The Iconic Vegas sign was designed by Betty Willis for the Young Electric Sign Company in 1959.
The 10 most important examples of neon signage
The most impressive neon districts in the world include Tokyo’s Ginza and Shibuya, Osaka’s Dotonburi which was the inspiration for Blade Runner, the worlds largest shopping street, Nanjing Road in Shanghai and, of course, Vegas and Times Square. Bangkok’s Soi Cowboy district (named after an American who opened one of the first go go bars in the 70s) deserves inclusion on account of its unpleasant strangeness, with live elephants paraded up and down the pink neon streets.
Most dramatic of all, however is Hong Kong where the entire skyscraper cluster is animated for 15 minutes as part of the worlds largest light show.
Vegas and Times square deserve double mentions as they are more famous for iconic signage which has since been demolished or taken down. We have included footage of both past and present.
Although the classic welcome to Vegas sign by Betty Willis has been preserved, many of the famous signs lie in the Vegas neon boneyard and we have included a movie made by urban spelunkers who broke into the yard to explore it.
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Times square is so bright it bleaches the night sky 30 blocks away and the light bleeds into the streets from its epicenter. The best way to see Times Square is to approach slowly, by car and appreciate the buildup. Despite the dubious soundtrack, this video is a grate example of that crescendo.
This is the largest permanent light show in the world. For 15 minutes the entire skyline is animated with skyscraper height lighting.
Osakas Dotonburi district, with its historical tradition of neon signage is said to be the inspiration for Blade Runners.
Nanjing (what used to be called Nanking) road is the worlds longest shopping district, the epicenter of a nation that has become the global center of commerce, its monumental neon alerting everyone of the fact.
This movie was shot before most of the most famous and iconic Vegas signage was taken down or demolished. There are countless recognizable pieces.
A great collection of archive footage of Times Square through the ages, including some particularly iconic signs.
Soi Cowboy is a neon drenched red light district in Bangkok, named after an American who opened one of the first go go bars there in the 70s. It is a truly weird place, with live elephants paraded up and down the streets.
