Very Vintage Vegas

Paradise Palms Was The First Master Planned Community In Las Vegas

February 7th, 2010 Categories: Mid Century Modern, Paradise Palms

Someone – quite wrongfully – suggested that I’m focusing too much attention on Paradise Palms. They asked me why I haven’t done anything on downtown lately….or McNeil or McWhatnot.

I’m just very happy to be back to consistent and regular blogging, and the “Revision House”, as well as these Paradise Palms newsletters and brochures from 1963 were just the thing to get me jump-started.

Another reader posed a good question recently. She did some driving around in Paradise Palms, noting that some of the properties – in fact, some of the blocks looked kind of shabby.

I explained that she’s quite right.  However, that’s true in neighborhoods all over the valley after the last 3 years of market decline, recession, and all that other bad stuff.

There’s dead lawns and peeling paint in Summerlin as well. The HOA there has more power to fight it than we do considering the budget constraints of the city and the county.

Never the less, there’s a TON of foreclosures that have been sold during the last 6 months. (AND A TON OF THEM BEING RELEASED AT THIS MOMENT – IF YOU HAVEN’T BOUGHT YET! The shadow inventory is starting to emerge.)

Most of the people who have already taken advantage of the low prices and the low interest rates have been putting their time and energy into fixing and repairing and redecorating the insides this winter. 

With Spring approaching, I think we’ll be seeing a torrent of outside activity among the many new homeowners.

First however, I think we’re going to see the biggest crop of weeds ever. It just might get uglier for a few months before the lawns and landscapes start to look good again. Of course, we needed the rain, and the logical (natural) outcome will be weeds.

So I’m taking a moment to start the appeal early. I saw my first little green shoots of growth this weekend. They were in the fringes of A NICE LAWN.  Whether you’re Downtown, or in McNeil, or Westleigh or Scotch 80’s or Fran Park, or EVEN in Paradise Palms….get an early jump on them, and stay ahead of them. Go talk to your neighbors. ENCOURAGE THEM to stay ahead of the weeds. Help a neighbor who might not be able to pull them. Your HOME VALUE will benefit. Lots and lots of those vacant properties are going to get new owners soon. The better the homes around them look, the more they’ll be fighting over the available ones. The FIRST thing they always do is pull the weeds at their new home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There wasn’t a lot of news in this issue of the Paradise Palms “Desert – News” – therefore the little essay above, but….

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do believe we should try to track down Fu-Fu.

Is she still around?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know from a previous issue that the tennis courts were in the park that ran westward from Spencer along what’s now the South side of Chippawa Drive, and Chippawa Circle. I believe the pyramid roof house that shows in the background of the the top “tennis anyone” picture is at the end of the Commanche Circle Cul-de-sac.

The butterfly roof “clubhouse” in the bottom picture seems to be where Chippawa Circle is now. What a shame it’s now lost to us.

 

I’m trying to figure out EXACTLY when the association for Paradise Palms was dissolved. Does anyone know? Any details? Was there a fight over it? Was the community thrilled to lose it? Who led the different factions. I just know there had to have been a battle. Any of you original or extremely long time owners have any insight?

The ONLY clue I have at the moment, is that all 5 houses on Chippewa Circle were built in 1979, and are absolutely NOT part of the brochure series, as they are on the North side of Chippewa Drive. So I know it had to have been at least a year or two before that. But when? Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow or Wednesday  – Plan 5 of the brochure series.

 

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Some Mid Mod Eye Candy In Preparation For Palm Springs Modernism Week

February 7th, 2010 Categories: Mid Century Modern

 

Here’s “The Dragnet House”. Aptly named for Jack Webb – Lt. Friday – who built the house in 1960.

From The LA Times:

Palm Springs Modernism Week is coming Feb. 12-21, and to whet your appetite, we’ve got a Palm Springs house with a pedigree for you to examine. The home originally belonged to Jack Webb, best known as Joe Friday on “Dragnet.”  He had it built in 1960, just after the show’s eight-year run came to an end.

The current owners — snowbirds from Illinois — hired Palm Springs decorator Christopher Kennedy to help them get a look that is true to the house’s Modernist roots, but doesn’t look like a paint-by-the-numbers Palm Springs abode.

Read Barbara Thornburg’s full story on the home, or check out our extensive photo gallery, which will have you wishing the snowbird owners would invite you over for some mellow desert stargazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The “Family Jewels” A Romantic Vintage Clothing And Accessory Sale To Benefit The Erotic Heritage Museum

February 7th, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

Want to top off you Valentines Day’s outfit with a dash of Vintage?

Our friend LaBooshnik is holding a one day event with some of the proceeds benefiting the Erotic Heritage Museum.

Fifi is responsible for finding me almost all of my Vintage sport coats and ties. She has a permanent rack at Retro Vegas as well, but this is a ONE DAY EVENT that you won’t want to miss if you’re building a Vintage wardrobe.

It’s a sale of Vintage Costume Jewelry, Men’s and Women’s Cocktail Attire, Exquisite Smoking Jackets, See-through Vintage Aprons, Robes, Lingerie and Gloves from the 30’s to the 60’s.

 

Saturday February 13, 2010 from NOON to 8PM at the

Erotic Heritage Museum

3275 Industrial Road,

An editorial note and recommendation: We at VeryVintageVegas support museums of all types, and lately we have become friends with Dr. Laura Henkel, the curator of the Erotic Heritage Museum. Don’t just blow it off out of hand. It’s one of the best curated Museums in Las Vegas, though I’ve been told that some people ares squeamish about such things. There’s an excellent article about the Museum in The LA TIMES from last August, and a great website as well, if you think you have to “think about” whether you might be offended or not.

 I encourage you to spend an hour or eight exploring the museum as well as picking out some fabulous items for your Vintage wardrobe.

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Plan 4 - The Original Sales Brochures For Paradise Palms - The Mid Mod Neighborhood Of Las Vegas

February 6th, 2010 Categories: Mid Century Modern, Paradise Palms

 Both The 4A and The 4B models are easy to spot when you drive around in Paradise Palms.

Again, many of the carports have been changed to garages, or living area.

There have been many changes and modifications (some/too many of them being absolutley horrible) to the houses, especially the part of Paradise Palms north of Desert Inn – which even in 1962 and 1963 was the lower end, “starter home” part of the neighborhood.

Many of the 4B’s still maintain their rooflines and clearstory windows. Many of the A’s are now unrecognizable.  

I’m real happy that we can put these out there as a resource for the future new homeowners.

 

 

Any of our Paradise Palms readers who live in 4’s care to comment?

 

 

 

 

The rubber stamp says:

Lot A = $24,950

Lot B = $26,050 

Lot C = $28,650

 

This is the first of the brochures to give us clue that there was different pricing for different lots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the brochure, the street is obviously along the right side of the drawing. It really makes more sense like this, when you can picture the driveway cutting across the front of the house with a side entry carport as it shows in the elevation drawing.

 

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Gloomy Day Fun

February 5th, 2010 Categories: Humor

Gotta love it. Megan sent me a link to a website I’d never met before. “UNHAPPY HIPSTERS”. Amusing new captions to photos from Dwell Magazine.

I picked one of my favorites to get you started:

“She had this uncanny way of making him feel so, so small.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dramatic Change In The Downtown Las Vegas Skyline

February 4th, 2010 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas

This one is forever going to change the skyline of the Las Vegas High School Historic District. It grabbed my eye all the way from back behind the El Cortez, 4 blocks away to the north. I just had to go see. 

It’s the new Kenny Law Building going up on 8^th Street on the south side of the old Las Vegas High School, (now the Las Vegas Acadamy).

The last time I drove by, it was 2 concrete block elevator towers and only the first floor had been framed up.

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Some More On The Treniers - The First Televised Rock and Roll Performance?

February 4th, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

In preparation for Thursday night’s “UNTOLD STORIES” panel discussion that I told you about yesterday, our regular reader and friend VegasJudy did some youtube digging.

The lady who posted this on youtube says:

“The Treniers, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on the Colgate Comedy Hour (May 1954). The first rock’n'roll performance on national television.”  

True or not, I wouldn’t know….but I’m sure the panelists will.

ABSOLUTELY, if nothing else jump to 1:20 when Jerry Lewis shows up.

 

In case you don’t want to get a lot of work done today, here’s the rest of the links she sent along:

I’m passing this on to all my FCLV friends and others who either live in Vegas or are fascinated with its entertainment history (specifically, in  honor of Black History Month), about the African-American entertainers who have added so much to the scene -

 

Here are some of my favorite clips and songs from the Treniers, first of all (watch them all if you have time - they’re short)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiHlkxhZIZA  (the only color clip - from one of the rock and roll movies popular in the late 50’s)…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8wwa6yui68 

 

(This is from the Martin & Lewis Colgate Comedy Hour - 1953?)  Dean and Jerry join in.

 

 One more - a little more on the R&B side -

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5u8rzctQLg

 

they were really the forerunners and part of the shift from swing dancing to rock and roll (along with Louis and Keely, and several others).

 

 I’m sorry I don’t have more on the Platters, but here are a couple of snippets…

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVKdN4upyKs

 

I can’t help slipping in my all-time favorite Platters classic:

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbJ92ppcZZ8

 

 See you all at the Springs Preserve tomorrow night.  Bring your nostalgia, you comments and your questions…

 

Thanks, Lynn, and “the Springs” for organizing this evening!

 

Judy

 

Judy Dixon Gabaldon

Secretary

Friends of Classic Las Vegas

 

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First Friday In Downtown Las Vegas Arts District

February 3rd, 2010 Categories: First Friday

VeryVintageVegas has always been a huge fan and supporter of First Friday. It’s the cornerstone of the whole Arts District as well as the driving force that’s helped to create the urban Arts, Music and Culture Scene.

Last Month (new years day) was frightfully cold, and everyone seemed to have been partied out or footballed out or paraded out or something, because it was one of the lowest attendance First Fridays – maybe EVER.

I bet we can all do better this Friday FEBRUARY 5^th. The festivities are from 6 to 10 PM as they always are. Here’s the full calendar of events….with over 100 outdoor artist spaces and lots of new work in the dozens of various galleries.

This month, Cirque Du Soleil is one of the sponsors:

Cirque du Soleil is an international company from Quebec dedicated to the creation, production and distribution of artistic works. Their mission is to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people throughout the world. With seven permanent productions in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil continues to participate and take an active part in the local community.

Cirque du Soleil–in February once again supports First Friday Las Vegas. Ever since it has had the resources to follow its dreams and to present shows around the world, Cirque du Soleil has chosen to be involved in the community. Every year, an amount equivalent to 1% of Cirque du Soleil gross earnings is committed by the company and its founder for various cultural programs supporting emerging artists, social action and responsibility programs including Cirque du Monde, Cirque du Soleil’s social circus intervention program geared to underprivileged youth, as well as the ONE DROP Foundation.

Whirlygig Inc., the non-profit producer of the First Friday arts event is fortunate to be one of the cultural programs Cirque du Soleil supports here in Las Vegas.

Come down this month to enjoy both visual and performance art!  Indiekrush.com is programming the Land Rover stage, live improv on the street, artist, vendors and more!

We will be hosting more than 100 artists on the sidewalks and in the gallery spaces within the outdoor festival area on Casino Center Blvd and Colorado. Check out Commerce Street Studios and the Arts Factory in the surrounding area.

Preview Thursday should be quite interesting as well. Preview Thursdays have less crowds, the opening parties and a more quiet atmosphere.

Brian Paco Alvarez “the curator of culture” in Las Vegas has mentioned in particular on his blog “ENCULTURATE LAS VEGAS” a few must sees including Gia Ray at City Of The World Gallery; Brett Wesley Gallery’s Full Figured Neon Kiss” and many others.

I want you to see my friend and next door neighbor’s work at the Trifecta Gallery in the Arts Factory. Angela Kallus is well known in the commercial art world for her mind blowing circles and is doing a show of just smaller pieces. The opening party is 6 to 9 pm at Preview Thursday and will be showing for a month. Angela tells me the smaller pieces will be quite affordable compared to the large scale corporate art pieces she usually does.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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February 3rd, 2010 Categories: Mid Century Modern, Paradise Palms

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Here’s our second installment of the Paradise Palms Desert-News from 1963!

Each page is clickable if you want to read it in it’s full sized 8.5×11. 

 

Walter Winchel, Tony Martin (?) and Ray Bolger get nods as “Top Stars” of the entertainment world, and golfers Gene Littler, Mike Souchak all get nods as endorsing the Stardust Golf Course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The bottom left photograph in the Paradise Palms Welcome Mat from this March 1963 edition is none other than Maisie and Garland Ronnow. Maisie is who provided us with this treasure trove of material from 1963.

Garland went to the property every day while it was under construction. Maisie told me this little story when I met her. He noted that the studs in the walls weren’t always “exactly” 16 inches on center, so he measured and and filled a notebook with the exact measurements of the difference between each stud before they got sheet rocked.

 

I’m not recognizing any of these kids names as adults. Surely they didn’t all move away from Las Vegas.

Anyone recognize any of them? If you do, make sure to direct them to VeryVintageVegas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The DOTS…AND—–DASHES column tell us about a “package from heaven” and a new “Jr. Prom Queen”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really hope you are all getting a kick out of these the way I am. Comments? Feedback? Back Story? Current Updates on people who are named? Click on the comments link just below.

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The Paradise Palms Brochures Are The Work Of Architects Palmer And Krisel

February 3rd, 2010 Categories: Mid Century Modern, Paradise Palms

Below you’ll find Plan Three of our series on the group of houses in Paradise Palms that were commissioned by Irwin Molasky. They were designed by the famed architectural team of Palmer and Krisel. NOT all of the houses of Paradise Palms are Palmer and Krisel’s however. The series we’re running now are, though.

Next week is Palm Springs Modern week. I’m still working out the details, but I’m planning on attending the premiere of the new Documentary on William Krisel. It was filmed by JG Gorst, and Design OnScreen. The documentary series they’re doing is about noted regional architects of the Modern Era. This is one of them  It’s being shown for the first time on Sunday Night the 14^th as part of Palm Springs Modern Week.

If you recall, last March, we contributed to the film with a major segment on the Palmer and Krisel houses of Paradise Palms in Las Vegas. I’m told that I didn’t make it to the cutting room floor, and that the interview with me is several minutes of the film.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the trailer for the film.   

 

William Krisel, Architect from Design Onscreen on Vimeo

 

Model 3 in our series has me confused at the moment. I recognize the floorplan, but not the front elevations.

I’m going to do a drive around and see if I can remember which houses I’ve been in that have that floorplan, and compare the fronts.

Plan 3A seems similar to one that I know that has a soaring vaulted carport

I don’t ever recall seeing a 3B that would have the butterfly roof with 5 sets of clearstory windows to the left. Or maybe my memory isn’t what it used to be.

3C is even more perplexing.

Anyone else able to help on this mystery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Untold Stories: The Las Vegas History Panel Discussion Series

February 2nd, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas History

We haven’t done any Las Vegas History lately. If you’re new to VeryVintageVegas, it’s one of the things we try to cover. I’m NOT the historian, just one of the students. Lynn Zook of the Classic Las Vegas, among others are historians. She presents a monthly panel discussion called “Untold Stories”.

This month the topic is African American Entertainers in Las Vegas. We invite you

 

We kick off a the new year with our first “Untold Stories” on Thursday, February 4th with a look at African-American Entertainers in Las Vegas.  We will discuss the early days of segregation up through what it is like to perform in Las Vegas today.

Panelists include:

Claytee White:  Director of UNLV’s Oral History Program

Skip Trenier:  cousin to Claude and Cliff Trenier and member of the band

Sonny Turner: Lead singer  of The Platters from 1960-1970

Michael Ryan Tyler: Musician who has played with Wayne Newton and others in today’s Las Vegas

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

6:30 pm

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Admission $9

Discounts available if you buy a class pass!

Classic Las Vegas is THE BLOG for Las Vegas History. It should be one of your daily reads as well.

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Paradise Palms Original 1963 Sales Brochures - Model # 2

February 2nd, 2010 Categories: Paradise Palms

The “Model 2” plan was 1200 sf. I’ve mostly seen it the part of Paradise Palms NORTH of Desert Inn. It was the “starter home” and was base priced (according to the rubber stamp on the floor plan side) $22,300.

A terribly kept, run down, broken, but original of this model just sold for $55,000 as bank owned repo. It breaks my heart to report that. Especially since the buyer I wrote an offer for didn’t get it.

Most often, I’ve seen it as a plan B

There’s a few plan C’s along Golden Arrow Drive on the north end of Paradise Palms, and Several A’s on Burnham and Gaucho.

Some of them have had the carports converted to living area, and a few of them have been thoroughly butchered with room additions that block the “wall of glass” at the back of the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow, we’ll do the March edition of the Paradise Palms Neighborhood Newsletter from 1963. If you missed the first edition, you can scroll down, or click here.

Both of these pictures are clickable thumbnails if you’d like to see it in the full 8.5 x 11 version.

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Today Is Jack LeVine’s 25th Anniversary Of Living In Las Vegas

February 2nd, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

It’s been an very interesting 25 years. I came to town as a 31 year old. I intended to write a big long essay about the changes I’ve witnessed. I didn’t get to it, but didn’t want the day to go by without notating the occasion.

February 2^nd was the day I got here with the clothes and the dog. We had moved some furniture from Ohio previously that was stacked up in the garage at my parents, but once the dog is there…..that’s where you live.

I knew then, as I know now, that Vegas is forever….

 

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Do You Have An Olive Tree You Don’t Want?

February 1st, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

Coast To Coast Tree Service is looking to buy 20 or more MATURE fruiting olive trees. I know that sounds weird, since there’s been a ban on importing them into Clark County since 1991.

They’re doing a landscape job for a major new shopping complex out in the suburbs. They can’t bring the trees in, but they can transplant existing ones. The trees have to be 20 or more years old, and in good healthy condition.

They’re offering to not only remove the tree, but they’ll pay you $150. or so depending on the size, AND they’ll plant you a new tree of your choice to replace the olive tree. If you’re tired of the olive mess, or just wanting to change to a tree that requires less water than an olive, this might be great for you.

Contact for this is Mike Becker of Coast To Coast Tree. His Cell number is 858–869–4321 Mike can explain the details and will drop by to see the tree. MAKE SURE TO TELL HIM YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT IT at VeryVintageVegas.com

 

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The 1963 Paradise Palms Newsletters - Part 1 - The Mid Century Modern Las Vegas Neighborhood Of Paradise Palms

February 1st, 2010 Categories: Las Vegas Real Estate News

This is the first of eight of the 1963 newsletters for Paradise Palms that were graciously lent to us by Paradise Palms original owner Maise Ronnow.

These newsletters were part of the marketing campaign for the Paradise Palms development of “Jet Age” modern homes in Las Vegas. We now refer to 50’s and 60’s modernism as “Mid Century Modern” or “Mid Mod” for short. They were distributed to the new owners by mail, and handed out at the sales office.

Through Maisie’s penchant for saving stuff, we have 8 editions, spanning from February ‘63 thru October ‘63. No one that I’ve shown these to, nor anyone that I’ve ever spoken to has ever seen or heard of them. Perhaps there’s some more editions hiding in a drawer or a in a box in closet somewhere. Getting these out in the open may well help us find some more.

They’re really worth taking a few minutes to read, ESPECIALLY page 2 of each edition which highlights new owners and their families. Amusingly (from a 2010 perspective), they tell the names and addresses, and even the ages of the children when they’re pictured.

In the dots and dashes columns of page 4 in this edition you’ll find announcements of all kinds including! “so and so will be on vacation for the next two weeks”.

 

 

 

 The Paradise Palms Welcome Mat

In our upcoming editions, you’ll see lots of great Mid Mod Furniture and Decor. I’m getting a kick out of the hairdos and the clothes, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Just in case you’re new to VeryVintageVegas, or Las Vegas, you can find the Paradise Palms Neighborhood on both sides of Desert Inn Road, between Maryland Parkway and Eastern Ave.

There’s also 2 cul-de-sac “fingers” that extend into what is now the National Golf Course. Those are accessible from Eastern Avenue, between Desert Inn and Viking. The streets are Pueblo (where the ReVision House is located) and Tioga way that leads back to a street called Cochise where you’ll find the “Casino House”.

 

The south edges of Paradise Palms are along Viking and Mohigan.

The 3^rd Finger Ottawa Drive is accessible from Spencer, just north of Twain.

 

 

 

 

Paradise Palms had a Homeowners Association when it was first built. I’ve always known about the “Paradise Palms Community Association”, but don’t really know what year it was voted out of existence.

 

In the article to the left is also reference to the community park that once existed in the middle of Paradise Palms. It the south side of Chippewa Avenue, and what’s now the the houses on Chippewa Circle. The east end of the park came over to Spencer and the power lines.

The association fee was THREE dollars a month! “a pittance for what you receive in return!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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