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/

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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

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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

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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

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Thursday, May 14
Carnival Midway opens 5 to 11 p.m.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

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!

They took the Moulin Rouge sign down early in the morning.  Our buddy, Joel Rosales of Leavinglv got there too late to snap any photos of the sign coming down but he did get these of the aftermath.

The Moulin Rouge, of course, was the first integrated casino in Las Vegas when it opened in 1955.  It closed its doors in less than a year amid rumors that still swirl around the property today.

Benny Binion Statue

I was surprised to discover this statue had been moved.  For years a downtown landmark, this statue of Benny Binion stood on the corner of Casino Center and Ogden Avenue.  However, it is no longer there.

According to Joel, it was moved to the South Point Hotel and Casino out on the south Strip a few months ago.  Michael Gaughan approached the Las Vegas City Council about moving the statue out to his equestrian center.  Despite the disapproval of Mayor Goodman, the City Council voted in agreement for the statue to be moved.

So, if you want to visit Benny, you have to go out the South Point.  I guess since the Horseshoe is no longer under the control of the Binion family and that casino is now owned by Terry Caudill, who also owns the Four Queens, perhaps there was some worry that the statue would be destroyed.

Special thanks to Joel Rosales at Leavinglv.net for letting us the images above.

Candlelight Wedding Chapel

As part of the Clark County Centennial Celebration, the Clark County Museum will begin restoration of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel later this year.  The Candlelight stood near  the Riviera for years before it became endangered.  Funds were secured and the Chapel was moved to the Clark County Museum where it will now be restored so that future generations will be able to see one of the few remaining old-style wedding chapels from the Las Vegas Strip.

Candlelight Wedding Chapel in 2007

Special thanks to Allen Sandquist for letting us this image.

 Candlelight Wedding Chapel today at the Clark County Museum

This past weekend, phase one of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel
renovation at the Clark County Museum was completed.
Phase two will begin in the late summer, and in mid November the Clark
County Museum will host a gala opening event.
 
The chapel, donated by it owner Gordon Gust and spared by the developers
of the Fontainbleau Casino, was moved from
its location just north of the Riviera Hotel arrived at the museum in
the early morning of March 1, 2007.
 
The opening of the Candlelight Wedding Chapel plays a central role in
the Clark County Centennial Year celebration activities.

Thanks to Malcolm Vuksich at the Museum for letting us use the updated image and for the update on the progress of the restoration.