HISTORIC LIDO DE PARIS REVUE LIGHTS UP LAS VEGAS ONCE AGAIN AT THE NEON MUSEUM
The Neon Museum and Philanthropist Todd VonBastiaans Restore and Relight 56-Foot-Long Neon Sign Honoring One of City’s Pioneering Entertainment Venues
The Neon Museum – the Las Vegas non-profit dedicated to collecting and preserving the city’s historic neon signs – brought one of Las Vegas’ most iconic entertainment revues back to light last week. Following a months-long restoration process, The Neon Museum celebrated the relighting of the 56-foot-long Lido de Paris sign paying homage to one of the longest-running shows in Las Vegas history and the birthplace of the classic Las Vegas showgirl. The Lido de Paris neon sign marks the 23rd sign restored and re-illuminated by The Neon Museum and now has a permanent home in its Neon Boneyard exhibition space across from the neon sign for the Stardust, the original home to the Lido.
Philanthropist Todd VonBastiaans, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and many of the former cast and crew of Las Vegas’ Lido de Paris gathered Thursday night to celebrate the momentous occasion.
The Lido de Paris made a name for itself in Las Vegas as a dance revue and variety show at the Stardust Hotel, paving the way for the legacy of the iconic Vegas showgirl. During its three-decade tenure from 1958 to 1991, the Lido de Paris thrilled over 19 million guests with more than 22,000 shows. The venue also played a significant role in launching the career of the famed magician duo Siegfried and Roy, as they premiered their act in the Lido showroom in 1968.
The sign was restored as a generous gift from Las Vegas artist and lighting professional Todd VonBastiaans. He was inspired to pay homage to the thousands of stage and crew members – wardrobe artists, stage managers, lighting technicians, sound engineers, carpenters, stagehands, and riggers – who bring Las Vegas entertainment to life on a nightly basis.
“The Lido de Paris laid the groundwork for Las Vegas entertainment, and it is thrilling to see its name back in lights,” said donor Todd VonBastiaans. “We wanted to not only restore the sign but also reignite the memories and stories that went with it. For every 50 people you see on stage, there are another 300 backstage making the magic happen. With the lighting of the Lido, we celebrate these people and the roles they have played in making Las Vegas the entertainment destination it is today.”
“This momentous occasion marks a new chapter for The Neon Museum,” noted Aaron Berger, Executive Director of The Neon Museum. “Not only is it our 23rd sign to be lit, but it allows us to dive into an entertainment story on our Neon Boneyard tours. We are grateful to Mr. VonBastiaans for this incredible donation that will live on for generations to come.”
The Neon Museum is open daily and includes an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard that is filled with some of Las Vegas’ most iconic neon signs; the North Gallery, home to the immersive audiovisual experience “Brilliant! Jackpot” which uses technology to re-illuminate more than 40 non- operational signs; the Boulevard Gallery outdoor exhibit and event space; and its visitors’ center inside the former La Concha Motel lobby.
About The Neon Museum
Founded in 1996, The Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. In 2021, The Neon Museum achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition bestowed to museums in the United States. On its 2.27-acre campus, The Neon Museum has an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard (“boneyard” is traditionally the name for an area where items no longer in use are stored); the North Gallery, home to the immersive audiovisual experience “Brilliant!” which uses technology to re-illuminate more than 40 non-operational signs; the Boulevard Gallery outdoor exhibit space; and its visitors’ center inside the former La Concha Motel lobby. The museum collection also includes nine restored signs installed as public art in downtown Las Vegas. Public education, outreach, research, and arts preservation represent a selection of the museum’s ongoing projects.
The Neon Museum has been ranked in Travel + Leisure’s 27 Best Museums in the United States, No. 1 in Las Vegas Weekly’s list of “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History,” Nevada’s “Best Museum” by MSN, one of the 10 best museums in Las Vegas by USA Today’s 10best.com and earns a consistent 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor.
For more information, including tour schedules and tickets, visit www.neonmuseum.org. Also follow @NeonMuseum on Facebook and Twitter and @theneonmuseumlasvegas on Instagram.
