‘Fabulous’ once again, and no need for surveillance cameras

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 2 a.m.

What our outcry over the red graffiti on the “Fabulous” sign says about us

Graffiti found on 'Fabulous' sign

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Las Vegas Sign

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Legendary Las Vegas neon sign designer Betty Willis, known for her world-famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, talks about how she created her illustrious masterpiece and the significance of each of the sign's various symbols.

The history of Las Vegas

$500 later, red graffiti removed from 'Fabulous' sign (7-14-2009)
Vandals hit 'Fabulous Las Vegas' sign (7-13-2009)
‘Fabulous’ sign garners historic designation (5-21-2009)

By Tuesday morning, the icon was restored. Well, sort of.

As it turns out, the red ink that vandals used to tag the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign had seeped into hairline cracks in the sign’s translucent Plexiglas backing, so that even after a good wipe, a red smear remained, Clark County public works spokesman Russell Davis said.

Davis was speaking on a cell phone en route to that smear, to see what could be done about it.

Replacing the Plexiglas was a dark thought.

“We don’t want to go there right now,” he said.

He didn’t have to go anywhere. A county graffiti cleanup contractor was able to fix the problem — he made the 50-year-old sign “look like brand new,” Russell said.

The sign is owned by Young Electric Sign Company, where none of the employees can remember it being previously vandalized. Davis can’t remember the sign’s face being tagged either. It is some 10 feet from the ground, he said, which may explain the anomaly. Without a ladder, defacing the sign requires some kind of circus act.

The twin blue poles that support the sign, however, are a different matter. They’re tagged often, by people who usually write their name and date of visit — a sweet little souvenir that’s easily obliterated with another coat of blue paint, Davis said. This kind of routine maintenance is Young Electric’s responsibility — though Clark County pays the company $350 a month for maintenance of the icon. The sign also runs on county power and sits on county land.

This particular case required the special attention of county contractors who specialize in graffiti removal, Davis said.

Metro Police are investigating the vandalism, but the sign company doesn’t think a surveillance camera is warranted because aesthetics outweigh the need, assistant division manager Randy Clark said.

“Could we install a camera? Yes. Would it take away from the sign’s look? Yes.”

Because the company owns just the sign, it would have to either mount a camera to it, or get permission from the county to put surveillance cameras nearby — one option would be unattractive, Clark said, and the other expensive and unnecessary, given the sign’s otherwise unblemished history.

County public works spokesman Davis agrees: “So far, (the graffiti) doesn’t justify it — not for one instance.”

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By casinokid

7/15/09 at 5:26 a.m.

Suggest removal

If I had intentions to run for a public office I would have put a sign on my back that I was seeking an office, Then I would have gotten a ladder and cleaning agents and climb the ladder and cleaned it up to show that I was serious about cleaning up this town!
Just a Thought.
I chuckled briefly as I composed this. :-)
By term25600

7/15/09 at 7:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

As residents here, we should READ the sign. It says "Welcome...".

Have you gone out of your way to welcome any tourists today, be honestly friendly towards them? What about when they are lost and make inappropriate turns and want to turn in front of you- do you wave to them and let them in?(you can tell by the out of state license plates).

When standing in lines, do you strike up conversations with tourists and give them whatever inside information you have on the shows or where to eat?

These things take SO little time and effort, but I think would produce big results for our city.

Next time someone from out of state needs to change lanes, smile, wave, and let them in.

If I was a tourist in another city, I would remember things like this and tell my friends what a friendly place this is.

So fix the sign and stop making such a fuss (which will only make other unappreciative people want to deface it again). Stop asking for decapitation, Oscar, and set up a program to encourage residents to make this a friendly city for tourists.
By ponygirlup

7/15/09 at 8:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

Thank You! to the contractor who was able to remove the markings.
I treasure this sign. It reminds me of the many times my family saw it as we visited Vegas from California when I was a kid, back in the early 60s. (on the old original highway before the interstate existed in 1973) We became permanent residents not too long after.
I would come home on leave from the Navy during the 70s and it was a sign of 'home' that I had to visit when I was here.
I now live in an area that's near the sign and I am glad to pass it by as often as I do.
Fabulous AGAIN and Always! :)
By kenoja

7/15/09 at 10:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

We went to view it last night at 9 p.m. and it looks awful.
The sign is badly stained and it needs a makeover. It is very depressing that a few vandals can ruin our city's icon.
Everyone is very friendly at the sign, taking turns with posing at the base, and helping with the picture taking. It is amazing how this little sign has more sentimental meaning to everyone than just about any other structure in Las Vegas.
Save the sign!
By Katie

7/15/09 at 11:22 a.m.

Suggest removal

Oh good grief! We have a do-gooder in the bunch here. Yeah that's you term24600.

YES, I am ALWAYS nice to tourists because 90% of them ARE nice. That is my Midwestern upbringing and also coming from another city that is a tourist mecca, I learned how important it is to be nice and helpful. The other 10% visiting here can vacation somewhere else (like the ones who ruined the sign). Also, it would be nice if the tourists were polite, too. And a lot of times, they are not. They think this is Vegas - a no nothing city that only exists down that stretch of Las Vegas Blvd.

And I have it on good authority that.....knowing how to drive properly is mandatory in 50 States of The Union, so no one gets a pass there from me! And yes ALL cars regardless of where they are from have DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS that were meant to be used! We haved enough bad drivers with NV plates; we don't need to encourage the ones with out of state plates.
By LSinLV

7/15/09 at 1:54 p.m.

Suggest removal

Doesn't anyone find it ironic that there is a call to install cameras to watch the sign?????

Does anyone realize that this sign is literally across the street from a Metro Sub-Station.....with Metro Officers driving past the sign nearly 24/7????

Maybe Metro needs to spend more time actually policing the streets....rather than sitting on their butts with radar guns to enhance the public coffers????