Untold Stories- This Thursday- The Moulin Rouge

On October 1st, we are focusing on the history and myth surrounding the famed Moulin Rouge Hotel on the Westside of Las Vegas.

The hotel opened in 1955 as the first integrated hotel and casino in town.  The opening night was attended by some of the biggest names in entertainment.  Everyone had high hopes for this wonderfully designed (by Walter Zick and Harris Sharp) hotel with its giant, neon-script sign (designed by Betty Willis).

The hotel seemed to flourish and stories have been handed down over the years of deserted casinos on the Strip late at night because everyone was at the Moulin Rouge gambling, hanging out and enjoying the jam sessions and the late, late show.

In less than two years, it was closed.  Rumors have been rife for years of the mob being involved, of financial improprieties and more.

On Thursday, Oct, 1st,  we will try to distinquish fact from fiction, history from myth and try to discern what really happened.

Joining us on the panel will be:

Carrie Pollard, dancer who performed at the Moulin Rouge back in 1955

Trish Geran, local author who focuses on the African-American stories of Las Vegas and who's grandmother ran one of the most famous boarding rooms for African-American performers.

Claytee White, director of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV,

Richard Taylor, local historian who has written two books on the history of the Rouge.

Also, I will have a DVD presentation with rare and rarely seen photos of the Moulin Rouge on opening day.

Thursday, Oct. 1st

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission $9 (note the new lower price!), (discount tickets available if you buy the next three months).

We hope to see you there!

Photos from the Jay Florian Mitchell collection, courtesy of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

1969 Led Zeppelin at the Ice Palace, Las Vegas

Were you there?

Do you have ticket stubs or better yet, pictures of the concert or the marquee?

Yes, in the summer of 1969. Zep played Las Vegas.  I know hard to believe.  But back in those days, real bands did come to Las Vegas. 

The Beatles had performed at the old Convention Center Rotunda in 1964 and the teenagers of Las Vegas caught a bad case of Beatlemania.  The concerts sold out and girls held siege at the Sahara Hotel, where the four most famous musicians in the world, at that time, were staying.

In the ensuing years, other bands came to the Convention Center, including Iron Butterfly.

According to the official Zep website, ledzeppelin.com, the concert took place on August 11th or 12th in the old Ice Palace, home to the Ice Capades, in Commercial Center.

"They were good, except when Jimmy Page pulled out that violin bow and drove me nuts with it for the next 25 minutes," recalls Las Vegas resident Tom Burt. "It was before they were really big—they only had their first album out—but if you knew what was goin' on, you knew who they were."

So, were you in the audience in August of 1969, did you see Zep?  Do you have tickets?  Or better yet pictures.

If so, let us know.  The folks at the website are anxious to talk to people who were there and discover if there is any photographic evidence of the concert.

Leave your comments here and help us out!

Beyond the Mint: Mid-Century Modern Architecture of Walter Zick

You've waited patiently and we appreciate that.  Here is the latest information on our October 3rd event highlighting the work of local architect Walter Zick with a focus on his mid-century modern homes and commercial buildings.

If you went to school at Hyde Park Jr. High, John C. Fremont, Western, Valley or Clark, if you banked at the Bank of Las Vegas/Valley Bank or bank today at the Bank of America on West Charleston and Decatur, you've been in a Walter Zick designed building. 

If you spent time at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital (today UMC) in the 1960s, the Flora Dungan Humanities Building at UNLV or the old Safeway and W.T. Grants on the corner of Maryland Parkway and E. Charleston, you've been in Walter Zick designed buildings.

If you love the Mint and it's beautiful pink and white neon sign, you know Walter Zick.

Walter Zick, along with his partner Harris Sharp, changed the look of post-war Las Vegas. From schools to banks to residential homes, Walter Zick and Harris Sharp put their stamp on Las Vegas.  They designed buildings for the Test Site, for housing projects, for government buildings.  They also designed hotels like the Moulin Rouge, the Mint and the Union Plaza.  They worked on early remodels of the El Rancho Vegas and the Flamingo.

Much of that architecture is still standing.

We have planned a day of exploring the talent of Walter Zick and we invite you to join us.

Saturday, October 3rd.

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park

11:30 am  Reception

12:00 pm 

Panel Discussion featuring noted Mid-Century Modern historian and author (and big fan of the Mint Hotel), Alan Hess; architect Eric Strain of Assemblage Studios and Walter Zick's daughters, Karen Zick Goff and Claire Zick Walker. 

Admission price for the Panel Discussion is $3, reservations for the Panel Discussion are NOT necessary.

Immediately following the Panel Discussion, there will be an afternoon bus tour around Las Vegas pointing out some of the still standing architecture of Walter Zick.  There will be four stops on the tour.  The fifth and final stop will be at the Morelli House, while not designed by Zick, is a beautiful example of mid-century modern architecture.  The Junior League has graciously offered to host tours of the house for tour participants.

RSVP's are MANDATORY for the bus tour due to limited seating.  Leave your name and phone number on the voicemail.  Both are important as we will be calling a few days before to confirm all the reservations.  Admission price is $5. 

You must call 702-486-5205 x 121 to RSVP.  Leave your name and a working phone number.

1:30 pm  Bus Loading

2:00 - 6:00  Bus Tour

The bus will return to the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas by 6:30 pm.

Once we have reached the seating capacity of the bus, we will have a will-call list as well.  We recommend calling as soon as possible to insure that you get a seat on the bus.

This should be a wonderful day of history, fun and a  chance to learn about buildings that you have loved for years.

This event is made possible by the generous support of:

Nevada Humanities, the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas; the Friends of Classic Las Vegas, VeryVintageVegas.com; the Junior League of Las Vegas, the Atomic Age Alliance and Brian "Paco" Alvarez.

Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, image courtesy of Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

Flora Dungan Humanities Building, UNLV, photo courtesy of Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

Las Vegas High School All-School Reunion

Due to a technical snafu on the other end, the updated information for the Walter Zick event will be posted on Wednesday.

Last year, I was made an honorary alumnus of Las Vegas High School due to my work chronicling the lives of many of its graduates.

The honorary status comes with many treats none as much fun as the All-Class Reunion that the Alumni Association, led by Patty Haack, organizes each September.  It truly is the best party in town.  Sam's Town, owned by Bill Boyd, class of 1948, is the location and Boyd puts out a delicious spread.

Violet Oppedyke Tracht, 99 and an alumnus of the Class of 1928 was there again this year.  Berniece Johnson, class of 1937, was there celebrating her birthday with her family, including son, Norman who was a teacher of mine at Clark High School back in the day.  There was a terrific memorial to Joe Thiriot, long-time beloved teacher at the school.

Vi and her bouquet

It was great seeing B. Mahlon Brown, class of 1957,  there.  I hadn't seen Mahlon in about two years.  He came down from his home in Oregon and regaled his table the entire evening.  John "Buzzy" Ullom, Donna and Gail Andress, Mary Carmichael Cashman and Senator Richard Bryan were all there.

Rollie Gibbs was the master of the ceremonies.  The current Wildcat Band made a rousing entrance and led the audience in the fight song as well as the alma mater.  Cork Proctor, class of 1954, had the crowd laughing and howling.

By the time the evening was wrapping up, everyone was talking about next year's party.  Bottom line, we can't wait!

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams, webmaster for the Las Vegas High School Alumni Association.

Go Wildcats!