As the scholar in residence at the Neon Museum this spring, I’ve had the chance to look into an aspect of Las Vegas casino history that is usually neglected:
But the two decades between 1967 and 1988 don’t fit neatly into either period and deserve further consideration in their own right. While some aspects of the “new” Vegas were present, like a focus on larger hotels, many elements of the older Las Vegas remained. Defined more by expansions to existing properties than new resorts, this period saw a shift in the visual language of signage and uses of new technologies and strategies to identify establishments. By studying the early corporate era, we can gain insights into how the designs of casinos evolved in Las Vegas and better appreciate the distinctness of the eras that came before and after it.
Source: The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon – After Howard, Before The Mirage