Blue Angel Motel, 1958
Photo from Signs of the Times, Dec. 1958. 15-foot tall fiberglass figure, revolving in 10 seconds, 45 x 6-ft letters. The magazine credits “General Electric Displays of Las Vegas,” though it’s commonly credited to Western Electric / Western Neon, and designed by Betty Willis. The motel’s groundbreaking was recorded 9/10/57. Exact date of its opening and sign installation is assumed to be late ‘57-early ‘58. At some unknown later date a sputnik was added to the end of the wand, a halo over the figure’s head, and the face painted heavy “makeup” colors. Thanks: Heather David.
