Whether you’ve been to Las Vegas or not, you have no doubt at least seen photos of the world-famous Las Vegas welcome sign. While the Las Vegas Strip has grown and evolved over the decades, the sign reading “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” has greeted visitors since 1959. But how much do you know about its history or designer?
Betty Willis, the Graphic Designer Behind the Sign
Betty Willis was born in Overton, NV on May 20th, 1923. She grew up in Las Vegas’ first two-story building, and studied in Los Angeles at art school. When she returned to Las Vegas, she worked at a courthouse before getting a job at the electric sign company YESCO, where she was the sole woman working as a commercial artist.
Willis also worked at Fox West Coast Theaters and at Western Neon. Salesman Ted Rogich, with the support of Clark County, commissioned her to design the Las Vegas welcome sign. Under the terms of her employment with Western Neon, Betty was unable to profit outside of her salary or copyright the logo.
The Design of the Las Vegas Welcome Sign
Even a glance at the Las Vegas welcome sign instantly seems to evoke an entire era. Reading the words “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” makes one think of the Rat Pack, Elvis Presley and Howard Hughes. It’s easy to imagine slipping back in time to sip on an Atomic cocktail in between rounds at old-fashioned slots.
The sign has a distinct diamond shape with rounded corners, with the letters of “WELCOME” in silver circles symbolizing silver dollars. This was a visual shout-out to the nickname of Nevada, the “Silver State.” In the upper left is the iconic starburst, a popular shape in MCM design.
The back of the sign is not nearly as photographed as the front, so not as many people are familiar with it. It says, “Drive Carefully Come Back Soon.”
Other Works by Betty Willis
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is Betty Willis’ most famous Las Vegas sign design. But her prolific career included other MCM and Googie-style signs. Some of the best known include signs for the Moulin Rouge Hotel, the Blue Angel Hotel, the Del Mar Hotel and the Blue Heaven Bar. The sign for the Moulin Rouge Hotel is of particular interest since she hand-wrote the letters.
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