Search Results
Visual material, 1914-1988
Level of Description
Scope and Contents
The YESCO visual materials series (1914-1988) document a visual history of YESCO from its early beginnings, through its expansions, to its work in the 1980s. They include visuals of various YESCO plants, shops, buildings, equipment and personnel, as well as various signs created and installed by YESCO in multiple states. The series includes black-and-white and color photographs as well as Polaroids. It contains photographs, slides, negatives, and digital files of a variety of Las Vegas landmarks and hotels and casinos, including The Mint, Flamingo, Sahara, Caesar’s Palace, Fremont Street,
Archival Collection
Collection Name: Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) Corporate Records
Box/Folder: N/A
Archival Component
Michael Young and Jeffrey Young oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Michael Young and Jeffrey Young conducted by Stefani Evans on October 05, 2017 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Michael and Jeffrey discuss their upbringing in Salt Lake City, Utah. They talk about their family business, Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), and the various jobs they held at the company. Michael and Jeffrey describe the first signs YESCO completed for early downtown Las Vegas, Nevada properties, and the company’s growth during that time. Later, Michael and Jeffrey talk about the significance that YESCO has in Las Vegas, and becoming stewards of the company. Lastly, Michael and Jeffrey discuss the ownership model that YESCO has established.
Archival Collection
Harold Bradford oral history interviews
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interviews with Harold Bradford conducted by Claytee D. White, Camille Morris, Anna Frederick, and Remy Chwae on April 24, 2017 and June 10, 2017 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project. In the first interview, Bradford discusses his early life in New Orleans, Louisiana. He recalls going through a segregated school system, and his experience with integration. Bradford remembers moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1985, his employment for the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), and becoming an art director for YESCO. In the second interview, Bradford discusses his initial interest in neon signs, and his work ethic as a visual artist.
Archival Collection
Hard Rock Cafe Neon Guitar Sign Sketch
Identifier
Abstract
Collection is comprised of a framed sketch of the neon guitar sign that was fabricated by YESCO for the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas, Nevada circa 1990. It was hand-colored by the designer Shirley Ono, framed, and presented as a gift to Warwick Stone, Creative Director of the Hard Rock Cafe chain from 1982-1996, who commissioned the design.
Archival Collection
Landscapes and Sights, 1994-2001
Level of Description
Scope and Contents
The Landscapes and Sights series (1994-2001) contains images of exterior images and sights considered for locations including Downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas street scenes, photographs from the YESCO neon sign boneyard, and some photographs from outside of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Collection Name: Maggie Mancuso Collection of Film Locations
Box/Folder: N/A
Archival Component
Neon in Nevada Photograph Collection
Identifier
Abstract
The Neon in Nevada Photograph Collection contains black-and-white and color photographic slides of neon signs from cities and towns in Nevada dating from 1913 to 1989. The collection includes slides from Las Vegas, Reno, Boulder City, Laughlin, Henderson, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Elko, Wells, McGill, Ely, Eureka, Austin, Hawthorne, and Carson City. The collection also includes slides from the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) that depict the "sign graveyard" in Las Vegas, Nevada of broken and retired neon signs.
Archival Collection
Henry Schutte oral history interview
Identifier
Abstract
Oral history interview with Henry Schutte conducted by an unknown collector on an unknown date in approximately the 1980s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Schutte discusses working on trains since childhood and explains the type of maintenance he performed. Schutte then describes his career at the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO).
Archival Collection
Red Bull sign, Winnemucca, Nevada: photographic print
Date
Archival Collection
Description
View of the Red Bull restaurant during the day with show of YESCO installing the bull.
Image
Photographs of Pabst Blue Ribbon sign, Las Vegas (Nev.), June 28, 2017
Date
Archival Collection
Description
Site address: Fremont St and Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: PBR Donated, but a part of Fremont Street East
Sign details: PBR held a revealing party when installed in 2015, right next to The Park on Fremont. YESCO manufactured the 30 feet tall sign is nicknamed Cool Blue. Previous to this sign in this location the Maharaja Hookah Cafe had their signage in the same location previous to 2013.
Sign condition: 5, just installed in 2015 so neon and paint are still in great condition
Sign form: Free Standing Sign
Sign-specific description: 30 feet tall, the sign is nicknamed Cool Blue. A 30 foot waiter holding his arm out with 3 beers on his arm and one in his hand. The beers are animated with them lighting up in order starting with the one closest to his body. His arm is resting on a PBR can. The waiters shirt and cheeks illuminate red neon while the rest of his body illuminates blue argon. The PBR beer can illuminates red and blue as well.
Sign - type of display: Neon
Sign - media: Steel
Sign animation: The Beer cans on the waiters arm light up in order, starting with the one closest to his body.
Sign environment: This is located in the parking lot on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. North and Fremont St. East next to the Park on Fremont. This marks the beginning of the Fremont Street East District were other freestanding Neon signs are as well.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign - date of installation: 2015
Sign - thematic influences: The retro theme makes it look like a throwback to 1950s/60s advertisement. Also since it is for a beer company it shows that Neon does not always have to be for the Casinos here in Vegas. This is one of the first freestanding signs you see in the Fremont Street East District, thus showing that the Neon community downtown still is thriving and still defines our culture here.
Survey - research locations: YESCO website http://www.yesco.com/news/yesco-installs-pabst-blue-ribbon-neon-sign/ , Vital Vegas website https://vitalvegas.com/downtowns-fremont-east-gets-a-new-neon-sign-courtesy-of-pbr/ , google map roadside view
Survey - research notes: Since this is a freestanding sign it is difficult to find any specific information on a single owner or why this sign was placed there specifically.
Surveyor: Emily Fellmer
Survey - date completed: 2017-07-22
Sign keywords: Neon; Steel; Back to back; Monument sign
Mixed Content