Think you know Las Vegas History?

Well, if you have been attending "Untold Stories" you do know a lot of Las Vegas History.  However, there is a great deal of arcane and little-known history that should be better known.

So, we are putting the focus on that type of history with December's "Untold Stories".  Here's your chance to learn more about street names around the Valley, the more colorful side of shall we say, Block 16 type businesses as well as the social history of Las Vegas from the 1930s to the 1950s.  From living with no air-conditioning to stories about Helen J. Stewart, Queho and more, "Las Vegas History You Don't Know" will be a fun and entertaining way to learn more about the place we all call home.

Also, there will be  "Stump the Panel" where you can ask them questions about arcane Las Vegas history that you know.  Will they be able to add to your knowledge or will you have the stories they don't know.

Join us on Thursday, December 3rd to find out!

Panelists include:

Dr. Michael Green, Professor of History at the College of Southern Nevada.  Dr. Mike is one of the premiere Southern Nevadan historians.

Mark Hall-Patton, director of Clark County Museums and a local author.

Donna and Gail Andress, they have lived in Las Vegas since 1932 when both arrived as children.  They have helped Las Vegas grow from a dusty railroad town into the Entertainment Capital of the World.  In addition, they are both local historians.

Thursday, December 3rd

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission $9.00 (buy a three-class series pass and get a discount!)

See you there!

On Thursday, November 5th, "Untold Stories" will take a look at Howard Hughes.

The enigmatic millionaire is best known for his buying spree of Las Vegas hotels in the mid-1960s.  We will take a look at Hughes not only in that era but an earlier era, when he used to visit Las Vegas, hang out with locals and drop by the showrooms and casinos of the day.

Panelists include:

Geoff Schumacher, author of "Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia and Palace Intrigue"

Paul Winn, who worked for Hughes and later Summa Corp.

Robert McCaffrey, who knew Hughes in his aviation days:  http://theaviatorhh.com/

Thursday, November 5th

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission $9 (new, lower price) (Discounts available if you buy a three series pass)

We hope to see you there!

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 Program at UNLV's Special Collections.

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

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

Techatticup Mine

As we begin our third year of Untold Stories, come join for a great evening of history.

"Mining in Southern Nevada" will look at the history of El Dorado Canyon and Goodsprings as well as some of the other smaller mines around the Valley.

Panelists include:

Tony Werly, owner of the Techaticcup Mine in El Dorado Canyon

Don Blake

Dr. Elizabeth Warren

Thursday, Sept. 3rd

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission $12

We hope to see you there!

This should be a great evening of stories, memories and laughter.

We will be talking about the "Entertainers of Classic Las Vegas".  Back in the day, the showrooms and lounges were filled with the cream of the crop vocalists, entertainers and musicians.

If you missed out on the days when Las Vegas was known as the Entertainment Capital of the World or you remember those days fondly. please join us!

Panelists include:  Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Peter Anthony, Lisa Medford.

Check back as we will be adding names before show time!

Thursday, August 6th

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Admission is $12

July's Untold Stories is going to look at those who help keep our history alive by collecting Las Vegas ephemera.  From postcards to menus to casino chips, these guys are helping to preserve a very vital piece of our collective memory.

It started as a small hobby that over the years has grown in size.  But without them, many of these pieces would be lost for good.

Please join us and panelists:

Carey Burke

Robert Stoldal

and others as we talk about the hows and whys of their collections and why those collections are so important.

There will be copies of "Las Vegas: 1905-1965", the history book that Carey Burke and I did utilizing a great deal of his postcard collection, will be on sale before and after the panel.  Carey and I will be happy to autograph copies.

Thursday, July 2nd

6:30 pm

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Admission is $12

It should be a fun evening of history and the panelists are bringing items from their collections as well!

We hope to see you there!

On Thursday, June 4th, Untold Stories will look at Architecture in Las Vegas.  Most people tend to think that Las Vegas has very bland architecture with just cookie cutter type homes and McOffices.  But our past (and present) is filled with wonderous examples of soaring architecture and many of these wonderful buildings are still standing, though they may be harder to see these days buried behind new facades.

Panelists include:

Architect Eric Strain of Assemblage Studios

Karen Zick Goff, daughter of architect Walter Zick (who designed the Mint Hotel)

Brian "Buzz" Leming, neon designer

Check back as other panelists are added to the list!

Untold Stories

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Thursday, June 4th

6:30 pm

Admission is $12

Thanks to RoadsidePictures (Allen Sandquist) for the Pete Findlay photo.

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-authors Carey Burke will be there and there is the possibility that Allen Sandquist will be joining us 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!

Friday, May 8th

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Dr

Lorenzi Park

5:30 pm  Booksigning/Reception

6:30 pm  Discussion

We will be talking about what is Cultural Tourism, what role does it currently play in Las Vegas, how can that role be expanded and how can it be marketed not only to tourists but more importantly the local population to help increase the role that history does play, every day throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Our panelists include:

Brian Paco Alvarez - local historian and curator of the Las Vegas News Bureau

Marilyn Gillespie, Executive Director, Natural History Museum

Aaron Metcalf - curator at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Courtney Mooney - local historian and the Preservation Officer for the City of Las Vegas

Remember- Untold Stories now starts at 6:30 pm.

Thursday, May 7th

6:30 pm

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Admission is $12

Last year, one of our most successful "Untold Stories" programs was on the history of Fremont Street.

On April 2nd, we will be have a new group of panelists covering More Fremont Street History because the history of the street is just too big to cover in one session.

I am working on putting a panel together.  Paul Carson, who knows a great deal about the early history of Fremont Street will be on hand to talk about the history of the Railroad depots and the El Portal Theater.

In the next few days I will be adding the other panelists'  names here as well.

So check back for more updates.

One scheduling note:

Beginning April 2nd, "Untold Stories" will begin at 6:30 pm.

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

Admission is $12