100 Years of YESCO
Photo courtesy of YESCO.
By Jeff Young
When thinking of Las Vegas, the first thing that comes to mind is the spectacular Las Vegas Strip and its dazzling neon lights. These illuminated monuments have beckoned visitors and locals of all ages to bask in the excitement of the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Since creating the Boulder Club sign in downtown Las Vegas in 1932, Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) has been proud to play an integral role in developing Las Vegas’ worldwide reputation. From the early use of neon on Fremont Street to the acquisition and maintenance of the world-famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, YESCO designed an iconic array of signage defining the look and feel of Las Vegas. The company has gained recognition for its artful combination of light, movement, color, and character that transform signs into irresistible, beloved icons.
Among YESCO’s most recognizable Las Vegas signs made famous over the decades include The Mint, Pioneer Club, Silver Slipper, Stardust, Hard Rock Café Guitar, The Mirage, Bellagio, Harmon Center, Wynn Las Vegas, Aria, Circa, the monumental signs adorning Allegiant Stadium and—most recently—the downtown Las Vegas archway. Since 1996, The Neon Museum has worked with YESCO to preserve and restore neon housed in the museum’s boneyard exhibition area. Tens of thousands of visitors visit the museum to see these signs each year.
My grandfather, Thomas Young, founded YESCO in Ogden, Utah, in 1920 after borrowing $300 from his father. YESCO began by offering wall-painted advertisements, gold-leaf window lettering, and coffin plates. Today, the second, third, and fourth generations of the Young family are enormously proud to continue to create, service, and maintain award-winning displays for some of North America’s most prestigious brands.
In commemoration of YESCO’s 100th anniversary, which took place in 2020, our entire company is honored to be the focus of this joint exhibition to examine the history and impact of YESCO on Las Vegas. Lighting Up Las Vegas: YESCO Marks a Glittering Century, represents a collaboration between Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) Las Vegas News Bureau Archive and The Neon Museum and follows the interconnected history of YESCO, the city, cutting-edge sign technology, and others who made YESCO’s success possible.
Lighting Up Las Vegas: YESCO Marks a Glittering Century will be on display at the Nevada Humanities Program Gallery until March 23, 2022. This display is viewable online any time and may be viewed by appointment Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and until 9 p.m. the first Friday of the month for First Friday events. Contact Bobbie Ann Howell at bahowell@nevadahumanities.org or call (702) 800-4670 to make an in-person viewing appointment.
Photo courtesy of YESCO.
Jeff Young is the executive vice president of Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO). He works closely with his father, brothers, and members of the fourth generation directing operations, marketing and providing leadership to the company’s more than 1,000 employees. Jeff’s career began in 1980. He has held many positions including vice president and general manager of YESCO Salt Lake City from 1995 to 2011. In 2011, he was named senior vice president and chief marketing officer. In 2021, he was named executive vice president. Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in Japanese as well as a master’s degree in business administration with an international certificate from the University of Utah.