What about the
Panaplex 7-segemnt gas discharge displays?
 Or the gas discharge dot-matrix displays that include their own 'sift
 register)? You know how you can step a discharge round a dekatron tub, 
 I liked the mechanical project-type display, where a stepping
 arrangement moved a strip of film.  Probably a bit large for an Elf,
 though. 
 
Edge illuminated numeric displays (link shows a modern version... the old ones used grain
of wheat lamps):