Jackie Gaughan to throw out first pitch

And people sometimes wonder why we love Jackie Gaughan so much!

CASINO PIONEER JACKIE GAUGHAN WILL THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH FOR THE LAS VEGAS 51s

 Las Vegas legend Jackie Gaughan joins the Las Vegas 51s baseball team for the first pitch of its game vs. the visiting Tacoma Rainiers. Gaughan will be the honorary hurler to kick off this Friday night,  June 20th, home game.

The El Cortez is offering one free wine, well or beer drink to individuals presenting a ticket stub from the evening’s game at any of the downtown property’s bars. Individuals must be 21 and older and the promotion is only valid on June 20.

Gaughan was a co-owner of Las Vegas’ first AAA baseball team; the city has had a team since 1983.

During his lifetime, legendary casino pioneer Gaughan owned or had holdings in the Flamingo, Showboat Casino, Union Plaza Hotel & Casino, Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas Club Hotel & Casino, Gold Spike Hotel & Casino, Western Casino and the El Cortez Hotel & Casino.

Most days, Gaughan can be spotted playing at an El Cortez poker table or busy greeting players at the property he continues to call home.

Steve Wynn credits Gaughan with having helped him get his start at the Golden Nugget.

Gaughan bought the El Cortez in 1961. Recently, the Nevada Gaming Control Board approved the sale of Gaughan’s shares of the El Cortez, the last property he had a stake in, to be sold to the Epstein family, Mike Nolan, Joe Woody and Lonny Zarowitz.

WHEN: Friday, June 20

7:05 p.m.

WHERE: Cashman Field

850 Las Vegas Boulevard North

Las Vegas, NV 89101

The Big Empire, the Huntridge and a Preservation Summit

Well, the tempature is creeping back up towards 100, so that can only mean there must be lots of activities this weekend.

This afternoon I am giving a tour of Historic Fremont Street to the Big Empire.  Every Joone these lovers of Classic Las Vegas converge in town for their annual Soiree, courtesy of Matt Weatherford.  They are a great bunch and I am looking forward to seeing them again.

Tomorrow in Boulder City is a historic preservation summit.  Many of the historic preservation groups, Friends of Classic Las Vegas, Atomic Age Alliance, VeryVintageVegas, as well as city and county officials will be there.  Heather MacIntosh, from Washington DC, will be there to talk more about her group PreservationAction.org and how we can possibly all work together.

Tomorrow night is dinner with the Big Empire group followed by a party at Dr. Lonnie Hammergren's house where he will be unveiling his new Howard Hughes collection.

I'll report back with all the fun and all the facts.

Earlier this week, the Save the Huntridge Community Group leaders (Brian Paco Alvarez, Parm Hartley, Jack LeVine and myself) met with Huntridge owner, Eli Mizrachil.

Eli took a road trip a few weeks ago to Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California.  In Studio City he saw the La Reina theater.  This former S. Charles Lee designed theater closed back in the late 1980s.  It had a beautiful marquee filled with neon and a box office straight out of a movie set.  The theater underwent an adaptive re-use in the early 1990s when it became a Bookstar.  After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, it suffered some damage and had to be retrofitted.  Today it is a major day spa surrounded by various retail stores and restaurants.

I mention all this because seeing the La Reina inspired Eli to think outside the box.  His plans for the Huntridge are amazing.  He ties all three buildings (the former theater, the former bank/mattress store and the former Post Office) quite elegantly.  The lobby of the theater would be the flow-through where people could access the courtyard in the back.  The second story of the theater would become professional office space.  Below would be a mix of retail and restaurants.

The building would be saved, the pylon would be saved and the neon would be restored and relit atop the pylon.

In front, facing Charleston Blvd, would be two pads for a fast-food type place and a Starbucks type place.  Both would be done in the architecture of streamline-moderne to accent the main building.

Eli and his team are hoping to have an unveiling of these plans on First Friday next month.  We will keep you posted about the when and where.

In the meantime, this is, by far, the best idea that we have seen for the Huntridge so far.  It has the power to not only re-energize the building but the entire neighborhood surrounding it.

Here's hoping! 

Las Vegas Springs Preserve 1st Anniversary Party

By now most of you know that we are big fans of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve and not just because of the "Untold Stories" series we do there.   It is an incredible preservation project that charts the history of water in Southern Nevada and we believe in the path they are on.

This Sunday, June 8th, the Springs is celebrating its first anniversary with all you  can eat ice cream and more.  Over a year ago in this very blog we suggested that some sharp promoter should book The Pickadillos and Killian's Angels on the same bill.

Well, the Spring's Jodi Molever is that sharp promoter and has done just that.  This Sunday, if you don't go for the $6 admission fee or the free ice cream, go for some incredible music from two of the best local bands in Las Vegas.

The Pickadillos perform at:

12:40 - 1:30

3:45 - 4:30

You won't be disappointed.

Here's more info:

Since opening in June 2007, the Las Vegas Springs Preserve has entertained and educated hundreds of thousands of visitors with Grammy-winning artists, award-winning exhibits and a vision for a sustainable future. With 180 acres of LEED-certified building designs, museums, botanical gardens, galleries, trails and entertainment venues, the Springs Preserve has become a cultural hub for locals as well as for tourists seeking an off-Strip experience.

To celebrate a successful first year, the Springs Preserve will host an All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival on Sunday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will include improv comedy by Second City, live music by Killian's Angels and The Pickadillos, performances by Sharon Lynn's Celtic Storm Dancers, plus behind-the-scenes tours and opportunities to see the Springs Preserve's award-winning architecture. Tickets are $6 and include admission to the museums and galleries.

Keeping sustainability and conservation in mind, in its first year, the Springs Preserve:

• Produced enough electricity from its 2,200 solar panels to power about 80 homes for a whole year
• Saved 2,500 cubic yards of landfill space by coordinating, with the support of many community partners, the recycling and mulching of 19,000 Christmas trees
• Saved more than 1 million gallons of water by using artificial grass in place of sod in the 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre

As well, the Springs Preserve has been home to a variety of amazing events including the Winter Lights Festival, Cirque du Soleil 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk, World Water Day, Southern Nevada Cultural History Fair and Christmas Tree Recycling Program. The next year will bring many new and exciting happenings including the opening of the Nevada State Museum, a Haunted Harvest Festival and much more.

This event is made possible in part by the generosity of our community partners: Anderson Dairy, Whole Foods and AV Vegas.

You'll find us hanging around the stage listening to the second set of the Pickadillos.  Stop on by and enjoy the day with us! 

DON'T FORGET! CLASSIC LAS VEGAS NEON with BUZZ AND BETTY

Last reminder about the incredible Classic Las Vegas Neon Event tomorrow evening as part of Untold Stories at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

I have put together a DVD of photos and classic film footage of some of the old neon signs that I will be showing at the top of the presentation.

Also, don't forget we will be raffling off THREE, Framed, Limited Edition, Numbered prints of the Fabulous Las Vegas Sign, courtesy of the Las Vegas News Bureau.  Raffle tickets will be $1 or 6 for $5, so be sure to bring some cash and take a gamble on winning one of these beautiful prints.

Neon Signage designed by Brian "Buzz" Leming

On Thursday, June 5th we are saluting Neon Designers Brian "Buzz" Leming and the incomparable Betty Willis as part of our "Untold Stories" at the Springs Preserve.

Betty Willis was born and raised in Las Vegas.  Her family used to travel by train to Los Angeles when she was younger and she fell in love with neon signs and their vibrant colors.  After studying at the California Art Institute in Pasadena and working in the art department/marketing at the old MGM studios, she returned to Las Vegas and began her career as a Neon Designer in those halycon classic Las Vegas days.  She has designed many of the most iconic signs we associate with Las Vegas:  The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, the Moulin Rouge and the Blue Angel, just to name a few.

Brian "Buzz" Leming grew up in Henderson and always loved drawing.  He became a fireman with the local department before deciding that what he really wanted to do was design neon signs.  He mentored under Betty Willis and worked with the legendary Hermon Boergne and Kermit Wayne.  His signs include the Lawless Center (above), the Hacienda Horse and Rider that rides above Fremont Street and the Rio sign.  He was part of the design team on the original Aladdin Sign and the original Caesars Palace sign.  Buzz is retiring this year after a long and colorful career.

We will be raffling off three limited edition prints of the Fabulous Las Vegas sign, courtesy of our friends at the Las Vegas News Bureau.

It all happens on Thursday, June 5th at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve

7:00 pm

Admission is $12.

You won't want to miss this rare opportunity to hear these two greats talk about their careers.

 

Special thanks to RoadsidePictures for letting us use these images.