Search Results
Houssels Photograph Collection
Identifier
Abstract
The Houssels Photograph Collection contains color and black-and-white photographs and slides of the Houssels House from 1983. The photographs document the house's original location on Sixth Street in Las Vegas, Nevada, and its subsequent transportation to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Archival Collection
Julie McDonald oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Julie McDonald conducted by Michael Richardson on March 14, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, McDonald describes life in Las Vegas, Nevada after moving there in 1956, as well as the city's layout. McDonald also passionately describes the complexities, perks, and pitfalls she faced while working as a card dealer in various casinos.
Archival Collection
Steve Johnson oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Steve Johnson conducted by Fred Reagan on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Johnson discusses his exposure to African American racial discrimination and segregation in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1950s to the 1970s. He discusses these experiences in markets, theaters, casinos, employment, and in common social interactions. Johnson also discusses the slow progression of social acceptance to racial integration and African Americans entering professional fields.
Archival Collection
Arnie and Sheila Wexler Professional Papers
Identifier
Abstract
The Arnie and Sheila Wexler Professional Papers consist of the professional materials dating from 1976 to 2006 of Arnie and Sheila Wexler, compulsive gambling counselors from New Jersey. The papers include documents, articles, videotapes, and audiocassettes on various aspects of problem, compulsive, and pathological gambling.
Archival Collection
Photographs of Ginseng BBQ signs, Las Vegas (Nev.), 2002
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Site address: 3765 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: Down the driveway created between the Fatburger and Walgreen's structure is a slightly larger lot, which is home to the Ginseng BBQ establishment. The signage is a gateway, banner structure which leads to this slightly larger lot. It is visible standing directly in front of the Fatburger sign, looking east down the alley.
Sign condition: Structure 3 Surface 3 Lighting 3
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: Attached to the section of the Fatburger building which houses the entrance to the Alan Albert's, and stretches across to the building which houses Walgreen's is a sign which is comprised of a horizontal overhead structure of steel beams, forming a lattice work or skeleton of an entrance. The top and bottom edges are white raceways with incandescent bulbs. Placed awkwardly along the bottom portion of the skeleton is a border of gold polished raceways with incandescent bulbs. There is no backing to the border, so it is simply an edge and nothing more inside this border consisting of the structure of the sign. The top and bottom edges of the structure are lined with incandescent bulbs. "Ginseng BBQ" is spelled in gold channel letters painted white on the inside, with red neon in the interior. The letters are all caps and centered inside the border. The sign faces west. The actual establishment is further east. through the gateway where a slightly larger lot is located, on the north face of the Walgreens side of the complex.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent
Sign - media: Steel
Sign animation: Chasing, flashing, oscillating
Notes: The text, which resides on the southern wall and reads "Casino," is filled with incandescent bulbs that all illuminate at the same time, and oscillate. They then shut off at the same time, and then repeat. The raceways of incandescent bulbs chase each other while the neon, which surrounds the back lit, plastic, screens on this wall flash on then off. The bottom two raceways sandwiching the reflective panel chase from left to right, while the remainder of the raceways surrounding the signs, run right to left. The incandescent bulbs on the pylon chase each other gracefully up the length of the pylon. The animation is patterned so as to appear as if a section of several bulbs are pulsing its way up the towers, hugging the edge of the bulbous tops. The raceways continue around the east face of the building. The umbrellas in the plaza behind the pylon, also are animated with incandescent bulbs chasing each other downward along the raceways.
Sign environment: The environment which the Ginseng BBQ's establishment shares is dictated by its neighbors of Walgreen's and Fatburger. The small enclosure of a lot, which is in front of the store, follows after passing underneath the main logo text banner for the restaurant. It is hidden among the various neighboring businesses, being protected by the larger structure in front of it.
Sign manufacturer: Vision Sign
Sign - thematic influences: No real theme surrounds the signage other than it appears that it was pieced together from various other pieces of signage. The white, steel skeleton appears as if it was there previously, and the Ginseng sign was attached later. The theme that it does fit into is the small eateries which pop up among the strip malls and small shopping centers along the strip. It is also one of two different Ginseng BBQ establishment.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Steel
Mixed Content
Transcript of interview with Dr. Joseph Rojas by Lisa Gioia-Acres, September 30, 2008
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Dr. Joseph Rojas, born 1933 in Alexandria, Louisiana, was the son of Joseph Edward Rojas and wife Carroll. He graduated high school at age 16 and entered Loyola University of the South. Two years later he was accepted at Louisiana State University School of Medicine, graduating with a medical degree in 1957. He interned at Charity Hospital and then completed his OB-GYN residency at Tulane University. Several mentors worked with Dr. Rojas during his residency and he recalls learning surgical and bed-side skills from the likes of Dr. Lynn White and Dr. Fred Janson. He also remembers the very high volume of patients - up to 300 - that he and other residents saw daily. Dr. Rojas married Mona Robicheaux, RN, during his residency and afterwards joined the Air Force. He and his family — they eventually had six children — were stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, arriving in Las Vegas in 1961. He was chief of OBGYN and deputy hospital commander while at Nellis and then served as chief of OBGYN at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital until 1972. He later served as chief of staff at Women's Hospital and Valley Hospital, and was the first chief of staff at Summerlin Hospital. Dr. Rojas also maintained a private practice outside of the hospital. His wife worked alongside him in his office, and they share memories and anecdotes of the patients they saw and the general atmosphere of the medical community. Both Joseph and Mona agree that Las Vegas hospitals were less racially segregated than the hospitals in Louisiana, and felt that the West was more open to integration. In 1966 Dr. Rojas started the first OB-GYN residency in Nevada, which led to the development of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He was a researcher, lecturer, teacher, and author. He earned many awards, including the Harold Feikes MD Award for Outstanding Physician in Clark County (2001), and the Nevada State Medical Association Distinguished Physician Award (1980). Dr. Rojas passed away in May of 2009, leaving behind an incredible legacy of service to the residents of Clark County.
Text
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Theta Omega Chapter "Hodegos" reports
Date
Archival Collection
Description
From the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Theta Theta Omega Chapter Records (MS-01014) -- Chapter records file.
Text
Photographs of Starlite Motel at dusk, Las Vegas (Nev.), March 17, 2017
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Site address: 1873 N Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: LAS VEGAS DRAGON HOTEL LLC
Sign details: This motel resides in North Las Vegas and is one of the few around that still offers traditional roadside lodging.
Sign condition: 5 - Sign was recently updated with was appears to be newer neon and a different color scheme, going with a bright blue and brown. New white vinyl letters have been added.
Sign form: Pole
Sign-specific description: Previous to the spring 2017 upgrade: This pole sign extends out toward the street for motorists and pedestrians to see. This pole is a bright red color. A four pointed red star sits at the top of the red pole for everyone to see. This is outlined with neon tubes that glow blue at night. In the spaces between the points of the star the neon tube is bent to create smaller points. In the middle of the star painted in bold white script is the word "Starlite." This is also outlined with neon tubes to glow at night. Under this is the word "VACANCY" painted in bold white text, but the neon tubes that outline it light up red. Attached to the point of the star that extends toward the road is a long, rectangular sign that reads "MOTEL" in bold white text with a black outline on a light blue background. Extending from the "MOTEL" sign towards the red star are 3 smaller four pointed stars that have incandescent light bulbs in their center and are outlined by neon tubes that glow blue at night. On top of the "MOTEL" sign is another one of these four pointed stars that sits on the outer edge of the sign. Next to this is a larger, light blue four pointed star with an incandescent light bulb in the center and a smaller four pointed star made from a neon tube surrounding the light bulb. The neon tube that outlines the larger portion of the star is bent to create smaller points in the portions of the star without points.
Sign - type of display: Neon and incandescent
Sign - media: Steel
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign animation: Unknown since update
Sign environment: The surrounding properties are Jerry's Nugget and the Silver Nugget casinos. It is also just down the street from the Cultural Corridor which includes the Neon Museum and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. The Las Vegas Library is also down the street.
Sign - date of installation: c. 1950s
Sign - date of redesign/move: Spring 2017
Sign - thematic influences: This property is one of many star-themed motels throughout the city. The 1950's was a popular time for space age/ star themed business due to the Space Age and explorations during this time period. Also, since the name of the property is the "Starlite Motel", the amount of stars included in this sign emphasizes this theme.
Sign - artistic significance: This sign has a heavy influence of the Space Age due to the stars throughout the sign that are telling of the theme for the property. The specific stars for this sign have a Googie-like influence as well because they are very stylized in a futuristic manner.
Survey - research locations: Assessor's website, roadarch.com
Survey - other remarks: http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/nevada/vegas/lvmotel/lvnorthmotel/index.htm#sta rlitemotel
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-05
Sign keywords: Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Paint; Pole sign
Mixed Content
4 Mile Bar Neon Survey document, September 8, 2017
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Site name: 4 Mile Bar (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Site address: 3650 Boulder Hwy
Sign owner: Bob and Bill Joslin
Sign details: This is one of the most historic bars in Las Vegas. The original site of the bar was actually where one of the oldest communities in town began called Formyle. The community was there long before The Boulder Highway or US Highway 95. The area where the bar currently resides was called Four Mile Spring because it was "four miles from the center of town" and for the natural spring that was there. This part of town, for much of its history, was outside of Las Vegas city limits and outside of the laws for the rest of the city as well. This site was originally a brothel when it opened in the 1950s. In 1954, the property was raided by the FBI and then ended up turning into a bar. It is "one of the Valley's last true-blue roadhouses" and it is named because it sits four miles away from the Downtown area. They are also known for their very popular karaoke nights.
Sign condition: 4, the roadside sign is in good condition, but the sign that is attached to the building has some light bulbs that have been burned out on it.
Sign form: Roadside sign is a pole sign with a message center and there is an architectural sign attached to the facade of the building.
Sign-specific description: The road side portion of the signage for the 4 Mile Bar is fairly simple. The top of the sign features a plastic, backlit square that has a large red "4" and "MILE" in bold white text in the middle of the number. Underneath this is "BAR" in a bold red text against a white background. About a foot or two underneath this sign is a large plastic, backlit reader board. The main support for the sign is a white rectangular structure with two red stripes running down the center of it with a few inches of space between the lines. The architectural sign that is on the facade of the building is uncomplicated as well. The shape of it fits the top portion of the building and looks like a stretched out rectangle. All of the edges are lined by incandescent light bulbs. In the middle of the sign in open channel letters are the words "4 MILE BAR" that are filled with white glowing neon tubes.
Sign - type of display: Incandescent, neon and backlit plastic portion
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic
Sign environment: This bar sits at the cusp where Fremont Street transitions to Boulder Highway. Many of the immediate properties that sit near this bar are motels and mobile home communities. This is also just down the road from Boulder Station Hotel and Casino as well as the Winchester Cultural Center.
Sign - thematic influences: The roadside sign is very straightforward since it just displays the name of the bar, but there could have been a stylistic choice to use the actual number "4" instead of the word "four."
Sign - artistic significance: The most notable feature about this sign is the number "4" instead of the word "four" that is used, possibly for stylistic reasons.
Survey - research locations: Accessor's Page http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/assessor/Pages/searchbybusinessname.aspx, Review Journal articles https://storify.com/ReviewJournal/7-of-the-most-historic-bars-in-las-vegas and https://www.reviewjournal.com/uncategorized/over-a-century-four-mile-has-gone-from-trailside-oasis-to-brothel-to-bar/ , Vegas Seven article http://vegasseven.com/2013/06/12/las-vegas-bar-hall-fame/
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-09-08
Sign keywords: Architectural; Incandescent; Neon; Backlit; Plastic; Steel; Pole sign; Roadside
Text