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/

 ________________________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________________

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

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

__________________________________________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________________________________________________

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.

________________________________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________________

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/

 
_____________________________________________________________________

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!

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

Las Vegas: 1905-1965 Available Here!

We've got copies!

Discover the real history of Las Vegas!

It's finally available! Yep, the book I wrote on the history of Las Vegas with lots of postcards, some rare and one of kind.

We cover the history of Las Vegas from 1905 to 1965 and besides lots of interesting history about the Strip and the various original hotels, there's lots of history on the Roadside Architecture, the Motels, the Post-War era,and most of all, the Community.

Discover the real history of Las Vegas!

It's a fun-filled book packed with info and lots of images of the Las Vegas you love and miss.

I've got copies of the book for sale on my website and I'll autograph them as well!

http://www.classiclasvegas.com/coolstuff/coolstuff.htm

So, head on over and order your copy today!

A portion of the sales goes toward maintaining this blog and our historical preservation work so it's for a worthy cause!

"Las Vegas in Postcards" in Bookstores Now!

I was on K-DWN radio yesterday morning promoting my new book, "Las Vegas in Postcards: 1905-1965".

As many of you know, Carey Burke, Allen Sandquist and I spent a long time working on this book last year and our hardwork paid off.  The book looks great.  It is filled with historic postcards that depict the real history of Las Vegas and focus not only on the well-known iconic side of Las Vegas but also the little known residential history of the town.

We owe a big debt of thanks to Dennis McBride, the Curator of History, at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas for letting us use some early postcards from their collection.  Mostly, the postcards came from Carey and Allen's extensive collections.  Many are rare and rarely seen postcards.

So, if you want to know about the Roadside Architecture of Las Vegas, the gaming, the neighborhood churches and schools,  real history of the motels (some of which still exist on East Fremont Street) as well as the real history of the buildings and businesses on Fremont Street and the Strip, then be sure t to get a copy of this book.

On Friday evening, May 8th, Carey Burke and I will be doing a book-signing and program (moderated by Dennis McBride) at the Nevada State Museum.  Stay tuned for more details as that date draws closer.

Also, we are preparing a companion video to go with the book.  Both the companion video and autographed copies of the book will be available for sale here in the weeks to come.  So, keep an eye out here for more details!

Of course, if you find you just can't wait, the book is available in most local to Las Vegas Barnes and Noble and Borders bookstores.  You can also buy copies of the book at the Gift Shop in the Nevada State Museum.