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1. Name:
Paris Casino Hotel Resort
2. Owner: Park
Place Entertainment
3. Address: 3655
S. Las Vegas Blvd.
3b. Additional Site
Details: The Paris property lies
on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd., between the Aladdin and Bally's.
The three properties stretch from Harmon Avenue, all the way to
Flamingo Rd. The only real neon signage includes the text seen on
top of the replica of the Eiffel Tower, and a three-dimensional
balloon shaped pylon sign located at the south end of the property.
4. Condition:
Structure 5
Surface 5
Lighting 5
Notes: See
description
5. Form: plyon,
fasica, porte cochere
6. Specfic Description:
Leaving the Aladdin property, headed
north you are immediately confronted with the giant hot-air balloon,
which acts as the main marquis sign for the Paris Hotel and Casino.
The three-dimensional balloon shape sits among trimmed shrubbery
and foliage, representational of a classic French garden. The sign
is located on an island with a long driveway on its north side running
east into the property. It towers high above the viewer, almost
appearing as if it is floating. In the spirit of properties like
the Aladdin and the Excalibur, the façade of the resort is
modeled after a theme, which is the French City of Paris. Complete
with fountains, replica street fronts and markets, the main focal
point is a life size replica of the Eiffel Tower. Some signage is
located high up on the tower, in yellow channel letters. The sign
reads "Eiffel Tower Restaurant."
The three-dimensional sculpted pylon sign is composed of basically
three pieces. At the very bottom, a large post holds up the second
section of a large cube. All four sides of the cube are occupied
by square, advertising screens. The two facing east/west are back
lit color plastic, while the ones facing north/south are LCD screens.
The cube is finished in stucco, with sculptural treatments along
all of the edges of the cubes. The edges are made to look like giant
ropes with knots on all eight corners. The sign is located on the
East Side of the strip, yet the only directional orientations are
on the cube that the balloon sits on. The spherical structure is
an exterior frame with blue vinyl material stretched to form the
balloon shape. Steel framework also runs around the circumference
in six different places along the structure. On the north and south
sides Paris is spelled in red channel letters, filled with incandescent
bulbs and bordered in neon. The blue vinyl material is treated with
graphic painted images, which are repeated around the circumference
of the balloon. The images are of lion heads holding red sashes,
above golden eagles. On the middle section an image of a woman's
face is surrounded by a golden halo. The yellow structural supports,
which are visible on the exterior, also house tubes of neon. The
resulting effect is a repeating pattern of neon running up the length
of the structure, with horizontal bands around the bottom of the
structure, below the channel letters and above them also. A criss-cross
pattern adorns the two bands below the text, as well as a scalloped
pattern above the text also.
The porte cochere is a circular drive with the only lighting being
incandescent bulbs running along the raceways, which create the
structure of the interior. The structure is finished in a patina
bronze, made to look oxidized.
7. Type of Display:
neon, incandescent
8. Media: steel,
plastic
9. Non-neon treatments:
graphics, paint
10. Animation:
chasing, flashing, oscillation
Notes: The
incandescent bulbs inside the text reading "Paris" on
the balloon oscillate rapidly.
11. Environment:
Located between Bally's and
the Aladdin, two heavily frequented and boisterous properties themselves,
the Paris fits nicely creating it's own environment that stands
alone when entered. If a pedestrian is present among the stunning
architecture, it is easy to be pulled into the theme. Even though
the Bellagio is west across the street, the expanse of the street
keep the Paris far enough away to be mostly independent, that is
of course if the Bellagio's water show is not being displayed. The
surrounding properties of Bally's, the Aladdin, and The Bellagio
make the area of Las Vegas Blvd between Harmon Ave. and Flamingo
rd. a fantastic world stylized cities and dazzling imagery, yet
an interesting mix of architecture and signage. |
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