Arizona Charlie’s Decatur sign to get new home at Neon Museum

Arizona Charlie is moving downtown.

The 17-by-8-foot motion astatine Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, featuring an aged westbound representation of the existent Arizona Charlie, volition beryllium moved aboriginal successful the summertime to the Neon Museum.

The motion had been successful spot since 1988 astatine the vicinity casino present operated by Golden Entertainment Inc. An upgraded, much modern Arizona Charlie’s motion with a caller logo has been installed astatine the property.

The Neon Museum is simply a non-profit enactment dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, creator and taste enrichment.

“It is simply a profoundly impactful summation to our collection,” Aaron Berger, enforcement manager of the Neon Museum, said Wednesday. “Donations similar this proceed to archer the stories of Las Vegas and archer the past of Las Vegas successful the astir unsocial and antithetic way.”

Emily Fellmer, a collections specializer astatine the museum, said the Arizona Charlie’s motion “is an grant for the depository to save.” She archetypal saw the motion erstwhile she arrived successful Las Vegas a fewer years ago, but determination are details of the motion she truly likes.

“I’ve ever loved the bubbly font the motion has,” Fellmer said. “In our collection, determination are galore antithetic typefaces, but this 1 stands retired with its cute bubbles and it does look precise ‘80s, which was erstwhile it was designed.”

And similar galore who person seen it, she was fascinated by the look connected the sign.

It’s the representation of Abram Henson “Arizona Charlie” Meadows, a distant relative of the Becker household that owned the spot earlier it yet was acquired by Golden Entertainment.

Fellmer said Meadows was a modern of Buffalo Bill Cody and wanted to beryllium a Wild West Show performer. A showman and sharpshooter, Meadows yet developed his ain show.

Meadows lived connected a ranch adjacent Payson, Arizona, and died astatine property 73 successful Yuma, Arizona, successful 1932.

Contact Richard N. Velotta astatine rvelotta@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta connected Twitter.