Huntridge Theater goes to Planning Commission

A friendly reminder from Jack LeVine over at VeryVintageVegas that the Huntridge Theater Redevelopment goes before the Planning Commission this evening.  If you love this theater and are in favor of the re-adaptive use plans please attend and voice your support:

We’re hoping for a big turnout of supporters for the adaptive re-use plan that will be presented to the City of Las Vegas Planning Commission Tomorrow Evening.

The meeting will be at 6pm in the City Council Chambers at 400 E. Stewart.

The Save The Huntridge committee is endorsing the plan. We certainly recognize that there are those of you who hoped that the building could remain a theater, but it’s just not possible.

We’ve gladly compromised to allow that at least the building, and the name marquee and the tower will be saved. Under the current economic conditions, and the enormous competition that exists in Las Vegas with the abundance of casino owned venues, it just isn’t possible to keep it as a theater.

The plan should foster a new life for the corner of Charleston and Maryland Parkway. Most everyone I have spoken with is excited about this renovation and we have an opportunity to go before the City in support of this project. If you can attend, we’d be happy to see you there.

Huntridge Theater Adapative Re-use Plans to be Unveiled

For those who have been following the saga of the wonderful Huntridge Theater building I have good news.

As many of you know, I have been working with the Save the Huntridge Steering Committee which includes Brian Paco Alvarez, Jack LeVine and Pam Hartley.  Over the last few months we have been working with Eli Mizrachi, the owner of the building, in  attempts to find a solution to saving the building.

Eil visited Southern California where there are a number of old movie theaters that have been saved and undergone adaptive re-use.  When he returned to Las Vegas he was inspired by what he saw and began working with an architect on new plans. 

We met with Eli earlier this summer and he showed us the plans.  They are wonderful and we encouraged him to have a public unveiling so that he could begin to build support for the project.

Well, that part of the puzzle is becoming a reality. 

On Wednesday, August. 13th at Rainbow's End, 1100 E. Sahara Avenue, Eli will unveil the plans.  From 6:30 - 8:00 pm, the public and the press can stop by, see the plans and learn more about how this wonderful building can be saved.

So, if you love this building, we hope to see you there!

The Big Empire, the Huntridge and a Preservation Summit

Well, the tempature is creeping back up towards 100, so that can only mean there must be lots of activities this weekend.

This afternoon I am giving a tour of Historic Fremont Street to the Big Empire.  Every Joone these lovers of Classic Las Vegas converge in town for their annual Soiree, courtesy of Matt Weatherford.  They are a great bunch and I am looking forward to seeing them again.

Tomorrow in Boulder City is a historic preservation summit.  Many of the historic preservation groups, Friends of Classic Las Vegas, Atomic Age Alliance, VeryVintageVegas, as well as city and county officials will be there.  Heather MacIntosh, from Washington DC, will be there to talk more about her group PreservationAction.org and how we can possibly all work together.

Tomorrow night is dinner with the Big Empire group followed by a party at Dr. Lonnie Hammergren's house where he will be unveiling his new Howard Hughes collection.

I'll report back with all the fun and all the facts.

Earlier this week, the Save the Huntridge Community Group leaders (Brian Paco Alvarez, Parm Hartley, Jack LeVine and myself) met with Huntridge owner, Eli Mizrachil.

Eli took a road trip a few weeks ago to Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California.  In Studio City he saw the La Reina theater.  This former S. Charles Lee designed theater closed back in the late 1980s.  It had a beautiful marquee filled with neon and a box office straight out of a movie set.  The theater underwent an adaptive re-use in the early 1990s when it became a Bookstar.  After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, it suffered some damage and had to be retrofitted.  Today it is a major day spa surrounded by various retail stores and restaurants.

I mention all this because seeing the La Reina inspired Eli to think outside the box.  His plans for the Huntridge are amazing.  He ties all three buildings (the former theater, the former bank/mattress store and the former Post Office) quite elegantly.  The lobby of the theater would be the flow-through where people could access the courtyard in the back.  The second story of the theater would become professional office space.  Below would be a mix of retail and restaurants.

The building would be saved, the pylon would be saved and the neon would be restored and relit atop the pylon.

In front, facing Charleston Blvd, would be two pads for a fast-food type place and a Starbucks type place.  Both would be done in the architecture of streamline-moderne to accent the main building.

Eli and his team are hoping to have an unveiling of these plans on First Friday next month.  We will keep you posted about the when and where.

In the meantime, this is, by far, the best idea that we have seen for the Huntridge so far.  It has the power to not only re-energize the building but the entire neighborhood surrounding it.

Here's hoping! 

Las Vegas Historic Preservation Week, Part 2

Okay, here is the line-up for Saturday, May 17th.  Two weeks ago, Jack LeVine and I were joking that May is the busiest month for events and the first weekend in May was a whirlwind of activity.

But this Saturday will definitely be the official winner of cool May events.  It is Cultural History Day and so here is your chance to learn about the different facets of Las Vegas history, learn about preservation, listen to music, see a mini-film festival of documentaries on Las Vegas, take tours of some very cool (and not often open to the public without appointment) places and experience the Helldorado Parade.

Plan to get up early, take plenty of water for driving around the Valley to the various events and settle back later in the evening with a Parade.  It'll be cool (well, probably not the weather), we promise. 

This Saturday, May 17th the line-up is: 

 

The Neon Museum is going to open their boneyard and offer hourly tours on Saturday, May 17th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Normally tours are $15 but on this Saturday the tours are only $5 a person.  So get up early and get to the boneyard to see the wonderful signs they have display and perhaps more importantly, the work on the La Concha (they are doing a wonderful job of putting it back together).

The Neon Boneyard is at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd North and McWilliams Street.  Parking is available across the street at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center.

 

The very endangered and venerable Huntridge Theater will be open for limited hourly tours from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Come learn about the history of the building, what you can do to help save it and ensure that the community has a voice in what happens to the building.  And a chance to see the interior of the building for the first time in over five years.  How cool is that?

This event is sponsored by The Friends of Classic Las Vegas and the Save the Huntridge Community Group.  The Huntridge Theater is located at the corner of Maryland Parkway and E. Charleston Blvd.

 

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is hosting the Cultural History Fair this year.  Admission to the Fair, its music festival and its Las Vegas Film Festival is free.  The Cultural History Fair runs from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Inside the Learning Center there will the various historic preservation groups, museums and archaelogical groups.  The Friends of Classic Las Vegas will be passing out information on preservation, history and lots more.

The Las Vegas Film Festival will offer a variety of documentaries on Las Vegas and Nevada history.  Included in the sceenings is our own "The Story of Classic Las Vegas". 

At 1:40 pm, there is a showing on the history of Helldorado, "Helldorado Through the Years" which features home movies and more of past Helldorado parades.  Directly following that, Dennis McBride offers some very rare home movies of the Las Vegas Strip,  historian and preservationist Bob Stoldal follows with  two short films on Places that Aren't There Anymore.   Our own "Story of Classic Las Vegas" follows Bob at about 3:45.

The Music Festival includes Paiute Pow-Wow dancers and much more.

A great way to experience our history and our culture. 

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is located at the corner of Valley View Blvd and Meadows Lane. 

 

The Junior League of Las Vegas is going to have the historic Morelli House open for free tours between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.  If you have never been inside this wonderful mid-century modern house, don't miss this opportunity.  The house was saved by the Junior League from the old Desert Inn Golf Course and Country Club.  Restored with many of its original fixtures, appliances and wonderful interpretative book by our pal Alan Hess, be sure to say "hey" to DeeDee Nave for us!

The Morelli House is located at the corner of Bridger and 9th Street, across the street from the Las Vegas Academy (formerly the original Las Vegas High School).

 

End the day with us (and everyone else) at the Helldorado Parade!

The Parade is free and goes across 4th Street from Gass to Stewart Street.  It all starts at 7:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm.  There are floats, cars, musical bands and more.  Get there early to get a good seat.

The Friends of Classic Las Vegas is in the parade with our President, Ben Litivinoff and his classic  pink Cadillac.   Riding with Ben will be former Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt and her husband Dennis Bono as well as yours truly and some other special guests.

So, plan out your day and don't miss any of these great events.