Ever curious about the early days of Las Vegas?  Ever wonder how they carved a city out of the desert?  Want to know how a small railroad town became the Entertainment Capital of the World?  Or just curious about little known stories?

Then join us for "The Families Who Built Las Vegas" on Wednesday, Oct. 15th at the Nevada State Museum.  Our roundtable participants include:

Donna and Gail Andress, Mary Carmichael Cashman, Mike Pinjuv and more.

Reception is at 6:00 pm

Discussion begins at 7:00 pm

Admission is $3.

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Drive

Lorenzi Park

We hope to see you there!

From the beginning of Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston has played an important role in the history of the town.  Located (now) only 40 minutes away, Mt. Charleston has been a get-away for families hoping to escape the heat of the summer before air-conditioning was invented, has played host to Summer Camps for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, provided wood and timber for many a building in young Las  Vegas and a winter wonderland for those of us who want to enjoy the snow but not live in the snow.  In addition, for almost 50 years people have lived on the mountain.

This Thursday evening, Oct. 2nd, we will explore the history, the romance and the beauty of the mountain as part of our "Untold Stories" series at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Joining us will be:

Richard Taylor, long time resident of Mt. Charleston and its local historian

Thalia Dondero, long time resident of both Mt. Charleston and Las Vegas as well as past president of the Girl Scouts of America when they had a lodge and summer camp on the mountain.

Don Payne, long time resident of Las Vegas and former manager of the Las Vegas News Bureau.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 2nd

7:00 pm

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

and learn more about this natural wonder and its relationship with Las Vegas.

Admission is $12

The Nevada State Museum , Las Vegas and Friends of Classic Las Vegas will host an evening reception and panel discussion with noted entertainer Betty Bunch and several of her Friends from the Golden Age of Las Vegas entertainment in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.

Bunch came to Las Vegas in 1956 to dance in the opening line for Donald O’Connor, and later performed at such venues as the El Rancho Vegas, the Dunes, and the Rivera. Betty also headlined the original production of the popular afternoon show, Bottoms Up. Betty and her fellow entertainers promise an evening filled with intimate tales of Las Vegas show business and personalities, as well as many “stories behind the stories.”

The Entertainers of Classic Las Vegas Panel will include:

Betty Bunch, long-time dancer on the Las Vegas Strip

Louis Prima, Jr will talk about his father and the Prima legacy

and Special  Guests (check back throughout the week as we add more names!)

Wednesday, Sept. 17th

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Dr

Lorenzi Park

6:00 - 7:00 pm Reception

7:00 - 8:30 pm Discussion

Admission $3

Las Vegas and the Mob

There's a great deal of myth that has sprung up over the years about the Mob and Las Vegas.  From "Bugsy" Siegel to "Lefty Rosenthal, the stories are colorful, sometimes apocryphal but are they true?

On Thursday, Sept. 4th, Untold Stories will take a look at Las Vegas and the Mob.

Joining us for a Roundtable Discussion will be CSN History Professor Dr. Michael Green, Local historian and curator Brian Paco Alvarez, former News Bureau manager Don Payne and former FBI agent Dennis Arnoldy.

We will examine the era "when the Mob ran Vegas" and separate the myths from the facts.  It should be a fascinating evening of history and stories that you don't want to miss.

Come early and enjoy the Farmer's Market or stop by enjoy some music with your wine.

The discussion begins at 7:00 pm in the Desert Learning Center.

We hope to see you there!

Untold Stories:  Las Vegas and the Mob

Thursday, Sept. 4th

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

7:00 pm

Admission $12

Everyone thinks they know the real history of the Las Vegas Strip. 

But did you know that Bugsy Siegel didn't build the Flamingo Hotel from scratch? 

Do you know who the first nude showgirl was? 

Do you know who Jakie Freidman was? 

Do you believe that Tommy Hull was inspired to build the El Rancho Vegas because his car broke down and he counted the cars that passed him on the old highway?

Well, if you don't know the real answers to these questions or if you think you do and want confirmation of that, then come out to the Springs Preserve on Thursday evening, July 3rd for our next installment of "Untold Stories' where we explore the real history of the early years of the Las Vegas Strip.

Joining us will be:

Betty Bunch: a dancer who came here in the early 1950s and is still dancing on the Strip today.

Lisa Medford; the first nude showgirl (okay, we gave you one answer)

George Stamos: writer of the original Strip Hotel histories for the Las Vegas Sun in 1979.

Dr. Michael Green: historian and Professor at the College of Southern Nevada.

It all happens on July 3rd at 7:00 pm at the Springs Preserve.  Gas is over $4 a gallon so if you are spending the 4th of July weekend in town, then come join us for a great night of history and stories.

Come early for the Farmers Market and the Mojitos and Mozart in the Wolfgang Puck Cafe.

You'll be glad you did.

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 team that designed that 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. 

CCC workers take a lunch

(Image courtesy of the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association) 

As part of Historic Preservation Month, the Friends of Classic Las Vegas and the Classic Las Vegas Roadshow are proud to announce our upcoming panel on Southern Nevada and the New Deal.

Hosted by the Nevada State Museum and Friends of Classic Las Vegas, this informative Roadshow event will delve into the history of how in the depths of the Great Depression, the New Deal's effect not only on the country but on Southern Nevada specifically.

Please join us to hear Historians Dennis McBride and Peter Gough and long-time residents Mike Pinjuv, Johnny Pinjuv and Bonnie Rams as they discuss the Las Vegas that they knew and what the New Deal meant for the Valley.

It will be a wonderful evening of history, stories and memories and you don't want to miss it!

Wednesday, May 14th

Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

700 Twin Lakes Dr

Lorenzi Park

5:00 - 6:00 pm  Reception

6:15 - 8:15 pm  Roundtable Discussion

Refreshments will be served.

We look forward to seeing you there! 

 

We are thrilled to announce that we have another upcoming panel on the History of Helldorado.  If you are new to town and wonder why there is a Helldorado Celebration (which is coming on May 17th) or if you remember fondly sitting on the curb on Fremont Street watching those beautiful floats go by, come on around and here the stories of how and why Helldorado got started and what it was like. 

At one point in the 1950s, it rivaled the Rose Parade in terms of attendance and beautiful floats.

A great evening of history and fun that you won't want to miss!

The History of Helldorado

Tuesday, May 13th

Clark County Museum

1830 S. Boulder Highway 

7:00 PM   (Please note new START TIME)

Panelists include:

Emmett Sullivan, the son of co-founder Mark Sullivan

Tim Cashman, the grandson of co-founder, Big Jim Cashman

Don Payne, former Manager of the Las Vegas News Bureau

Thank you to the Las Vegas News Bureau for helping to Sponsor this event! 

We hope to see you there! 

St. Thomas was a thriving farming community in the Moapa Valley.  But, when Boulder (Hoover) Dam was finished, Lake Mead began to rise behind the Dam.

The community of St. Thomas had to be abandoned.  Its citizens packed up their belongings and left for the territory ahead.

Left behind were the buildings, fixtures, wells and the reminders of a once-proud Mormon community.  As the Lake rose, St. Thomas faded from view and from memory.

But as the drought continues and the Lake gets lower and lower, St. Thomas has risen from its watery grave.  The crumbling buildings once again back in the hot sun and eerily reminds us of our past.

On Thursday, April 3rd, Untold Stories will look back at the history of St. Thomas and the history of the ruins.

Untold Stories:  Revisiting St. Thomas 

Panelists will include:

Eva Jensen, curator and historian for the Lost City Museum in Overton

Dennis McBride, curator and historian for the Nevada State Museum

Dr. Michael Green, professor of history, College of Southern Nevada

Thursday, April 3rd 

7:00 pm

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Admission $12

For more information on St. Thomas:

http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/classic-las-vegas-blog/2008/2/11/the-past-resurfaces.html