Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
Apr 29, 2015 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
Betty Willis’ handiwork
We have celebrated a lot of icons over the last year and some change. Today I want to pay homage to a graphic designer who helped define our mid-century style: Betty Willis. Betty passed away this month, leaving a legacy of work that is just as exciting to look at today as it was when originally conceived!
A Nevada native, she went to flashy L.A. to attend art school but her home state proved too alluring and she didn’t stay in California for long. Initially working for various governmental agencies, she got her big break while employed at Western Neon. In this setting she created the now-iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Interestingly enough Betty never trademarked her work, stating that this was her gift to a city she loved so much.
But her gift didn’t just impact Vegas. As further proof of the sign’s influence on popular culture, it was admitted to the National Register of Historic Places six years ago. And the little sign with the big voice didn’t stop there. One could venture to say that it helped inspire a Vegas campaign to save even more art – pieces that haven’t been deemed “historic.” The group, Vegas Vernacular, is on a mission to document the city’s signage. This endeavor goes beyond simple photography, but intends to help fuel support for the mom and pop businesses that line the city streets (away from the hustle and bustle (and tourism) of the famous strip). The group’s work has not gone unnoticed as their efforts are reaching beyond the Nevada boundary and into other states. It’s exciting to see that people are recognizing the value in signage on a national scale. Back in Nevada, Vegas Vernacular was on hand to capture one of Betty’s pieces that didn’t rise to the level of fame and appreciation that the Vegas welcome sign did. The group grabbed one final photograph of Betty’s sign for the Blue Angel Motel. I see that photo as a testament to the importance of protecting these legacies. (Click on the Vegas Vernacular link above to check it out for yourself.)
At this point you must sense the theme with Betty’s work – projects she worked on not only helped define the Vegas image, but it captured the spirit of that “1950s/60s Rat Pack, good tunes, and exciting changes” vibe. One of her other projects, the Moulin Rouge casino is quite notable in its own right. Some experts call it the first interracial hotel, noting its important role in America’s broader debate on racial and social equality.
Moulin Rouge, image by Bentai at en.wikipedia
Famous entertainers graced the marquee at this hotel – big names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Sammy Davis, Jr. Sadly a large fire destroyed part of the hotel in 2009, however Betty’s sign was placed in safekeeping prior to the blaze. The structure was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 and now there are plans in place to recreate its heyday as a casino-hotel.
It’s easy to see Betty’s influence on our past and present culture. I think it also brings up a bigger question (it’s one we touched on, in a different vein, with our feature on “New Life for Iconic Spaces“): just because art is “street art”, does it make less important to society? I’d argue that the answer is quite the opposite: street art is enjoyed by all and therefore even more valuable. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!