Las Vegas History

TWO Las Vegas History Panel Discussions and Exhibits

June 28th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

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Wednesday, and Thursday evening each have a panel discussion related to the History Of Las Vegas.

Wednesday, July 1 is the 100th anniversary of the formation of Clark County. Along with the whole year long celebration, there’s a special panel discussion and exhibit at the Clark County Government Center.

Reception is 5pm

Panel Discussion :The History of The Strip – Howard Hughes and Beyond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday evening July 2nd is the next installment of the “UNTOLD STORIES” series that’s presented by Lynn Zook and Classic Las Vegas. This series is held at the Springs Preserve at 6:30pm.

July’s Untold Stories is going to look at those who help keep our history alive by collecting Las Vegas ephemera.  From postcards to menus to casino chips, these guys are helping to preserve a very vital piece of our collective memory.

It started as a small hobby that over the years has grown in size.  But without them, many of these pieces would be lost for good.

Please join us and panelists: Carey Burke, Robert Stoldal and others as we talk about the hows and whys of their collections and why those collections are so important.

There will be copies of “Las Vegas: 1905-1965″, the history book that Carey Burke and Lynn Zook wrote utilizing a great deal of his postcard collection, will be on sale before and after the panel.  Carey and Lynn will be happy to autograph copies.

Thursday, July 2^nd 6:30 pm Las Vegas Springs Preserve Desert Learning Center

Admission is $12

It should be a fun evening of history and the panelists are bringing items from their collections as well! We hope to see you there!

Speaking of Las Vegas History, as we do often, Vegas Judy sent me a link to a 1956 home video (shot in 8mm) of Las Vegas, narrated 50 years later by man who took it when he was a child. It’s worth 3 minutes of your time.

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Andre’s Restaurant Furnishings and Memorabilia To Be Auctioned

June 25th, 2009 Categories: Downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas History

Preview (all items): Thursday, June 25th 10am to 5pm
First Auction Date: Friday, June 26th at 10am - Land, Building, Restaurant Equipment
Second Auction Date: Saturday, June 27th at 10am - Memorabilia

401 S. 6^th Street.

There’s tons of pictures on the auction website. I’m going over around 1pm.

 

(thanks for the reminder – Smiley)

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The Maude Frazier NON-Memorial

June 17th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

I rarely ever manage to be as snarky as our friend Andrew Kiraly at CityLife. He topped himself today.

I was told that the one single lone wall of Maude Frazier Hall – the VERY first building on the UNLV campus had been left, and was going to be a tribute to her. But WTF?

I’m not supposed to copy and paste entire blogposts – just a snipit and a link, but this one deserves to be seen in its entirety.

We’ve done a lot of coverage about Maude Frazier and despicable destruction of Maude Frazier Hall. It was designed by the locally famous architectural team of Zick and Sharp. We’re doing a bus tour/lecture/roundtable (along with Classic Las Vegas) about Zick and Sharp in October.  

Okay, so Maude Frazier Hall wasn’t exactly a campus hottie in terms of architecturally delighting the eye. And when UNLV’s bumbling current powers that be soothed critics with sweet something-or-others about erecting a “memorial wall” in the razed building’s place, a wall that would pay proper homage to UNLV’s mommy, I thought, okay, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. I’d since seen the memorial wall through my car window as I was zipping by, and figured the burl of fencing around the project meant the wall was a work in progress.

Then I was strolling through UNLV the other day and this mini-monstrosity hooked my eyeballs in its full glory. Work in progress? Hello! More like JERK IN PROGRESS. Turns out this is actually the complete project. I’m no architecture critic, but it looks like whoever made this thing lifted a pallet of sandstone facade from a Summerlin strip mall and played a solo match of Jenga on the campus lawn.

If they were going to knock down a historic building — perhaps a true prince waiting to bust out of frogdom — they could have at least created a memorial wall that truly engages and reflects Frazier’s place both in the history of UNLV and the Las Vegas Valley. But this slapdash stack just ain’t cutting it.

On the upside, it looks like it was inexpensive to produce. So it shouldn’t prove too much heartbreak on UNLV’s wallet to tear it down — and try again.

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Las Vegas History Discussions and Lectures

June 2nd, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

Just because Historic Preservation Month has come to an end, doesn’t mean we can stop learning about the history of Las Vegas.

Lynn Zook from Classic Las Vegas is the best Las Vegas History Blogger that there is. The Classic Las Vegas History Blog should be on your regular reading list.  It’s at the top of my list. Lynn reminded us of three different history events this week.

On Thursday, June 4th,

Untold Stories will look at Architecture in Las Vegas. Most people tend to think that Las Vegas has very bland architecture with just cookie cutter type homes and McOffices. But our past (and present) is filled with wonderous examples of soaring architecture and many of these wonderful buildings are still standing, though they may be harder to see these days buried behind new facades.

Panelists include: Architect Eric Strain of Assemblage Studios: Karen Zick Goff, daughter of architect Walter Zick (who designed the Mint Hotel; George Tate, architect with quite a history in Las Vegas

Untold Stories is at the The Las Vegas Springs Preserve Desert Learning Center, Thursday, June 4^th, 6:30 pm (Get there early as I’ve put together a great DVD for this one!) Admission is $12

Friday, June 5th:

From Guy McAfee to Bugsy Siegel to Moe Dalitz to Frank Rosenthal and Tony “The Ant” Spilotro, the Mob has had a hold on the imaginations of most people who love “classic” Las Vegas.

This Friday I will be giving a  talk that will cover not only the  historical points but also talk about the difference between guys like Benny Binion and Moe Dalitz and “Lefty” and “The Ant”.

Also, I will have autographed copies of my book “Las Vegas: 1905-1965” for those interesting in purchasing one or more!
I’d love to get a head count (even an approximation) so I can be sure that we have enough chairs! You can email me! lynn@asweknewit.com

3:30 pm Friday, June 5th
El Cortez Upstairs across from the Executive Offices
Event is free
Hope to see you there!

Friday June 5th:

 

The Clark County Centennial Roundtable Discussion looks at the Early History of the Las Vegas Strip with panelists:

Betty Bunch, Lisa Medford, George Stamos, and Peter Anthony

6:00 pm – Clark County Government Center (Bonneville and Grand Central Parkway)
Event is free

Hope to see you at all three!

“Las Vegas: 1905 - 1965″ by author Lynn Zook, autographed copies available at:
www.classiclasvegas.com/coolstuff/coolstuff.htm

Become a Friend of Classic Las Vegas today!

www.classiclasvegas.squarespace.com (blog)

www.classiclasvegas.com (website) 

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The “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign Is Now Listed In The National Register Of Historic Places

May 21st, 2009 Categories: ART, Las Vegas History

The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a significant milestone in the sign’s 50-year history, county and state officials announced today.

“We nominated the sign as part of our centennial celebration, believing wholeheartedly in this Las Vegas icon’s historic value,” said County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, whose district includes the sign. “This designation demonstrates that the keepers of the National Register agree. The sign has been not only an important symbol for our community but a magnet for untold thousands who have had their pictures taken in front of it.”

Nevada Historic Preservation Officer Ron James, whose office forwarded the county’s application to the National Park Service for consideration, said the Register is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of recognition and preservation.

“This sign is one of the most recognizable images associated with Nevada and its tourism industry,” said James. “This national honor underscores the historic value of the sign.”

The Welcome sign is located on the median of Las Vegas Boulevard in unincorporated Clark County, just south of the Russell Road exit on Interstate 15. It reads, “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” on the front and “Drive Carefully” and “Come Back Soon” on the back.

The sign is owned by Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and leased to Clark County. “As owner of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, YESCO is proud to be the stewards of this important cultural resource which has done so much to promote a positive, vibrant image for Las Vegas and Clark County for the past 50 years,” said John Williams, the company’s vice president and general manager.
 

The sign was designed by Betty Whitehead Willis of Western Neon, at the time one of a few women in the nation working as sign designers. In 1959 a group of Strip hotel owners asked the Clark County Commission to fund the design and construction of a sign to welcome visitors to Las Vegas. The winning bid, from Western Neon, was for $4,000. Later, YESCO bought out Western Neon and became the sign’s owner.

(THERE’S MORE HISTORY about the sign after the jump)

Read the rest of this entry »

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Preservation Association Of Clark County Spotlights The History Of Gilcrease Orchard

May 18th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

One of the gems of Las Vegas is the Gilcrease Orchard. The history of the Orchard and Preserve, as well as it’s current status, has been spotlighted in the April newsletter from the Preservation Association of Clark County. I translated the newsletter in JPG which should be clickable to see an expanded version.

There’s even more history and commentary on the Early Vegas Ranches Blog

We don’t know if it will reopen this summer or not, but we’re watching and will keep you posted.

The Preservation Association of Clark County is the oldest non-profit preservation group in Clark County. It was established in 1974. We attended the annual meeting last Friday night at the Historic 5^th Street School. Corinne Escobar was once again elected to be the President. Like every other non profit organization in the world, new members are welcomed and needed.

Tags: gilcrease+orchard

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Would You Like To Walk With Very Vintage Vegas In The Helldorado Parade?

May 14th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

If you’re not content with just watching the Helldorado parade….

All Very Vintage Vegas readers are invited to walk along with us in the parade. I’ll be driving Dr. Lonnie Hammargren’s float, which this year will have the VeryVintageVegas and Classic Las Vegas Banners.

Show up and find us around 6pm on Saturday night at the staging area north of Charleston on 4^th Street. We haven’t gotten our number yet, but the truck will be easy to find.

If you’re going to be watching the parade along 4^th Street, then make sure to YELL AND SCREAM and wave at us. We’ll be just as excited to see you!

After the parade, there will be fireworks on Fremont Street, the carnival, the rodeo, and plenty of live entertainment at both Fremont Street Experience and the clubs at Fremont East Entertainment District.

I’m sure we’ll be having a late night drink at “Don’t Tell Mama” after the rodeo and carnival. There’s no excuse for being anywhere else this Saturday Night.

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Helldorado Returns To Las Vegas This Weekend

May 11th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

One of the long standing traditions that celebrates Las Vegas history is the Helldorado Parade.

“A Las Vegas tradition since 1934, Helldorado Days recaptures the spirit of the Old West.  It is a celebration of our community’s western heritage for residents and visitors alike!”

This year there’s even more as the RODEO and CARNIVAL returns to downtown Las Vegas for 4 nights starting on Thursday. There’s a HUGE KICKOFF PARTY Wednesday night at the Fremont Street Experience.

The Parade is Saturday Night starting at 7pm along the 4^th Street parade route going north from Charleston.

Here’s the whole run down from the City of Las Vegas Official Helldorado site, though some of the events such as the golf tournement have already happened.

 Events and music on Fremont Street as well as the parade are FREE! Rodeo tickets have to be purchased:

Tickets are on sale now from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Elk’s Lodge located at 4100 West Charleston Avenue.  Tickets can also be purchased from the local Harley-Davidson stores at 2605 S. Eastern Avenue, south of Sahara Avenue.
 
Ticket prices are:
Thursday, May 14 - $5.00
Friday, May 15 - $12.50 for adults and $6.50 12 and under
Saturday, May 16 - $12.50 for adults and $6.50 12 and under
Sunday, May - 17 - $12.50 for adults and $6.50 12 and under
 
Buck-a-roo bucks are $2.00 off admission on Thursday and Sunday.  Buck-a-roo bucks can be picked up at any of the 21 Las Vegas Dunkin’ Donuts locations.  

This is the 75 anniversary installment of Heldorado, and there’s plenty of more information on the Elk’s Club Helldorado Website.

I’ll be driving Dr. Lonnie Hammegren’s float once again this year, along with the Classic Las Vegas folks.

We’re hoping you’ll come out and wave at us while you’re having a fabulous time.

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Moulin Rouge Destroyed By Fire - A Tragic Loss For Las Vegas Historic Preservation

May 7th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

The historic preservation movement in Las Vegas lost another important piece of history yesterday. In case you weren’t watching any of the new reports yesterday….The Moulin Rouge Hotel burned to the ground on Wednesday. Just last week the famous neon sign was moved to the Neon Museum’s boneyard for “safe keeping”.

We had great hopes for the rebuilding and saving of the first “racially integrated” hotel in Las Vegas. The owners say there were plans underway to rebuild the Moulin Rouge, as both a hotel and casino, as well as a museum to an era in Las Vegas that should not be forgotten.

I’ve saved you a few seconds of google time to bring you the news coverage from all the channels in case you missed seeing all the live coverage that given to it.

At least the sign managed to get saved. I’m hoping that it can get moved to the front of the line for restoration, and that a prominent spot for it will be designated.

 

 

Channel 3 News

Channel 8 Eyewitness News:

Fox 5 News

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Culture and History Fair This Saturday

May 7th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

Mike Prevatt at CityLife Blogs says it well, and it’s worth repeating over and over.

Some of you maintain Las Vegas has a serious culture drought. Well, doubters, Saturday is your answer, for when it rains, it pours.

Springs Preserve, joined with IMPACT (Imagine Museums, Performance, Art and Culture Together), is having its Culture & History Fair May 9 fro, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. A wish-list of Southern Nevada cultural institutions will be staging events and performances that include musicians and chorale groups, Native American tribes, dancers, artists, archaeologists and others. And if you’re curious about what each of these organizations does, an exhibitors area will allow attendees to acquire information and talk to representatives. (For a schedule and list of participants, visit here.) There’s so much culture on tap here, you’ll be drowning in it, your mouth too full to complain about any deficiencies at least for this afternoon.

Bonus: The fair is free. Double bonus: Still haven’t checked out the museums and galleries at Springs Preserve? Nevada residents now pay less for admission: $9.95 for adults, $8.95 for students, military, seniors and teachers, $4.95 for those aged 5-17, and kids 4 and under are free. 333 S. Valley View Blvd.; call 822-7786 for more information.

I’ve blocked out Saturday to attend the fair and the Morelli House FREE open house afterwards from 3 to 6.  If you spot me, please stop and say hello.

Classic Las Vegas has a booth. So does just about every other history group, museum, club and organization in the city. It’s a terrific way to find out about EVERYTHING you say is missing in Las Vegas. It’s really there…..you just have to get away from the computer and the TV, and get OUT OF THE HOUSE!

 

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Congratulations Lynn Zook! Spreading The Word About Las Vegas History On Turner Classic Movies

April 16th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

One of the true heros of preserving Las Vegas History is Lynn Zook, the documentary film maker and author of our favorite Las Vegas history blog – Classic Las Vegas.

Lynn Zook was one of the “Fan Presenters” on Turner Classic Movies. I’ll let her tell the story in her own words. I Tivo’d it, but have no clue how to get it off of the Tivo and onto the computer.

Besides the personal triumph for Lynn, the important part was that the words “Las Vegas History” got mentioned numerous times.

In a private email to me last night, after I had texted her a congratulations, Lynn said:

I had no idea that they would include so much of my Las Vegas talk!  From historic preservation to my memories of the original Grand Hotel’s movie theater.

A national audience got an idea that there is historic stuff in Vegas.  Oh My God!!!!!

Thank you again for all your support.

In her delightful blog post today, Lynn says:

At the top of the hour, there was Robert Osborne saying my name.  As my buddy, Marco Place, says “How often does that happen?”.  Not very often.  It was something I never thought I would hear on national television, let alone to be introduced by the man himself.

And it only got better.  We talked about my historic preservation work in Las Vegas, about my film “The Story of Classic Las Vegas” and about the website, classiclasvegas.com!  I had only been expecting a short bit of that conversation to hit the airwaves but all of my intro was there. 

If you are interested in purchasing the historical overview documentary on Las Vegas that we talked about last night, click here.

Congratulations Lynn! I’m sure your appearance with Robert Osborne on TCM is going to be one of the fondest of your memories.

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Morelli And His Music -

March 29th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

I spoke to Dede Knave over the weekend. THERE ARE STILL TICKETS remaining. It’s free but you have to RSVP.

This Thursday, April 2, at 7pm –  Las Vegas Academy Auditorium

Antonio Morelli Remembered In Words And Music

Join us for a night of music and discussion about Antonio Morelli – the famed Sands Copa Room orchestra leader in the ‘50s and ‘60s – who played with entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Jimmy Durante.

Pete Barbutti, emcee, will take the audience back to Showroom Era Las Vegas as Claytee White of the UNLV Oral History Research Center moderates a panel discussion of original Morelli Orchestra members, who will explore their impressions of Morelli and their recollections of the specific events at the Copa Room. In addition, guests will be treated to special musical selection from Morelli’s repertoire performed by the Las Vegas Academy High School Jazz Band under the direction of Patrick Bowen, with featured solos by our veteran musicians.

Following the program, a reception and tours will be held at the historic Morelli House which is located at 861 E. Bridger Ave. across from the Las Vegas Academy.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, with FREE ADMISSION, but RESERVATIONS are REQUIRED. Email RSVP to jrleagueoflv@aol.com or call 702–822–6536

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Telephone Exchanges - Central Telephone Built Lots Of Mid Mod Buildings In Las Vegas

March 21st, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

Regular Reader Tracey Brown gets a hat tip for finding this old website from Central Telephone. It shows some of the phone switching buildings, and makes reference to only some of the old letter exchanges.

 

We now know about DUDLEY – Du – The 38’s (my first phone number when I moved downtown was 383–9976 (don’t call it! it’s not mine now).

 

From this website I found out about the EVERGREEN – which would also be a 38 

And REGENT RE – the 73’s.

And SOUTH SO  – the 76’s

 

 

So I ask — were there others? When did they stop using the alpha prefixes? I know they weren’t in use in 1985 when I came to town.

 

Anyone know?

 

 

By the way, the main switch building shown above is one of my favorite commercial mid mods in all of Las Vegas.

 

Here’s a few closeups of the decorative concrete tower on the front of the building. (they’re clickable to see them as full sized images)

 

Don’t ask me why the VVV blog program just switched fonts and font sizes on me in the middle of this, and do click on the front page of The Central Office which is a tribute website to the Central Telephone Company which later became Sprint, and is now part of Embarq. There’s lots of pictures and info buried in there about telephone switching, if you’re inclined to do some surfing on the subject.   

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Women’s History Month And The Clark County Centennial

March 13th, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

The Women’s History Month Celebration Is Saturday, March 21, from 10am to 6pm at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston.

Here’s the invitation and the schedule of events and speakers.  We hope you’ll attend.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can click on these to see them full size.

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Two Roundtable Discussions Focus On Las Vegas History

March 3rd, 2009 Categories: Las Vegas History

SPOTLIGHT ON THE EARLY FAMILIES OF LAS VEGAS

On Thursday, March 5th join us as we look back at Early Families of Las Vegas.
We will shine a spotlight on the families that helped build and nurture Las Vegas from 1905 through the Great Depression.
It will be a great night of history and memories so we hope you will join us and our panelists:
Paul Carson - local historian with a great deal of knowledge on the family of Helen J. Stewart.
June Eddins - her family had a business on Fremont Street
Bill Gildner -his family arrived in the throes of the Great Depression
Don Payne - local historian
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Desert Learning Center
7:00 pm
$12 admission
We hope to see you there!
 

THE WOMEN OF CLARK COUNTY

And on Friday, March 6th as part of the Clark County Centennial monthly celebration we have organized another great panel for Mark Hall-Patton to moderate:
 
The women of Clark County are the focus of the next panel discussion about local history set for Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m.

The 90-minute roundtable discussion, called “Centennial Stories: Examining Our Past,” is timed to coincide with Women’s History Month and includes an opportunity for those who attend the free event to ask questions of the panelists of pioneers and historians.

The event takes place in the County Government Center Commission Chambers, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, and is aired live and later replayed on Clark County Television (CCTV) Channel 4 and viewers are able to call in with questions. All Channel 4 programming also may be viewed live on the county Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com.

The roundtable will feature Sue Kim-Bonifazio of the famed Kim Sisters; Dr. Joanne Goodwin, associate professor of history at UNLV and director of the UNLV Women’s Research Institute; Thalia Dondero, a former university regent and former county commissioner; and Hannah Brown, a former Delta Airlines executive and longtime resident. Moderating is county Museum Administrator Mark Hall-Patton.

Panel discussions about Clark County’s history are set for every First Friday in 2009, except in July when the event will be held Wednesday, July 1, and kicked off last month with a discussion of the history of segregation in Las Vegas.

“One of the goals of the county’s year-long commemoration of our centennial is to engage the community and celebrate our common heritage,” said Commission Chairman Rory Reid. “These monthly roundtables are a great way to do that.” 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Clark County, and the county is commemorating the event with a year of activities.

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