Entries in Historic Homes (46)
Preservation Spotlight: Clay Heximer, neighborhood preservationist
You may know Clay Heximer. He recently was profiled by writer Geoff Carter in Vegas Seven as "The Man Who Would Be Mid-Town"
But many of us have known Clay for quite some time. He and his wife Denise live in Paradise Palms, the wonderful Mid-Century Modern housing tract that surrounds the National Golf Course, just off Desert Inn behind the Boulevard Mall.
When I was growing up in Las Vegas in the 1960s, the National Golf Course was then known as the Stardust Golf Course. But it wasn't the golf course that caught my eye. It was the houses, most of which were visible from the car as you drove down East Desert Inn.
Those wonderful Palmer and Krisel were space age wonders and very different from the Sproul homes in my own neighborhood in Charleston Heights.
Clay and Denise live in Paradise Palms and their successful community outreach and history sharing has inspired many of their neighbors to learn more about their homes and the history of the neighborhood.
Clay started a website dedicated to the neighborhood, called appropriately enough, Paradise Palms and, like Joel Rosales, has been photographing the changing landscape of the city and the county.
Clay has been organizing and fighting to bring Historic Preservation ordinances to Clark County and he has been successful in convincing others to join his cause.
As we close Preservation Month and the Preservation Spotlight series winds down, it was important to me to include a grass-roots leader of history and preservation in the series.
Clay graciously agreed to answer some questions and spread the word about the importance of our neighborhoods, all of our historic neighborhoods.
CLV Blog: How did you become interested in preserving Southern Nevada history?
Heximer: Before moving to town I remember taking a family trip to Las Vegas. I recall sitting in the back of my uncle’s station wagon, driving down the strip. I was in awe of all the neon but I specifically thought the Stardust sign was the coolest thing ever. Since then, I just knew there was something special about this place and had gained an appreciation for classic Vegas.
When I was 19, I worked with a construction company that was contracted the prep the Dunes for implosion. I remember being taken back by the celebration of the destruction of our history and was shocked by the disregard for
Read more at ClassicLasVegasBlog.com
Preservation Spotlight: Heidi Swank, preservationist
I first met Heidi about eight years ago when we were both involved in the early days of the Atomic Age Alliance, an organization dedicated to Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas. She and her husband were both passionate about Mid-Century Modern architecture and wanted to learn more about Las Vegas' role in that history.
She and her husband, Scott, have a MCM home in the historic Beverly Green neighborhood that they have lovingly restored. They live in a 1956 Cinderella ranch designed by Hugh Taylor for Rose and Louis Molasky the parents of Irwin Molasky. They co-founded the popular Flamingo Club- a roving, invitation-only neighborhood mixer whose motto is “Building community one cocktail party at a time."
She is dedicated to the worthy idea that our classic homes are worth saving. While Las Vegas experienced tremendous growth in the final decades of the 20th century and early 21st century, its original neighborhoods offer a look back at not only how the city grew but through its architecture offers insight to those years before the explosion boom and what was important to the residents who owned those homes.
Beverly Green neighborhood Photo courtesy of Las Vegas CityLife
In addition to be elected to the Nevada State Assembly for District 16, she is also the Exective Director of the Nevada Preservation Foundation.
The NPF is a "non-profit that provides historic designation and grant support to neighborhoods, homeowners, and business owners who reside in a historic area or own a historic building. The Foundation supplies much needed support to navigate the extensive process of obtaining local, state, or federal historic designations. Once designated the Foundation also provides grant-writing support and functions as a clearinghouse for grants benefiting historic districts/homes. As more of our state’s architectural past ages into eligibility for historic designation, it is important for the stability of our communities that we work to maintain our history."
Despite her very busy schedule, we were able to interview her for this series.
CLV Blog: How did you become interested in preserving Southern Nevada history?
Swank: As an anthropologist by training, I have long been interested in the ways in which our past makes us who we are today. In particular, I'm interested in how our built environment and the ways in which space is used in these homes reflects and impacts how we see them, how we use them, and how we understand ourselves.
One of the more interesting things about Southern Nevada history is that there isn't a lot of time depth. Many people discount the area because of this saying we don't have any history. However, because our history is relatively new it is in many ways more interesting.
We don't have hundreds of years of
Read more at ClassicLasVegasBlog.com
Preservation Spotlight: Jack LeVine and VeryVintageVegas.com
Jack LeVine aka Uncle Jack of VeryVintageVegas.com Photo courtesy of ViewsonVegas
Today we turn our Preservation Spotlight on the founder of VeryVintageVegas.com, Jack LeVine.
Jack has long been involved in the fight to save the downtown neighborhoods.
Check out his interview at:
Mid-Century Modern Weekend is HERE
It's HERE!!! Be sure to get your tickets, it sounds like a wonderful way to connect with Las Vegas' post-war history and its architecture!!!!!
We are thrilled that the ADAS (Architectural and Decorative Arts Society) has carried on the Mid Century Modern celebration that we started a few years ago.
If you love the Mid-Century Modern lifestyle, history, architecture, own a mid-mod home or want to take a tour of mid-mod homes in Las Vegas, this is the event for you.
Tickets to the Las Vegas Mid-Century Modern Weekend are on sale now.
POP, BOOM LIFESTYLE REVOLUTION
ADAS Mid-Century Modern Weekend
Wednesday, October 19 – Sunday, October 23, 2011
ADAS (Architecture and Decorative Arts Society) celebrates all
things mid-century modern with an extraordinary five day event.
A pass for all five days is a very reasonable $100; $90 for ADAS
members. Included is the kick off mixer, general admission to
the Atomic Testing Museum, mid-century vendors; mid-century
architectural seminar; mid-century dinner; fashion show; silent
auction; three mid-century discussion panels; Morelli House
reception; four-hour mid-century neighborhood bus tour. Visit
ADAS website at www.adas-lv.com to purchase your tickets. Space
is limited on most events.
Wednesday, October 19
ADAS kicks off the mid-modern experience by hosting a mixer at the
Atomic Testing Museum, 5:30 – 7:30. Guests will have a lot to entertain
themselves for the evening. A ticket for admission to the museum will
be included in the price of the mixer.
Guests can take the tour that
evening, or can return at a later date.
The Museum store will also bem open for shopping. There will be food and wine in the main reception
area, along with vendors previewing products that were popular in the '50s and '60s.
Event price: $30.00
Thursday, October 20
Again at the Atomic Testing Museum, ADAS is hosting a seminar primarily for homeowners on the evolution and care of these historic buildings. Speakers with hands on experience in this genre of distinctive houses will share their knowledge. Food and wine will be provided.
Vendors who specialize in mid-modern architecture will also be on hand.
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Event Price: $30.00
Friday, October 21
A mid-century dinner will be held at Holsum Lofts, catered by Lola’s
Restaurant. In addition to enjoying foods of the time period, diners will
enjoy mid-century fashions in a multi-generational fashion show. There
will also be a silent auction to tease the senses. Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Event Price: $50.00
Saturday, October 22
The El Cortez Hotel will be the venue for this free event co-sponsored
by the City of Las Vegas. There will be food and drink, followed
by three expert panels. After the panel presentation there will be a
reception at the Morelli House.
1:00 pm “Mid-Century Life Style Evolution” Local author and
architect, Robert Fielden (Creating Place: Remaking America Green )
leads a discussion with author and architectural historian, Peter Moruzzi
and others on the profound impact of midcentury design and architecture
on American life in the middle of the 20th century.
2:00 pm “Family Feud: Havana vs. Las Vegas in the 1950s” Peter Moruzzi, presents an illustrated presentation from his book, Havana Before Castro-When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground.
Before Castro’s revolution, Havana and Las Vegas were rivals for the title of the “Monte Carlo of the Americas.” Cuba’s exotic tropical setting, wild reputation, close proximity, and supportive government inspired the mob to invest heavily in fabulous hotel-casinos such as the Capri, Riviera, and Nacional. Yet, many of these same investors were also among Vegas’ biggest boosters - Moe Dalitz, Sam Tucker, and front man Wilbur Clark. In 1958, the Nevada Gaming Control Board forced them to choose, Havana or Las Vegas, but not both.
3:00 pm “Dolls, Dons, and Dictators,” Architectural historian, Peter Moruzzi (Havana Before Castro – When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground); author Wendy Mazaros (Vegas Rag Doll); Myer Lansky II; and local author and historian Michael Green engage in a spirited and expanded discussion about the parallel worlds of Las Vegas and Cuba, drawing from their insights and some of their own personal real life
experiences.
4:00 pm - 6 pm “Cha, Cha, Cha” Cuban inspired reception with music,
drink and refreshment at the Morelli House, 861 E. Bridger.
Sunday, October 23
Mid-Mod Bus Tour
Hosted by well known realtor and mid-century modern real estate expert
Jack LeVine, guests will take a four-hour tour on an open double-decker
bus through iconic mid-century Las Vegas neighborhoods.
In addition to touring neighborhoods, the bus will make several stops to peek inside
select properties. Bus will depart and return to parking lot at Boulevard
Mall. Time: 12 noon – 4 pm.
Event Price: $30.00
Should be a lot of fun as well as informative. So if you love mid-century modern, get your tickets NOW!!!
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.