Tim Burton At The Neon Museum

I have been to the Neon Museum before, but went back to see an exhibit by film director Tim Burton. In his introduction, he explains that he has visited Las Vegas since childhood, and always been fascinated by it, and then later in life was one of the last guests of the now departed Aladdin Hotel, wandering the hallways as if he were in The Shining.

His most notable work regarding Las Vegas since then was the film Mars Attacks!, which saw the city destroyed by Martians. He incorporated the demolition of the Landmark Hotel into the film, and calls that one of the great moments of his life.

Artwork by Burton is interspersed through the short walk through the retired neon signs on permanent display (also new to the museum is the huge Hard Rock guitar, which must be three stories high, looming over the proceedings). If you don't pay close attention you may miss them, small sculptures with accompanying, Edward Gorey-like doggerel. A structure that looks like a space-age igloo houses some more sculptures, some not much bigger than a postage stamp. One character that reappears is Oyster Boy, who has found love with a girl named Pearl. Then there is a black box, where you can go in have your mouth superimposed over some kind of robot. In the background are films that Burton certainly must love, such as The Amazing Colossal Man and Black Sunday.

There was also much Burton merchandise for sale in the gift shop, including a coffee-table size book of his artwork for $75. The tour itself, which takes about a half an hour, cost thirty dollars. I'm not sure it was worth that much, but it was something different to do.