Visual clutter on the Las Vegas strip is evident as signs, water displays, buildings, and people compete for attention. Here the right turn lanes from eastbound Flamingo Road to southbound Las Vegas Boulevard illustrate the distraction facing drivers.
Daytime and nighttime views of the La Concha Motel sign on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet. Site address: 2955 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Edward Doumani Sign details: The La Concha is located north of the Riviera hotel Casino, just past the giant glass wall advertising for Splash. The La Concha double sided ground sign, sits close to the street on the east side of the strip, facing north /south. Directly to the east the origin of the signs shape resides in the form of the front structure of the La Concha's lobby structure. The sweeping elliptical roofline creates a structure dripping with the flavor of outlandish 50's-60's expressionistic modern design. The roadside ground sign reflects this shape actually mimicking it in a stylized silhouette of itself. The two icons are separated by a small but busy parking lot that expands north of the La Concha to house other similar style structures. The wings of the hotel, which extend out behind the main lobby, are a rather stark and plainly rectangular form, compared to the front portion of the lot. Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 4 Lighting 4 Notes: Considering the age of the property and the sign, it is in great condition, everything is intact, but not perfect. Sign form: Pylon Sign-specific description: The sign resides in a pleasant spot of green grass, among the concrete and black top surfaces. A rectangular base, painted a light hue of blue and gold, supports a double-sided sculpted cabinet in a three-pointed crown, which is the stylized profile of the building in sits in front of. Below the main cabinet a triangular internally lit message center has been added, as well as two more, flat rectangular cabinets on the north and south sides. The cabinets are adorned with text that advertising for car rentals located in the same neighboring lot. Off of the west side of the cabinet a small circular cabinet is cantilevered off of the edge. It is an internally lit marker, noting that color television is available inside. The surface of the actual cabinet is painted red, and is somewhat faded. The section of the cabinet that would be dedicated to the low-lying portions of the La Concha's roof are addressed in white. The "La Concha" is spelled across the front of the sign in white text outlined in blue. The text is designed specific to the sign, for the capital L and C are shaped to match the contours of the crowns of the sign. The rest of the script also takes on some of the same stroke of the manner. Motel is spelled in the same coloring across the bottom right hand portion of the signs face, in block text. The very bottom portion of the cabinet is a black painted horizontal extension with edges that angle back into the body of the sign. The words "vacancy' are written across the surface of the sign to the right hand side. No is spelled on the left, but only in neon. When illuminated the main text is lined with a light electric blue, while the edges, and the top contours are lined with a pink and fuchsia glowing borders. The words "vacancy" and "motel" are lined in an orange, amber colored, warm tubing. Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit Sign - media: Steel; Plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint Sign animation: none Sign environment: The La Concha sits just to the south of the Riviera's giant glass wall. Headed south, the property comes into view, being a quiet transition from the extreme nature of the Riviera. The sign sits in a black top expanse that meanders back into the rest of La Concha's property. The base of the sign is surrounded with plants and curbing, firmly rooted into the urban mainstream of the neighboring street. Sign manufacturer: YESCO Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the La Concha can be drawn directly from 1950's and 60's modern design. Such curve can be seen signs of the decade for example the original Dunes pylon displays elements of such curve and swell. In Jorg Rugemer's Lost Las Vegas, there is a picture of a 60's era automobile sitting next to the building. It is used to show the influences of the structures design present in the design of something as common as the automobile. It is reminiscent of the protruding fins and large eye like taillights seen on such autos. The sign itself is an interpretation of the building in a silhouette form, so it's angle draw from the same pool as well. The coloration of the neon is also reminiscent of the era. The turquoise, vermilion and red are reminders of such properties as the original Flamingo, and the Algiers. Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday Survey - date completed: 2002 Sign keywords: Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics; Paint
Photos show Paris signs during the day and at night. Two surveys were conducted to gather information about this sign. One was conducted in 2002 and one was conducted in 2017. PDFs are available for both surveys. See the 2017 survey PDF for additional information that is not included in the object description. Site name: Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Site address: 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Park Place Entertainment Sign details: The Paris property lies on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd, between the Aladdin and Bally's. The three properties stretch from Harmon Avenue, all the way to Flamingo Rd. The only real neon signage includes the text seen on top of the replica of the Eiffel Tower, and a three-dimensional balloon shaped pylon sign located at the south end of the property. Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5 Sign form: Pylon; Fascia; Porte-cochère Sign-specific description: Leaving the Aladdin property, headed north you are immediately confronted with the giant hot-air balloon, which acts as the main marquis sign for the Paris Hotel and Casino. The three-dimensional balloon shape sits among trimmed shrubbery and foliage, representational of a classic French garden. The sign is located on an island with a long driveway on its north side running east into the property. It towers high above the viewer, almost appearing as if it is floating. In the spirit of properties like the Aladdin and the Excalibur, the facade of the resort is modeled after a theme, which is the French City of Paris. Complete with fountains, replica street fronts and markets, the main focal point is a life size replica of the Eiffel Tower. Some signage is located high up on the tower, in yellow channel letters. The sign reads "Eiffel Tower Restaurant." The three-dimensional sculpted pylon sign is composed of basically three pieces. At the very bottom, a large post holds up the second section of a large cube. All four sides of the cube are occupied by square, advertising screens. The two facing east/west are back lit color plastic, while the ones facing north/south are LCD screens. The cube is finished in stucco, with sculptural treatments along all of the edges of the cubes. The edges are made to look like giant ropes with knots on all eight corners. The sign is located on the East Side of the strip, yet the only directional orientations are on the cube that the balloon sits on. The spherical structure is an exterior frame with blue vinyl material stretched to form the balloon shape. Steel framework also runs around the circumference in six different places along the structure. On the north and south sides Paris is spelled in red channel letters, filled with incandescent bulbs and bordered in neon. The blue vinyl material is treated with graphic painted images, which are repeated around the circumference of the balloon. The images are of lion heads holding red sashes, above golden eagles. On the middle section an image of a woman's face is surrounded by a golden halo. The yellow structural supports, which are visible on the exterior, also house tubes of neon. The resulting effect is a repeating pattern of neon running up the length of the structure, with horizontal bands around the bottom of the structure, below the channel letters and above them also. A criss-cross pattern adorns the two bands below the text, as well as a scalloped pattern above the text also. The porte cochere is a circular drive with the only lighting being incandescent bulbs running along the raceways, which create the structure of the interior. The structure is finished in a patina bronze, made to look oxidized. Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent Sign - media: Steel; Plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint Sign animation: Chasing, flashing, oscillating Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the text reading "Paris" on the balloon oscillate rapidly. Sign environment: Located between Bally's and the Aladdin, two heavily frequented and boisterous properties themselves, the Paris fits nicely creating it's own environment that stands alone when entered. If a pedestrian is present among the stunning architecture, it is easy to be pulled into the theme. Even though the Bellagio is west across the street, the expanse of the street keep the Paris far enough away to be mostly independent, that is of course if the Bellagio's water show is not being displayed. The surrounding properties of Bally's, the Aladdin, and The Bellagio make the area of Las Vegas Blvd between Harmon Ave. and Flamingo rd. a fantastic world stylized cities and dazzling imagery, yet an interesting mix of architecture and signage. Sign designer: Architect/consultant: Bergman, Walls & Youngblood Ltd. Contractor: Perini Building Sign - date of installation: 1997 Sign - thematic influences: The Paris Hotel Casino is obviously themed after the actual French city of Paris. The entire facade represents the Parisian atmosphere containing the most famous of Parisian attractions including the Eiffel Tower, the Arch de Triumph, open air cafes, plazas utilizing fountains, and the ornate architecture that spans from gothic to neo classical. The Paris fits into the themed hotel casino industry seamlessly, actually boasting one of the more ornate and unique facades. Other properties that parallel the Paris in style and genre include the Aladdin, the Venetian, and the New York New York. In fact it fits into the category of Hotel/Casino whose theme is what dominates the aesthetic surroundings as well as operation inside and out. Other facilities contain elements of a theme, such as the Stardust, but the interior and exterior are no longer the dominant aspect of the aesthetics. It also fits into the category of resorts themed after actual cities. Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday Survey - date completed: 2002 Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Oscillating; Pylon; Fascia; Porte-cochère; Neon; Incandescent; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Graphics