Thread: Are Las Vegas Neon Lights Headed for Extinction?

What does the sum of phosphor-coated hollow glass tubes, plus glass heated by lit gas, plus forced air which is cored, shaped and sculpted into eye catching art equal to? The answer - Neon signs dubbed as "Liquid Fire." It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but when you stand in front of an intricately designed display of neon lights, you are mesmerized and left speechless.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in Las Vegas in twenty minutes," announced the flight attendant over the P.A. System. Looking out of the plane's window, the reflection from the full moon revealed some faint silhouettes of the craterous mountains we were flying over. Within ten minutes as we descended towards the McCarran International Airport, an unbelievable kaleidoscope of brilliant twinkling lights were scattered like a horizontal Christmas tree in the distance. The reaction from other passengers was an indication that the excitement and anticipation of our magical Las Vegas adventure was about to begin.

It is projected that neon signs would be close to extinction in Las Vegas by 2012. How can that possibly be? Neon signs are paramount icons of Las Vegas like sweetened iced tea is an attribute in the South. The contorting sophistication of these colorful tubes of gas connecting to electricity pushed the boundaries of incandescent animation and unforgettable art. Neon light history shaped the paradigm of this Nevada city and it saddens me to watch memories of this fluorescent part of history become confined to an archive, gallery or museum.

I miss those glory days of the crazy neon signs everywhere.

When you venture downtown, particularly to the Fremont Street area, you will find many antique displays of the initial neon sign craze. Stepping into the past surrounded by nostalgic bursts of neon signs, the artistic expressions designed for a wide variety of businesses tell a unique story of their own. All of the casinos lure you into their world by the animation, sheer pageantry and fluidity of neon and marquee lights. My greatest fascination was not with the multitudes of casinos to gamble at, but with the architectural and animated signs that lured you into a world of neon symphony. Las Vegas is the quintessential place to serenade the neon enthusiast.

Many of the retired neon signs have already been donated or loaned to The Neon Museum in Las Vegas. Even if you went on a tour to see these incredible pieces of artwork, they do not come to life unless they are lit up to display their incredible splendor and majesty. Even though high tech special effects, computer generated animation, puppetry and theatrical presentations have become the quintessential show stoppers in this city that never sleeps, I hope they will not replace or overshadow the historical icons of neon splendor. Liquid Fire was pivotal in making Las Vegas the memorable, exciting city that it is. Let's hope that the neon lights that go on in Las Vegas, stays on in Las Vegas!