Helen Stewart

 

Our friend (and FCLV member) Dr. Linda Miller is profiled in this video on Las Vegas pioneer, Helen Stewart.

Helen Stewart is often called the "First Lady of Las Vegas".  She and her husband, Archibald, pioneered the old Las Vegas Ranch, which also served as as waystation for travelers.  The Ranch had water, which in a desert enviroment, was an essential.  After Archibald was killed at the old Kiel Ranch, the owner sent a note telling Helen that her husband was dead and she could come get his body.

She hitched up a buckboard, retrieved Archie's body and gave him a decent burial.  With her children, she stayed on at the Ranch.  When Sen. William Clark came looking for land and water rights for his railroad that would change Las Vegas forever, Helen J. Stewart was the woman he sought out.

She sold her ranch to Clark but maintained the property where Archie was buried.  She bought more acreage and continued to live in Las Vegas.  She became a good friend to the Paiute Indians and traded with them.  Her collection of Indian baskets are now part of the collection at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas.

For more information on Helen J. Stewart and her place in Las Vegas history:

http://www.1st100.com/part1/stewart.html

Weekend Updates

Couple of interesting tidbits:

  

1)  It was originally supposed to be a feature length movie directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Russell Crowe but that didn't pan out.  Now, Nick Pilegi, author of the book that inspired Casino (as well as the screenplay), is developing a dramatic series on the life of former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb.  CBS is looking to be the home of the series.  Director James Mangold who brought the Johnny Cash bio, I Walk the Line, to the silver screen will helm the pilot.

Ralph Lamb was the sheriff during Las Vegas's heyday of the 1960s through the 1970s.  He faced down every one from Frank Rosenthal to Hell's Angels and investigated everything from car bombings to the abduction/murder of Culinary official, Al Bramlett.  He has had a colorful life that includes growing up on a ranch in central Nevada.  The Lambs were at one time one of the most influential families in the state.  Ralph's brothers include former State Senator Darwin Lamb who has a cameo in the Bond film, Diamonds are Forever.

 

 

2)  The cast of the latest Cirque show, Elvis at Aria, received the bad news that the show is going dark for six weeks beginning in January while officials retool the show.  The retooling may include the jettisoning of Elvis music and biography elements.  The goal is to make it more of a Cirque spectacular.

 

3)  The Las Vegas Convention Authority has hired former mayor Oscar Goodman to help promote Las Vegas.  He will have his usual accessories, showgirls and a large glass of gin with him.  The contract lasts two years and is a work in progress.  "I will be the brand of Las Vegas," said Goodman.

Paradise Palms on display

This sounds like a great exhibit curated by our pals, Paco Alvarez and Clay Heximer. We hope you will take the time to check it out!

The Boulevard and the News Bureau will hold an unveiling of the exhibition on Saturday, Aug. at 5 pm inside The Boulevard Food Court in conjunction with The Neighborhood of Paradise Palms (paradisepalmslasvegas.com).



Through historic photographs from the Las Vegas News Bureau archives, "A Place in Paradise" explores a neighborhood that was synonymous with the Mid-Century Modern lifestyle in Las Vegas during the 1960s.

The exhibition includes 24, large-format photographs depicting images of The Boulevard shopping mall; the aerial images of the Historic Paradise Palms neighborhood and its resident celebrities, including Caesars Palace developer Jay Sarno, comedian Rip Taylor, actress and entertainer Debbie Reynolds and "Casino De Paris" show producer Frederic Apcar; the Tournament of Champions Golf Tournament with Arnold Palmer teeing off in 1967 and many more.

Located in the food court at The Boulevard shopping mall (3528 S. Maryland Parkway), the photographs are on exhibition through the end of 2011 during mall hours. The exhibition was produced by the Las Vegas News Bureau in partnership with The Boulevard and General Growth properties. Considered to be Las Vegas’ first major master-planned community, the historic "Paradise Palms" neighborhood was built with all the amenities of an ideal suburban environment.

Located in the heart of Clark County, it was built at the height of the Mid-Century Modern Era (1945-1965). The community would feature landscaped neighborhoods, a large “weather-controlled” shopping center, a movie theater, a medical center, a university, schools, parks and a championship golf course. 

 

A Blast from the Past

 

The famous Sunset Strip.  For over 60 years a billboard has stood at the curve that marks the beginning of the famed Sunset Strip.

It was here in the 1950s that Sahara Hotel executive Stan Irwin decided to put an ad up for all of Los Angeles to see and enjoy.

A model of young showgirl atop a silver dollar (better for playing the slots) with the ad for the hotel under the silver dollar (and with that soothing blue background that just screamed water and fun), the marquee board could be changed out when new acts took the stage.

At this particular moment in time, funny woman, Martha Raye was playing the Congo Room and Louis Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera were rotating in the Casbah Room with Billy Ward's Domino's.

They don't make billboards like this anymore.

Fun trivia fact, they say that Jay Ward- the creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle- spoofed this particular billboard when he opened his studio on the famed Sunset Strip.  He had a statue erected of Bullwinkle  Moose holding Rocket "Rocky" Squirrel in the palm of his hand, in a poise like the showgirl.