On the Cover: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada Sign!

Signs. Everyday we see hundreds of signs that direct us, indicate or mark something, point us in the right direction and display messages. There are zodiac and astrological signs, plus and minus signs, sign language, medical signs, peace signs, warning signs, traffic signs and a sign of the times. And of course, something can be signed, sealed and delivered, we can sign on the bottom line and there's even a song called Signs by the Five Man Electrical Band and a movie called Signs by M. Knight Shyamalan. However, with apologies to the famous "Hollywood" sign in California, one sign shines above them all: The film and production friendly "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The Strip landmark, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by Betty Willis at the request of Ted Rogich, a local salesman, who sold it to Clark County, Nevada. The sign was funded and erected in 1959 and stands 25 feet tall with a classic roadside pole design and stretched diamond shape. It is double-backed, internally lit and is bordered with flashing and chasing yellow incandescent bulbs outside the perimeter. Because Nevada is known as the "Silver State," circles which represent silver dollars, sit atop the sign with the word "Welcome" with "to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" underneath in red and blue. Crowning the sign is an eight pointed red star outlined with yellow neon. On the back, the sign reads "Drive Carefully Come Back Soon."

The Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) currently owns the sign which leases it to Clark County. The design itself, however, is public domain since it was never copyrighted by Willis because she considered it a gift to Las Vegas. The result of her generosity means the signs' image appears on over millions and millions of souvenirs and keepsakes!

The sign was dark for about a month in 1999 when the company who had been paying the power bill was bought by another company who did not pay the whopping $60 bill. When the problem was discovered, the bill was paid and power was turned back on about a month later. In December of 2008, a small parking lot was opened in the median of Las Vegas Boulevard providing easier and safer access to the public and productions for their crews and talent to film at the location of the sign.

The legendary "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada" sign can be seen in thousands of feature films, television programs and specials, commercials, still shoots, documentaries and sporting events. If you are interested in shooting your next production at the famed sign or any other one-of-a-kind locations throughout the state of Nevada, give us a call or check out nevadafilm.com to see our complete photo image library.