Southern Neon Survey Data Sheet

UNLV University Special Collections and Archives and The are gathering and presenting information and imagery of neon signs in Southern Nevada in the form of a Neon Survey. In the summer of 2002, the partnership documented signs along the Strip corridor from Sunset to Sahara. In 2017, the organizations expanded the survey with new survey data and new photographs gathered in other areas around the region.

This survey was designed to capture the artistic and historical significance of one of Las Vegas’s most well-known art forms, neon. Since the original survey in 2002, many of the signs captured have been dimmed. This only highlights the critical importance of preserving Nevada's neon heritage.

Neon Sign Survey

Description of sign(s)

1. Name: Glitter Gulch/ Golden Goose

2. Owner: Derek and Greg Stevens

3. Address: 20 Experience, Las Vegas, NV 89101 ​

3b. Additional Site Details (information on site, site history, owner comments):

This now closed property has a long history in Las Vegas. In 1959, the Fortune Club was ​ ​ where the Glitter Gulch would soon replace it. For the history of the Golden Goose: Herb Pastor bought the Mecca Club from Sylvia Sioratta in 1974 then opened up the Golden Goose soon after. Mr. Reed’s was the property that sat next to the Golden Goose at this time; however, that then became Bob Stupak’s Glitter in 1980. In 1981, Pastor ended up buying the Glitter Gulch. In

1991, Pastor merged both of these properties into a strip club. Both of these properties ultimate closed in the summer of 2016. The signage was taken down in 2017.

4. Condition (1-5 scale, with 5 being excellent, written description): 3, the Golden Goose signage is still on Fremont Street and in good condition. However, Vegas Vickie has been taken down and half the Glitter Gulch sign was also taken down.

5. Form (pylon, blade, porte cochere, etc): Both are projection signs

6. Specific Description:

Golden Goose: Perched atop the signage for the Golden Goose is a sculptural goose made out of fiberglass wearing a brown cowboy hat and red scarf around its neck with white polka dots all over it. In its right hand it hold a golden egg covered in incandescent light bulbs, which looks just like the eggs surrounding the bottom of the goose. Under the goose and the eggs surrounding it is a base that has a yellow border on the top and bottom of it and yellow incandescent light bulbs lining these lines. In the center is an orange band. The main portion of the signage for the

Golden Goose is an interesting organic shape in a red/brown color that curves inward at in the middle top of the sign and in the middle side of the sign that faces Fremont. The edge of the sign that faces Fremont Street is lined with ten golden eggs that look just like the ones surrounding the goose; however, these vary in size and do not line all the way down the entire sign. This edge of the sign also has red incandescent light bulbs covering it. Each side of the sign is lined with a yellow line that outlines the sign and incandescent light bulbs are part of that line as well.

“Golden Goose” is in a stylish mustard yellow font with made up of open channel letters filled with incandescent light bulbs. This sign is also lined with neon tubes that run up and down the sign and oscillate at night

Glitter Gulch: Perched atop the signage for the Glitter Gulch is Las Vegas’ favorite girl, Vegas

Vickie. She is dressed up in cowgirl attire and kicking her leg out onto Fremont Street. She is painted so you can see all her details in the day and she is a channeled sign lined with neon tubes that matches her paint so you can see her at night as well. She sits on top of a very geometric piece of gold (like a golden nugget) that shines brightly and dotted with incandescent light bulbs. The “Glitter Gulch” letters are open channeled, lined with neon tubes that glow red at night, and filled with neon tubes that glow blue at night and oscillate as well. During the day these letters are a bold white font and instead of a dot for the “I” it is a four point star.

Underneath the golden nugget like structure of the sign is a bunch of silver coins lined with neon tubes.

7. Type of Display (neon, incandescent, etc): Neon, incandescent, backlit

8. Media (steel, plastic, fiberglass, etc): Steel, plastic, fiberglass 9. Non-neon treatments: Paint

10. Animation: Neon in Glitter Gulch text and neon tubes lining the Golden Goose sign oscillate

11. Environment (surrounding properties, neighborhood): These signs sit in the midst of the excitement on Fremont Street Experience. Some of the other properties that sit near them are

Binion’s, Golden Gate Hotel & , and the Plaza Hotel & Casino.

Artistic Context

1. Manufacturer: Ad Art for Vegas Vickie

2. Designer: Architect of Record: Jack Dubois and Charles Barnard of Ad Art designed Vegas ​ ​

Vickie.

3. Date of Installation: About 1974 for Golden Goose and 1980 for Vegas Vickie

4. Date(s) of any major redesign/move: Vegas Vickie was taken down in 2017 for restoration and may return back to Fremont after.

5. Thematic Influence (design elements found on similar signs, elements related to the property, linkage to previous themes, trends, context): Both of these signs are extremely iconic signs in

Las Vegas history and combine elements that are typically used in signage throughout the city, such as: sculptural signage and signs that have a dominant theme for the property. The signage for the Golden Goose features a sculpture of a goose to drive the theme of the property to motorists and pedestrians. Also Vegas Vickie being a part of the signage for the Glitter Gulch also gives some indication that this property is a gentleman’s club. They are elaborately designed to draw people’s attention to these businesses, which many other signs throughout the city aim to do as well.

6. Artistic Significance (themes and representation, era: time and design, trends, context): These sign are significant because the design of them is elaborate and they are excellent examples of signs that use sculpture/image to help convey the theme of the property. They are also crafted in such an excellent manner and filled with numerous details.

Surveyor Notes

1. Research locations (archives, library, recorder’s office, etc) Fox news website http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/31783315/d-las-vegas-owner-buys-3-more-fremont-properties​ ,

Vintage Las Vegas website ​http://vintagelasvegas.com/search/glitter+gulch​, Review Journal Article https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mermaids-la-bayou-and-glitter-gulch-come-to-a-c lose-on-fremont-photos/ 2. Research notes

3. Any other relevant surveyor remarks

Surveyor Lauren Vaccaro Date 9/17/2017

*Please attach a map from the assessor’s site when possible.