davidson fits in with its partners in the themed cafe industry such as the NASCAR Cafe and Planet Hollywood. Many restaurants among the casinos are themed but, there are only a few that are independently represented with their own signage. The giant replica of the Harley Davidson is also in the tradition of other giant Casino mascots throughout local history. Such mascots could include The Coin King, Mr. O' Lucky, and the original Aladdin sculpture.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Oscillating; Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Graphics

Mixed Content

Photograph of the Thunderbird marquee, Las Vegas (Nev.), 1970-1979

Date

1970 to 1979

Description

A nighttime photograph of the Thunderbird marquee advertising "Kings IV, Buckley and Collins," and "Thoroughly Modern Minsky World Famous Burlesque produced by Harold Minsky in the Continental Theatre. Showtimes 8:15 and midnight plus Fri. + Sat. 2:30 A.M." On September 2, 1948, the Thunderbird Hotel was the fourth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort was built by developer Marion Hicks and owned by Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. The resort had a Native American theme and featured portraits, a Navajo-based restaurant, the only bowling alley ever on the Strip, and a showroom. In 1955, articles surfaced in the Las Vegas Sun saying that Meyer Lansky and other underworld figures held hidden shares in the hotel. In 1964, the casino was purchased by Del Webb for $10 million. He ran the resort until 1972, when he sold it to Caesars World, owner of Caesars Palace, for $13.6 million. A $150-million, 2,000-room resort called the Mark Anthony was planned for the site, but Caesars was unable to find financing, and sold the property four years later to banker E. Parry Thomas at a loss of $5.7 million. Thomas later sold it to Major Riddle, owner of the Dunes Hotel, who renamed the resort as the Silverbird in 1976. The Thunderbird has the distinction of being the resort where singer Rosemary Clooney made her first appearance in Las Vegas in 1951, and where Judy Garland made her final Vegas appearance in 1965. Site Name: Thunderbird Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 2755 South Las Vegas Boulevard

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Photograph of the Thunderbird marquee and parking lot, Las Vegas (Nev.), 1970-1979

Date

1970 to 1979

Description

A nighttime photograph of the Thunderbird marquee advertising "Kings IV, Buckley and Collins," and "Thoroughly Modern Minsky World Famous Burlesque produced by Harold Minsky in the Continental Theatre." On September 2, 1948, the Thunderbird Hotel was the fourth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort was built by developer Marion Hicks and owned by Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. The resort had a Native American theme and featured portraits, a Navajo-based restaurant, the only bowling alley ever on the Strip, and a showroom. In 1955, articles surfaced in the Las Vegas Sun saying that Meyer Lansky and other underworld figures held hidden shares in the hotel. In 1964, the casino was purchased by Del Webb for $10 million. He ran the resort until 1972, when he sold it to Caesars World, owner of Caesars Palace, for $13.6 million. A $150-million, 2,000-room resort called the Mark Anthony was planned for the site, but Caesars was unable to find financing, and sold the property four years later to banker E. Parry Thomas at a loss of $5.7 million. Thomas later sold it to Major Riddle, owner of the Dunes Hotel, who renamed the resort as the Silverbird in 1976. The Thunderbird has the distinction of being the resort where singer Rosemary Clooney made her first appearance in Las Vegas in 1951, and where Judy Garland made her final Vegas appearance in 1965. Site Name: Thunderbird Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 2755 South Las Vegas Boulevard

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Transcript of interview with Norma and Gil Schwartz by Stefani Evans, September 22, 2017, October 4, 2017, & February 14, 2018

Date

2017-09-19
2017-10-05
2018-02-14

Description

It's been live, love, and laugh ever since we met. We've been married now thirty-three years. Even for a ninety-three-year-old man, thirty-three years is a long time. For Gil Schwartz, thirty-three years is nearly one-third of his life. The former real estate broker, who was raised in Rye, New York, learned the business by working with his father and then forming his own property management company in Manhattan. In 1959, with two children in tow, Gil moved to Las Vegas, where he soon took temporary quarters at Twin Lakes Lodge and he and his children learned to ride horses. In this interview, Schwartz recalls how horseback riding gave him an instant network of friends through working on the annual Helldorado Days and joining the Sheriff's Mounted Posse. He talks about Sahara Realty, the real estate brokerage he founded in 1964 and sold in 1983, and he shares his experiences 1967–68 in negotiating options to buy about one hundred parcels of unimproved land for Herb Nall, who represe

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Transcript of interview with Peggy Huber by Greg Pushard, March 14, 1981

Date

1981-03-14

Description

On March 14th, 1981, collector Greg Pushard interviewed postmaster Peggy Huber (born March 31st, 1884 in Conway, Arkansas) in her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. This interview covers Peggy’s life in Nevada and also offers an insightful overview of Nevada’s rich history. During this interview Peggy discusses life on the ranch, mining, settlement, and the local early aboveground atomic blasts.

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Transcript of interview with Frank Cope by Marianne Johnson, March 15, 1978

Date

1978-03-15

Archival Collection

Description

On March 15, 1978, Marianne Johnson interviewed Frank Cope (born in Kansas, in 1930) at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Frank’s family relocated to Nevada from Kansas when he was six months old. For school, he attended the Westside Grammar School, Las Vegas Grammar School on Fifth Street, and Las Vegas High School. He also attended Carson City High School for two years before enlisting in the Army and going overseas. Pertaining to work, Mr. Cope describes his occupation as distribution superintendent at the Las Vegas Valley Water District. He recalls how he met his wife, who also works for the water district as a secretary in the engineering department. Additionally, most of Frank’s brothers work for the water district as well. Social groups or organizations Frank mentions being affiliated with include the Las Vegas Golf Association, two motorcycle clubs, the American Public Works Association, the American Water Works Association, and the Las Vegas Elks Lodge 1468.

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Transcript of interview with Jacqueline Evans by Susan Rapport, March 15, 1981

Date

1981-03-15

Description

On March 15, 1981, Susan Rapport interviewed Jacqueline Evans (born 1940 in Long Beach, California) about her experiences in Nevada. Evans first talks about living in Reno and Tonopah before moving to Las Vegas where she attended high school. She talks specifically about her extracurricular activities in high school, recreational activities, and other forms of entertainment. The two also discuss political events during the sixties, her husband’s involvement in Indian affairs, and the flood problem in Las Vegas. Evans also talks about bringing children up in Las Vegas, camping as a recreational activity, and the development of Lake Mead.

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Meeting minutes for Consolidated Student Senate University of Nevada, Las Vegas, October 26, 1998

Date

1998-10-26

Description

Includes meeting agenda and minutes. CSUN Session 28 Meeting Minutes and Agendas.

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