| Vol. 6: Neon Signs in Las Vegas (3) |
 The
neon signs decorating the casinos of Las Vegas are unparalleled in terms
of extravagance anywhere in the world. But there are other types of neon
sign unique to the city: those used to decorate churches. Around 50 percent
of American households have been through divorce, and Las Vegas is well-known
as a place where divorces can be easily arranged. There are more than
150 churches in and around Bluebird in the center of Las Vegas which undertake
divorce ceremonies 24 hours a day. The buildings look superficially like
small eateries or out-of-town cafes and could scarcely be further removed
from the sacred image generally associated with churches. Just as the
wedding industry is a booming business in Japan, so the divorce industry
can set itself up as a viable industry. It is thus only to be expected
that the buildings used in this connection should be commercially orientated.
Some Americans come to this dreamland in the desert for their honeymoons
and a bit of gambling on the side, while there are others who come to
gamble and then to get divorced. |
