Viva Las Vegas: After-Hours Architecture

by Alan Hess

As eccentric and entertaining as its subject matter, Viva Las Vegas examines the architectural and historical evolution of America's original strip city, from its modest origins as a sleepy roadside stop to the neon splendor of its extravagant "theme" hotels. Illustrated with fascinating contemporary and archival photographs, this inviting, informative volume offers an intriguing look into the kitsch and complexities of a unique and provocative Clty.

Genres: Architecture

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Born in California in 1952, Hess received his BA at Principia College, a Master's degree in architecture from the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, and is a licensed architect. After working with architects William Coburn, and Callister Payne and Bischoff, Hess started his own firm specializing in residential work and historic preservation. His first book, Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture (Chronicle Books 1985) focused on a neglected and popular Modern form. Following books continued to explore overlooked chapters in twentieth-century architecture and urbanism. He is responsible for qualifying several landmark buildings for the National Register of Historic Places, including the oldest operating McDonald's in Downey, Stuart Company Plant and Office Building and Bullock's Pasadena in Pasadena, and the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is definitely dated since it's from 1993, but it is interesting to read about the city from its inception to the late 80s.....and how the architecture of the casinos, the signs and everything went through it's iterations.

[Garrett Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos and insights into Vegas as a corridor of mass populace design. Dated because it ends in the early 90's, but worth a read if you're interested in the subject. Glad to be validated in my love for the old Victorian style Golden Nugget sign and The Mint sign. Both sadly long gone.

[Lisa-Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this tour de force of Las Vegas history which focused mostly on the architecture of the strip – the casinos, the hotels, the neon signs, and most importantly, the motels!! “The popularity and financial success of the new motels has been so great, however, that…the motel has become a symbol of up-to-dateness, of informality and modern planning” according to the Dean of Columbia University Architecture School in 1955. This book’s author, Hess, is a master at weaving the cultural themes into his discussion of architecture. I heard him speak at the Utah Preservation Conference last month on “Googie” architecture and I just had to read his books. They are big, so plan on checking them out at the library (thanks, Susan!). The photographs are phenomenal. This book covers Las Vegas growth from pioneer outpost to silly overbuilt gambling mecca and everything in between. Given my obsession with old motels, this book really fit into my current research into motel signs, especially one-of-a-kind neon signs from the 1940s and 1950s (think “Sleepy Lagoon Motel” sign in Beaver). I loved reading about the strip in the 1960s, when every neon sign was a work of art, drawn first, then illuminated. When we were kids, our parents would stop in Las Vegas as we drove from California to St. George. We were too young to go in the casinos back then, so we sat on the sidewalk outside The Mint and baked in the heat, mesmerized by the lights. This book reminded me that there is art in every city, even Las Vegas!

[Justus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish the pictures were better and bigger, but Alan Hess is one of my prefered architecture writers at the moment due to his interests in the west, everyday modernism and openness to vernacular expression. Since the book was written in 1992 it is definitely a bit dated, but even that is kind of interesting to compare to the Vegas of today (it ends with the Mirage and the Excalibur).

Its a good survey of the rise of Vegas from an architectural perspective and like I said I wish it had bigger pictures...and also some pictures unfortunately had some tinting on it to add to the "excitement" which was a bad graphic design move..... Definitely worth the read for someone interested in the architectural history of the city and I think it is not bad as a start for my current Vegas reading kick..