The Desert Star Motel sign sits aglow at 1210 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet. Site address: 1210 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Desert Star Motel Enterprises Sign details: The original construction of this motel was in 1961 and has acted as a motel since. Sign condition: 3, sign is in decent condition. Some portions of it do not light up anymore. Sign form: Roadside pole sign Sign-specific description: This sign sits directly on the roadside along Las Vegas Boulevard. The sign consists of a large black pole with many different back lit signs extending toward Las Vegas Boulevard attached to it. Staring from the top of the sign. There is a plastic back lit sign reading "DESERT STAR" in bold white letters against a red background. Under this are individual square signs each containing one letter. Moving down the length of the pole they spell out the word "MOTEL". Each of these letters are red against a white background. Under this series of letters is a star shaped back lit sign reading "DESERT STAR" in bold red text against a white background. This sign is outlined by a neon tube that no longer works. Attached to the bottom points of the star is a rectangular back sign with "VACANCY" painted on it in white. Neon tubes outline the word "NO" as well as "VACANCY." Under this sign is another plastic back lit sign reading "Check Out our Weekly & Daily Rates" in white letters against a red background. Finally, the last portion of this sign is another plastic back lit sign reading "Free Local Calls" in white letters against a red background. Sign - type of display: Neon and back lit plastic sign Sign - media: Steel and plastic Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit sign Sign environment: This motel sits very close to the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston. It is a short distance away from the Arts District and Fremont Street. It is a few blocks north of the Stratosphere hotel. A few properties that are close to this motel are the Little White Wedding Chapel as well as many other hostels and motels. Sign - date of redesign/move: From an earlier photograph, this sign has changed from what appears to might have been their original sign. There is no exact year when the sign changed. The sign that they had in the 60s looks similar to their sign today, but with different colors. The earlier sign had the same "MOTEL" running down the side of the pole, but the letters were black against a yellow background and the pole was white. The star under this was white with forest green letters reading "DESERT STAR." There were three other rectangular signs under this. Each of these had forest green letters against a white background. The sign under the star sign and the "NO VACANCY" attached to that read " TV PHONES." The second sign said "REFRIGERATION." And the third said "AAA HEATED POOL." Sign - thematic influences: The name "DESERT STAR" could've taken influence from the Space Age. There were plenty of motels that had a star theme or "star" in their name all throughout the city. Sign - artistic significance: This is a good example of how roadside signs could be simple, yet eye catching to motorists and pedestrians. It does keep in theme with many of the other motel signs throughout the city by sitting directly along the roadside to be noticeable. Survey - research locations: Assessor's Page, Stephani Drives Las Vegas Website http://stefanidrivesvegas.com/8.html Survey - research notes: There in not much information on the history of this property. Surveyor: Emily Fellmer Survey - date completed: 2017-09-09 Sign keywords: Neon; Plastic; Backlit; Steel; Roadside; Pole sign
Photos show Monte Carlo signs during the day. 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: Monte Carlo Resort and Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.) Site address: 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd Sign owner: Mandalay Resort Group (50%), MGM Mirage (50%)-Mandalay manages the property Sign details: The Monte Carlo is located on the west side of the strip just past the New York New York. The signage on the front of the Monte Carlo is limited, with the dominant honors going to the architectural aspects instead. The front facade is made to represent the classical architecture actually found in Monte Carlo. Giant patina fountains are flanked by sweeping staircases, where giant recessed arches and niches hold an abundant array of diversely positioned statuary. Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 5 Lighting 5 Sign form: Pylon; Fascia Sign-specific description: Through the main arch behind the fountain, located on the south east corner, an entrance is guarded from above by black channel letters spelling "Monte Carlo" and filled with incandescent bulbs. This entrance faces southeast. The architecture continues with relief entablature upon fluted columns supporting Corinthian caps, and more statuary. Light posts adorn the sweeping walk in front of the property. Throughout the architecture you can see pools and fountains contained between arches and recessed into other area. Another entrance in the same fashion as the southeast entrance sits facing northeast. Another set of channel letters is set above these doors as well. Just north of the last entrance is the pylon for the Monte Carlo. The pylon fits into the category commonly seen at resorts such as The Mirage, or Luxor. Essentially a giant rectangle in its general silhouette, a multi leveled collection of signs are designated into geometrical planes by the use of classical architectural elements. The sign is at the north end of the Monte Carlo property and faces north/south, and is double sided. The bottom half of the structure is occupied by a tall arch, creating a pedestrian element, allowing passage through the sign. The two legs that flank the arch are created utilizing a pair of double columns supporting a series of crowned ledges supporting yet another architectural element of a pilaster. The resultant effect is two rather massive collections of elements creating the outer legs of columns, combined with pilasters, for the recessed borders of the impressive arch. Above the arch the cabinet rises up divided into two planes, one on top of the other, each holding a message cabinet with a pair of the square post as seen on the structure just below. It creates another pilaster from the front with rows of stacked columns on the structures width. The two arrangements are identical in structure and facade. The difference lies in the different types of display each on holds. The top is a back lit color advertisement currently for magician Lance Burton, while the bottom is an LED matrix screen . The top is an entablature crowned with sweeping overhangs, and containing the text Monte Carlo in black channel letters and filled with incandescent bulbs. The signage on the towers of the hotel are the repeated Monte Carlo logos in giant black channel letters, and filled with incandescent bulbs. On each face of each one of the wings Monte Carlo is spelled in it's trademark text, in black channel letters and filled with incandescent bulbs. Sign - type of display: Incandescent; Backlit Sign - media: Steel; Plastic Sign animation: Oscilllating Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the channel letters oscillate, at the entrances on the building as well. Sign environment: The environment the Monte Carlo creates with its various forms of advertisement abruptly changes in aesthetic contrast to its southern companion and precursor to the northbound traveler. One minute the pedestrian is listening to the nasal audio streaming from the ESPN Zone loudspeakers, to the delicately ornate facade of the Monte Carlo's fountains and highly detailed statuary. Once you cross the drive it is not hard to be attracted the by classical architecture which serves its purpose of bringing in the patron with the limited space utilized for pedestrian passage across the front. I say limited, even though it is one of the more ornate and expansive ones, that is in comparison to its related properties of the Mirage and the Bellagio. The use of architecture makes the utmost use of this great strength of aesthetic by making it interactive for the pedestrian by allowing them to pass up close to the elements while entering the building or traversing the facade. The two giant wings on either end of the property act as arms to pull in people using swooping steps and large fountains. The signage is integrated into this environment, blending in nicely, in similar fashion as the previously mentioned examples. The oscillating incandescent bulbs can be found inside the channel letters, which is the most common animation seen in this type of signage in the other properties as well. Sign - date of installation: 1995 Sign - thematic influences: The Monte Carlo theme is that of an understated European elegance. Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday Survey - date completed: 2002 Sign keywords: Oscillating; Pylon; Fascia; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic