This time of year seems tailor-made for the Springs Preserve.

The family-friendly event is designed for all ages, and costumes are encouraged (although adults are asked not to wear masks for safety reasons). There will be a "Safe Street" for trick-or-treating, carnival games and face painting.

 

 

Ever wonder what happens to the showgirls when a show closes.  Earlier this year, the venerable Folies Bergere closed at the Tropicana after 49 years.

From our pal Corey Levitan at the R-J:

Imported from Paris in 1959 by Tropicana entertainment director Lou Walters (father of Barbara), the topless "Folies" ran for 49 years until March 28.

Denmark, who won't reveal her age, scored her "Bad Girls" audition in February, a couple of weeks after new Tropicana management announced the end of the chorus line.

"I went praying that I would get something, and I did," says Denmark, guessing that her new show's producers sought a "curvy, rock 'n' roll" type for the role.

Denmark's former co-workers have had less success landing on their high heels. Most blame the economy and Las Vegas' general disregard for its own history.

"I'm trying desperately to find a show," says Samantha Ostolaza, 39. "I miss it so much."

Ostolaza has been turned down for "Dirk Arthur Xtreme Magic," "Fantasy," "Bite" and pretty much the only traditional showgirl game left in town other than Mayor Oscar Goodman's arm: "Jubilee!" at Bally's.

"I know that with my age, the competition is a lot stiffer," Ostolaza says. "But I have some good years left because I'm still in good shape and still look pretty good for my age."

Ostolaza regularly checks vegasauditions.com and her network of friends for new leads. But the rare auditions that do come up attract hopefuls in far greater numbers -- and for far fewer slots. (For its most recent audition, in July, a "Jubilee!" spokeswoman reports that more than 40 women turned up to audition for 10 roles.)

"Back in the day, people would show-hop, so there would always be turnover," Ostolaza says. "They would go from 'Jubilee!' to 'Enter the Night' to 'Siegfried & Roy.' But people are holding onto their jobs because there are no other ones."

Former "Folies" showgirl Cari Byers -- who also tried both "Jubilee!" auditions offered since January -- is using her involuntary downtime to launch a fashion line.

"Growing up, I always just wanted to be a dancer," she says, "but I've been doing stuff like this since high school out of necessity." (Finding size 6 dresses for a 6-foot-tall woman is not something you do off the rack, she explains.)

Byers, 38, sells her Green Tease line of dresses, skirts and T-shirts, sewn from recycled clothing, via the Web site www.greentease.etsy.com. She reports some success, but not enough to pay her credit card, mortgage and car payments at the same time. (Her fiance, a former "Folies" stagehand, is out of work, too.)

"It's rough right now," she says.

Janu Tornell, 44, has given up on auditions, saying that her career has "moved on to its next step." Tornell was the longest-tenured "Folies" showgirl when it closed, having joined in 1995. She also was the most famous, thanks to appearing on the 10th season of "Survivor" in 2005. Currently, she teaches Spanish and French, four days a week, as an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- a job she also held while performing.

"School keeps me busy," Tornell says. "I'm enjoying it. I like it."

As for the other closing-night "Folies" showgirls, Claudia Cervenka is modeling and dancing for corporate events, Svetlana Failla is attending fashion-design school and working at a clothing store, Dana Kanapsky is a hostess at Stack at The Mirage, Sue White is an aesthetician and Kirsten Wolner says she's figuring out what to do with her life.

"It's not that we don't want to dance anymore," Tornell says. "If they said to us, 'Hey, you got another gig wherever,' of course we'd go.

"It's that there's nothing out there anymore."

Even the still-employed showgirl says she's worried.

"I don't feel secure by any means," Denmark says. "We've got to get the people in, otherwise we don't have a show anymore."

 

On Saturday, October 24th, the Junior League of Las Vegas will open the famed Morelli House to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the house.

Tours will be available from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

There will also be a special exhibit, "Las Vegas: Circa 1959" on display.

We hope to see you there!

As part of the Vegas Valley Book Festival, the Junior League of Las Vegas is hosting a special evening devoted to Mark Twain.

In celebration fo the 50th Anniversary of the Morelli House (remember, This Place Matters), the Junior League and the Vegas Valley Book Festival will present a special evening commerating the architectural and literary history of Nevada. 

On Oct. 22nd, "The Genius of Mark Twain" will include a presentation by renowned scholar and storyteller, Dr. Elliot Engel.

Reservations can be made by calling 882-6536 or emailing jrleagueoflasvegas@aol.com. The event is funded in part by a grant from Nevada Humanities, with support from the city of Las Vegas.

The Downtown Service Center

310 S. 9th Street, Las Vegas  89101

There will be a Book Signing and a tour of the Morelli House following the presentation.

 

Moderator Lynn Zook (far left), Karen Zick Goff, Claire Zick Walker and Alan Hess

 

We had a terrific time on Saturday, October 3rd shining the spotlight on Walter Zick and his partner Harris Sharp at our all day event.

The Docents and Volunteers for the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas prepared a wonderful spread of light finger food, punch and champagne.  The anticipated overflow crowd made us move into the History Gallery for the panel.  Wise move, because we had almost 100 people in attendance.

Alan Hess talked about what Mid-Century Modern architecture, what it is and why it is important.  He also talked about "cultural amnesia".  Our past reminds us of who we are, what ideals mattered to us and also shows us how far (or not) we have come.  Mid-Century Modern Architecture, perhaps more than others forms of architecture, caught the zeitgeist of post-war America.  We were a brash, optimistic country, filled with big dreams and big plans.  MCM architecture was filled with much of that same brashness and optimism.  Throw in the space race and there seemed no limit to what we could achieve.

"Cultural amnesia" is what we commit, according to Alan, when we tear down our buildings, signage and neighborhoods only because they are old.  We lose those links to our past and we don't easily, if at all, get them back.

Alan then spoke at length about the Mint Hotel and why the design of that building and signage still tugs at our memories after all these years.

Walter Zick's daughters, Karen and Claire talked about how their dad had come to Las Vegas in the mid-1940s to work on the Flamingo Hotel.

They talked about growing up in the  Twin Lakes (today, Lorenzi Park) neighborhood where the NSM is located today.  The first home that their father designed and built for his family is less than a mile west of the Museum on Skolgund Circle.  The house included a 50 foot pool that became a homing beacon for pilots flying into Nellis Air Force Base.

Then it was time to get on the bus! and begin our tour of Walter Zick's Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas!

Our first stop was at the Bank of America on West Charleston.  It was originally a Bank of Las Vegas, then became a Valley Bank (where my family banked) and is today still in remarkable shape.  A drop ceiling, an upstairs addition and the loss of some original windows are the only changes apparent to the interior.

Sara Snodgrass, president of the AIA-S and keeper of our route and schedule and I proclaim proudly for the National Trust for Historic Preservation that "This Place Matters"

Back on the bus and across town we rode to UNLV, passing a number of Zick and Sharp commercial buildings as well as Irwin Molasky's former headquarters and James Brook McDaniel's famous flash cubes!

We rolled onto Maude Frazier Way to see the wonderful Zick and Sharp designed Flora Dungan Humanities Building.  It is our understanding that this early 1960s centerpiece of the campus for years is endangered.

Alan Hess points out important features inside Humanities.

 

FCLV members Joel Rosales and Judy Bundorf declare "This Place Matters" for the National Trust of Historic Preservation.

 

Back on the bus, to the east side of town to see the first pod school that Zick and Sharp designed, Valley High School.  Then it was on to a neighborhood filled with Mid-Century Modern gems as well as the weeping mortar/squish brick home that Zick and Sharp built for Mayme Stocker back in the mid-1940s.

Karen and Claire Zick declare "This Place Matters" for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

While MaryJOY! Alderman conducted tours of her unique house, Jack LeVine, Friends of Classic Las Vegas supporter and the man behind VeryVintageVegas.com, led those who had taken the house tour down nearby Maria Elena Drive and showed them some stunning homes:

 

Then it was back on the bus and headed downtown to see the Foley Federal Building, the old Clark County Courthouse and the former Nevada Savings and Loan headquarters before our final stop at the Morelli House.  Though Zick and Sharp didn't design the Morelli House, the Junior League of Las Vegas was kind enough to open the house, provide tours and perhaps, most importantly, refreshments!

 

Dedee Nave and Junior League president, Judy Beale proclaim "This Place Matters" for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As it was getting towards twilight, we headed back to the Museum.

We passed by the Neon Museum and saw the three restored signs in the Cultural Corridor!

We arrived safely back and everyone declared it was a great day.  We hope to be able to do another event centered around Mid-Century Modern architecture next year. 

Alan Hess and I had so many people come up to us and thank us for showing them a side of Las Vegas that they were unaware of, for showing them what Mid-Century Modern architecture is and why it is important.  

Karen and Claire were thrilled to have the spotlight shown on their father for a day and were so happy to see the response to their dad's still standing legacy. 

Remember, all these places and more MATTER!  You can help us to preserve these buildings  by becoming a member of the Friends of Classic Las Vegas and a reader of VeryVintageVegas.com

 

Downtown Steve captures the spirit of the day!

Thank you one last time to everyone who came out for this event, from the reception/panel to those who got on the bus to

Barbara Slivac; the Docents and Volunteers of the NSM, the staff of the NSM, especially Dennis McBride and Tom Dyer;

Karen and Claire Zick;  Alan Hess;

the Friends of Classic Las Vegas; VeryVintageVegas.com; Atomic Age Alliance; the Junior League of Las Vegas;

Brian "Paco" Alvarez; Pam Hartley; Zane and Jenny Donaldson, MaryJOY! Alderman and Susan Dean.   A special shout-out to the staff of Dona Maria's Downtown for taking such good care of us at the after-event dinner that night.

And lastly, a special thanks to Michael Rosetti and the Double Decker Bus Company!

Let's do it again next year!