El Cortez Hotel & Casino “Cocktails” in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada on East Fremont Street.
Photo by: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: 1/14/2012
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Daily Neon: El Cortez Hotel & Casino “Cocktails” Neon
June 24, 2017
Daily Neon: Vegas Vicki (Sassy Sally)
June 9, 2017
Vegas Vicki (Sassy Sally) Sits atop the Glitter Gulch Sign
Glitter Gulch’s neon cowgirl is nicknamed Vegas Vicky. Originally named Sassy Sally after the strip joint below her, she was designed by Ad-Art and put up in 1980. Her leg was supposed to kick out over Fremont Street but that never seemed to work. In 2001, Sassy Sally’s became the Mermaids Casino. Vegas Vicky is still there, across the street from Vegas Vic.
While the Fremont Street Experience was under construction and before they took Vegas Vicki down, she and Vic were married in a ceremony covered by the local newspapers and news stations.
John C. Fremont camped at the Las Vegas Springs on May 3, 1844
On This Date, May 3, 1844 John C. Fremont led an overland expedition west and camped at Las Vegas Springs. His name is remembered today in neon as well as museums and history books. The Fremont Hotel-Casino in Downtown Las Vegas bears his name as does Fremont Street.
The credit of discovering Las Vegas goes to an experienced young scout, Rafael Rivera. In 1829 was traveling with a 60 man party who veered off the main route of the Old Spanish Trail. A scouting party rode west in search of water. Rivera separated from the scout party and ventured into the unexplored desert. Within two weeks, he discovered Las Vegas Springs. The actually date of Rivera’s discover is unknown.
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas at the south end of the “Strip”
Betty Willis passed away on April 20, 2015 (age 91) in Overton, Nevada. Betty was famously known as a neon sign designer and is responsible for designing one of the most iconic signs in the world, The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada sign. Erected in 1959 by Western Neon and is currently owned by YESCO. The sign was designed by Betty Willis and was never copyrighted.
Blue Angel Motel
The Blue Angel Motel sign was also designed by Betty Willis was criticized for depicting the well endowed angel that now over looks the motel. At one time, the angel revolved and was surrounded by blue jays. The Blue Angel was inspired, fittingly enough, by the Blue Fairy in Walt Disney’s classic animated feature, “Pinocchio”.
The Normandie Motel Marquee neon sign
Another sign by Willis was the Normandie Motel Sign. The original motel was located on the east end of Fremont Street and was torn down during the first decade of 2000. The sign is now located on Las Vegas Blvd. just north of Fremont Street and is part of the public display from the Boneyard collection.
Moulin Rouge Neon Sign in West Las Vegas
Willis designed the French inspired sign for the Moulin Rouge Hotel.
She continued designing signs until she retired at the age of 77.
Daily Neon: Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
March 2, 2017
Golden Gate Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada
The Golden Gate opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada. In 1907 it was assigned Las Vegas’ first telephone with the number 1. Located a one Fremont street in downtown Las Vegas Nevada. It is the smallest hotel, 106 rooms, on the Fremont Experience. The Golden Gate was the first to serve a fifty cent shrimp cocktail in 1959. It continues the tradition today. There is the “Original Shrimp Cocktail” $1.99 and the ”Big” Shrimp Cocktail, made like the original, but using larger-sized shrimp, $3.99. A bargain at either price.
Update 6/25/2017: After Dupar’s closed, no more shrimp cocktails.
Daily Neon: Roulette Motel
March 1, 2017
Roulette Motel on East Fremont Near Downtown Las Vegas
Most of these old motels on East Fremont are in dire repair on their neon signs.
Photo by: LasVegas360.com
