Preservation Month in Las Vegas

It's hard to believe that is May again!  Seems like just last week we were all together celebrating Helldorado and now it's time to do it all again!  Woo-Hoo!

As most of you know, May is Preservation Month and, as always, we have many fun things to do and we invite all of you to join us!

Here are some dates and Events worth remembering:

Thursday, May 8th

Untold Stories: Cultural Tourism:  Can it work for Las Vegas?  Panelists include Brian "Paco" Alvarez, Courtney Mooney, Aaron Micallef and Marilyn Gillespie.

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission is $12

For more information about the panel and panelists:

http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/2009-friends-of-classic-las-ve/

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Friday, May 8th

Booksigning and Discussion

Our friends at the Nevada State Museum will be hosting a book signing for my new book, Las Vegas in Postcards: 1905-1965 on Friday evening, May 8th.

My co-author Carey Burke will be there as well.

The book-signing reception begins at 5:30 pm

At 6:30 that evening, Dennis McBride will moderate a talk with us on how the book came about.

We hope you will join us for a fun-filled evening!

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Dr

Lorenzi Park

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Saturday, May 9th

Cultural History Fair

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Free

We have a booth and some cool displays, so drop by and say "Hey"

Morelli House Open House

The Junior League is hosting an Open House at the famed Morelli House.

Tours will be given as well.

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Free

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Wednesday, May 13
Helldorado Roundup Party

Fremont Street Experience
6 to10 p.m.
First Street Stage - Randy Anderson, 8 to 11 p.m.
Third Street Stage - Third Town, 8 to 10 p.m.
Food, drinks and entertainment

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Thursday, May 14
Carnival Midway opens 5 to 11 p.m.

Kids & Kowboys Locals Rodeo, 7 to 9 p.m.

Downtown Rodeo Grounds

Featuring mutton busting, media events, bull riding and local barrel racers
First Street Stage - Scotty Alexander Band, 8 to 11 p.m.
Third Street Stage - Third Town, 8 to 11 p.m.

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Friday, May 15th
Whiskerino Contest Finale 4:45 p.m.

Fremont Street Experience, 3rd street stage

$10 entry fee

Preservation Association of Clark County Yearly Event

PACC is once again holding their annual event.  This year it is taking place at the historic 5th Street School.  Stoney Douglas from the City of Las Vegas will be giving tours and a brief presentation about the restoration of the building.

6:30 pm

5th Street School

401 S. 4th Street

Admission is free but RSVPs are required.

RSVP to Corinne Escobar at CorinneEscobar@pacc.info

Light Refreshments will be served.

Carnival 5 p.m.to midnight
PRCA Rodeo 7to 9 p.m.
Downtown Rodeo Grounds

First Street Stage - John Encino Band, 8 to 11 p.m.
Third Street Stage - T.J. Weaver Band, 8 to 11 p.m.

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Saturday, May 16th

Helldorado Hold’em Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament
Binion’s Horseshoe Hotel & Casino, 9 a.m.

Helldorado Parade

Once again we are joining forces with Jack LeVine at VeryVintageVegas and Dr. Lonnie Hammagren to celebrate Helldorado!  We will be using Dr. Lonnie's truck float filled with some cool Las Vegas historical artifacts.

If you would like to join us along with the parade route and help out, contact me or Jack.  Last year we finished the parade and celebrated at Micky Finnz.  Look for us to do something similar this year!

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Fourth Street (between Charleston and Ogden)

Fireworks Show, 9 p.m.

Carnival

noon to midnight
PRCA Rodeo 9 to11 p.m.
Downtown Rodeo Grounds

First Street Stage - John Encino Band, 8 to 11 p.m.
Third Street Stage - T.J. Weaver Band, 8 to 11 p.m.

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Sunday, May 17
Carnival

Noon to11 p.m.
PRCA Rodeo7to9 p.m.
Downtown Rodeo Grounds

Third Street Stage - Hazard County Rebels, 8 to 11 p.m.

Rodeo tickets  available from noon to 6 p.m:

Elk's Lodge, 4100 W. Charleston Blvd.
http://www.elkshelldorado.com/

 
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Saturday, May 23rd

Clark County Centennial Day

Clark County Museum

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Carey Burke and I will be there selling and autographing copies of "Las Vegas Postcard History: 1905-1965"

If you live out of state or can't make the book-signings but would still like an inscribed and autographed copy of "Las Vegas Postcard History: 1905-1965", here's the link for you:

www.classiclasvegas.com/coolstuff/coolstuff.htm

So there is plenty going on!  We hope you will join us in celebrating all month long!  Check back for added events as the month goes on!

Las Vegas Signs and Other updates

 

They took the Moulin Rouge sign down early in the morning.  Our buddy, Joel Rosales of Leavinglv got there too late to snap any photos of the sign coming down but he did get these of the aftermath.

The Moulin Rouge, of course, was the first integrated casino in Las Vegas when it opened in 1955.  It closed its doors in less than a year amid rumors that still swirl around the property today.

Benny Binion Statue

I was surprised to discover this statue had been moved.  For years a downtown landmark, this statue of Benny Binion stood on the corner of Casino Center and Ogden Avenue.  However, it is no longer there.

According to Joel, it was moved to the South Point Hotel and Casino out on the south Strip a few months ago.  Michael Gaughan approached the Las Vegas City Council about moving the statue out to his equestrian center.  Despite the disapproval of Mayor Goodman, the City Council voted in agreement for the statue to be moved.

So, if you want to visit Benny, you have to go out the South Point.  I guess since the Horseshoe is no longer under the control of the Binion family and that casino is now owned by Terry Caudill, who also owns the Four Queens, perhaps there was some worry that the statue would be destroyed.

Special thanks to Joel Rosales at Leavinglv.net for letting us the images above.

Candlelight Wedding Chapel

As part of the Clark County Centennial Celebration, the Clark County Museum will begin restoration of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel later this year.  The Candlelight stood near  the Riviera for years before it became endangered.  Funds were secured and the Chapel was moved to the Clark County Museum where it will now be restored so that future generations will be able to see one of the few remaining old-style wedding chapels from the Las Vegas Strip.

Candlelight Wedding Chapel in 2007

Special thanks to Allen Sandquist for letting us this image.

 Candlelight Wedding Chapel today at the Clark County Museum

This past weekend, phase one of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel
renovation at the Clark County Museum was completed.
Phase two will begin in the late summer, and in mid November the Clark
County Museum will host a gala opening event.
 
The chapel, donated by it owner Gordon Gust and spared by the developers
of the Fontainbleau Casino, was moved from
its location just north of the Riviera Hotel arrived at the museum in
the early morning of March 1, 2007.
 
The opening of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel plays a central role in
the Clark County Centennial Year celebration activities.

Thanks to Malcolm Vuksich at the Museum for letting us use the updated image and for the update on the progress of the restoration.

Las Vegas Entertainer Danny Gans has died

The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Danny Gans died in his sleep last night.

Gans had opened at Steve Wynn's Encore just three months ago.

Encore Las Vegas and representatives of the Danny Gans show report the Las Vegas headliner died in his sleep early this morning. He was 52.

The cause of death is unknown.

Henderson Police spokesman Officer Todd Rasmussen said this morning they received a call about 3:45 a.m. from a woman inside the home at 761 Ricota Court in Henderson. The woman said that a 52-year-old male was having breathing problems. When officers and paramedics arrived they found the man unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rasmussen said, as per department procedure, police are conducting a death investigation at the home.

Gans has been a Las Vegas entertainer for more than 12 years performing as a self-described "musical impressionist."

In an official statement from Gans' manager Chip Lightman, he said Gans died in his sleep around 3 a.m.

"Danny Gans will not only be remembered as a Las Vegas entertainer, but as a man who loved his family, loved God, and loved the City of Las Vegas.

"Danny Gans has been my partner and dear friends for over 18 years, I will truly miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife of 28 years, Julie Gans, and 3 children, Amy, Andrew and Emily."

Casino developer Steve Wynn also released a statement about the entertainer.

"Elaine and I and all of us in the company are devastated at the loss of our brilliant, talented and loving friend. One of the most unique human beings and entertainers in the world has been taken from us in an unexpected moment. A profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless. The loss of Danny to his wife Julie, his children Amy, Andrew and Emily is at this moment impossible to comprehend. We will all try to go on with our lives without our dear friend. At this moment it seems almost impossible."

Gans' show at The Mirage earned him title of "Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year" for 11 years in a row.

In February, Gans changed venues and had been performing his show at the new Encore Theater.

Architecture and Neon in Clark County - May 1st - Tonight!

The original Aladdin neon signage designed by Yesco. Brian "Buzz" Leming was part of the design team

Origina Caesar's Palace neon signage designed by Yesco. Brian "Buzz" Leming was part of the design team.

Neon sign designed by Brian "Buzz" Leming

Architecture and Neon in Clark County is the topic of the May 1 panel discussion at 6 pm at the Clark County Government Center. This month we throw the spotlight on the neon and the architecture that made mid-century Las Vegas famous.

Panelists include

Brian “Buzz” Leming, long-time sign designer who mentored under Betty Willis, worked with some of the great sign designers at YESCO and is still designing signs today for Federal Heath.

Helga Watkins, Associate Professor, UNLV Art Dept.,

architect Eric Strain

Dr. David Schwartz, UNLV Library Special Collections.

Friday, May 1st

Clark County Government Center

Clark County Commisioner Chambers

6:00 pm

The discussion, which is free to the public, is part of the ongoing First Friday series “Centennial Stories: Examing Our Past” commemorating 2009 Clark County’s Centennial. The discussion will be broadcast live on CCTV 4. Audience members are encouraged to ask questions