Help save the Huntridge Theater

The Huntridge Theater may be the most beloved historic landmark in Las Vegas. But over the last decade, the community that loves it has watched it helplessly fall into a seeming final state of disrepair.  We plan to bring this Theatre back to all its glory and more, and make it once again Las Vegas' favorite venue for performing arts and community programming.

We want to end this madness, and bring The Huntridge back for the people that love it. 

Members of the downtown Vegas business community who are behind this effort recognize that many attempts to do this have failed despite concerted efforts and massive, long-term community support, and this might be the last shot to save it (covenants on the property expire in 2017). But the tools for organizing community engagement and support have evolved so much, so quickly -- we can do this.

Even if we raise this campaign’s full amount and end up with $150,000 or more, that’s obviously not even close to enough to buy, lovingly renovate, and reopen the Huntridge.

But! It will prove that community support exists to justify much larger private investment in a project that is motivated more by passion than just profits. Buying the Huntridge and renovating it could cost up to $15 million, so if we can show interested investors how much the community still cares about the Huntridge by raising the first 1% of the money from its fans, and in doing so pass smaller initial financial hurdles that are beyond our personal means, we are confident that this show of community support will preface a beautiful revival of the greatest music and arts venue Vegas has ever known.

Nostalgic Huntridge-lovers of all stripes, this is where you come in: Help us prove that community support is there, by funding the important pre-work of this iconic revival project!!!

What do we need the money for?

We extended all our financial resources to come up with the first $60k for the non-refundable deposit and appraisals to make this process possible. The next chunk of deposit ($50k) is due immediately after this campaign ends, and we have an estimated $100k of required costs before we can start bringing in (already very interested) private investors for the project. These costs include remediation due diligence, environmental certifications, appraisals, legal work, renovation design work and marketing materials, etc, all by the end of the summer. These start-up costs would normally be much more for a project of this magnitude, but we expect that we'll be able to get it all done very efficiently thanks to many tentative offers we've received to volunteer professional services.  Estimated costs are as follows:

$20k - Due Diligence / Feasibility Studies  

$15k - Marketing / Web Development / Admin

$50k - Architectural / Design / Engineering

$15k - Inspections / Appraisals / admin

$50k - Second Deposit

$150k Total Start-up Capital Required

Who are you? 

This IndieGoGo campaign was initiated by The Huntridge Revival, LLC, which was founded by Downtown Las Vegas community members Joey Vanas, Michael Cornthwaite, and Rehan Choudhry, and adopted by members of #startupblock, a group of tech entrepreneurs living near The Huntridge.

Are contributions tax-deductible?

No, Huntridge Revival is an LLC because this campaign is only a necessary first step towards raising up to $15MM in total investment and it needs to also attract private investors and be able to show returns.  Because it is not a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization contributions are not tax-deductible.  To avoid ever rehashing its current fate if we do nothing, the Huntridge does need to sustain itself financially once reopened (while keeping ticket and food and beverage costs affordable). 

More details about the campaign and the Huntridge can be found at Save.TheHuntridge.com!

Movie Theaters of my Childhood

When I was a kid, movie theaters were my home away from home.  In the heat of the summer, they offered air conditioned splendor and big screen excitement.  Drive-ins allowed my family to bundle us up on a Friday or Saturday night and see a movie from the comfort of our car.  Here are some of my homes away from home:

The Cinerama Theater -there weren't very many of them but we had one.  Located on Viking Road just off Paradise, this was a  terrific theater.  I dragged my friends there to see many a film, including "Fantasia", "The Hindenburg" and "The Three Musketeers".

The Fox theater located in the Charleston Plaza Mall.  This was a large and elegant theater located in the first mall in Las Vegas.  On East Charleston, just south of downtown, this theater had a sign that could be seen for miles.  We saw "The Sound of Music", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "The Hot Rock" and on New Year's Eve, "The Poseidon Adventure".

The Stardust Drive-In located behind the hotel.  We saw "Viva Las Vegas" there.  My parents were big Elvis fans and my dad was working at the Golden Gate when they were filming the movie and stepped outside of the casino to watch the filming of the race.

The SkyWay Drive-In.  After the Stardust Drive-In closed, we used to drive out Boulder Highway to this great Drive-In.  My dad bundled us all up and took us to see "Night of the Living Dead" after my mother brought home a Reader's Digest that had an article, "The film you don't want your kids to see".  My dad had a wicked sense of humor. 

The Huntridge Theater at East Charleston and Maryland Parkway was the closest theater we had to an old fashioned movie palace.  Complete with soundproof "cry room" for unruly babies, the theater was home to Disney films and Saturday afternoons the theater was filled with kids.  In addition to the Disney films, my friend Alan and I saw "Kelly's Heroes" and "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" there.

Other theaters I loved were the long-gone MGM Grand Theater in the original MGM Grand Hotel (now Bally's).  This theater had plush love-sets and a cocktail waitress that brought your drink order to you.  You ordered just by pressing a button on the cocktail table in front of you.  They only ran classic MGM films but I was already a big film buff by the time the hotel opened and they changed the bill every week.  You got a handout with a synopsis of the film and the cast listing.  They showed a cartoon, newsreel and then the film.  It was old-fashioned and it was beyond great.

The Red Rock Theaters on West Charleston.  We lived in Charleston Heights and this was the theater closest to us.  Started as a a dual screened theater, it ultimately expanded to 11 theaters.  The theaters in the back were placed around an old-time Main Street like square.  We lived at this place, it seemed, when I was in high school.  Between this and the MGM Grand theater, my weekends were spent at the movies.  We saw "The Sting", "Billy Jack", "The Godfather" and every  major (and minor) film that came out in the 1970s.

The Guild Theater, the El Portal and the Fremont Theaters were all located downtown.  The Guild was more an art house back then.  I saw "Next Stop, Greenwich Village", "The Passenger" and other art films of the 1970s there.

The Parkway Theaters across the street from the Boulevard Mall.  The Parkway was a dual screen theater.  We saw "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Star Wars" there.

How about you, which theater was your favorite?

10 Fun Things to do in Las Vegas

For information on our upcoming Mid-Century Modern Salute to Walter Zick, click here

I'm tired of reading articles in papers like the Los Angeles Times (a paper that I used to love and is now barely on life-support) about all the things to do in Las Vegas.  Why?  Because they all revolve around gambling and shows.

Las Vegas is much more than just gambling, drinking and going to shows.  There is a whole side of the town that visitors and even locals rarely take the time to see.

So, we thought we'd list ten of our favorite things to do in and around Las Vegas that DON'T involve gambling or taking in a show.  Drinking afterwards is optional.  Just don't drive.

10.  Visit Boulder City.  The Best Dam town likes to bill itself as "A World Away in a Day".  Visiting Boulder City is like walking back in time.  There are no casinos and they are very stringent about building heights and growth.  Much of Boulder City looks like it did in the 1940s and the 1950s. 

Stop in at Milo's for sandwiches, cheese platters, dessert and some of the best wines (reasonably priced) in the Valley.  Since Dennis moved into town we don't haunt Milo's the way we used to but you have no excuse. 

Go, walk around, visit the antique shops, the galleries, the Boulder Dam Hotel and Museum (call ahead and make sure the Museum is open) and finish off your day with bite to eat at Milo's. Enjoy the patio dining and the people watching.   It's worth the trip.  Check and see if there are any events at the Boulder Theater (the fall Chatauqua might be coming).

9. Visit the Valley of Fire.  Everyone always talks about Red Rock Canyon on the other side of the Valley.  But this is one of the most amazing places in the Southwest.  Wonderful red rock formations, lots of history and landscape just made for taking pictures.  It's a State Park located not very far from Boulder City and on the way to Lake Mead.  It is Nevada's oldest and largest State Park, having been dedicated in 1935.  Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyph. Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also available. The park is open all year.  Take plenty of drinking water and wear shoes made for hiking.

8.  Visit St. Thomas.  This Mormon farming community was a thriving little town until the construction of the Dam heralded it's demise.  The town was evacuated in the mid-1930s and the rising waters of Lake Mead submerged homes, civic buildings and the like.  The water in Lake Mead has shrunk so low that for the past few years the ruins of St. Thomas have been rising up.  Well, they are all on view now.  The Park Service has trails that lead down to the various ruins.  Take plenty of drinking water and wear hiking shoes.  It's a great way to spend a half a day examining the ruins.  On the way back, stop in Overton and take in the Lost City Museum.

7.  Visit the Techatticup Mine.  Down in Nelson, you can tour one of the most famous mines in Southern Nevada, the Techatticup.It's the oldest, richest and most famous gold mine in Southern Nevada. Located just 45 minutes outside of Las Vegas, they provide historical mining tours and scenic blue water cove trips on the Colorado River at the mouth of Black Canyon below Hoover Dam. You will visit historical sites where steamboats docked and stamp mills operated over 100 years ago.  Stop in at the small museum and soak up history.  Take plenty of drinking water and wear hiking shoes!

6.  Check out the wonderful Roadside Motels on East Fremont Street.  It may not look like the best neighborhood but it is filled with lots of history.  This is one of the largest collections of roadside motels from the 1940s and 1950s still standing.  From the Pair-a-Dice and the Blue Angel just past the turn from Boulder Highway all the way up to where the Ambassador East used to stand, you'll get an idea of what travelers to Las Vegas saw when they first arrived from Arizona and Utah.  Back in the day, this was the gateway to Fremont Street for many weary travelers.

5.  Visit the Nevada State Museum in Lorenzi Park.  Lorenzi Park has plenty of history all on its own but the State Museum being there is an extra bonus.  Due to state budget cuts, the Museum is only open from Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9:00 - 5:00 pm, but they have exhibits on the wildlife of Nevada, the history of Las Vegas (including the early days), a bat exhibit and a revolving exhibit.  Plus, the library has plenty of newspapers on microfiche for easy browsing.  The staff is great and eager to help.

4.  Visit the Las Vegas High School Historic Neighborhood.  Las Vegas High School, now the Performing Arts Academy, is the oldest high school in Las Vegas.  Built in the 1930s, it was the first high school built.  Located on 8th Street, just south of Fremont Street, it still stands as a testiment to the hardy families who helped Las Vegas grow.  Be sure to check out the Senior Squares on the front steps. Though the neighborhood is on the Historic Register, many of the houses which were lived in by those pioneering families are being torn down and McOffices are taking their place.  But you can still get a very good idea of the bucolic neighborhood it once was with it's charming architecture and manicured lawns.  Walking tour maps are available from the City website.  When finished, drive over to the Fifth Street School at Las Vegas Blvd South and Lewis, and tour the restored building of what was once our main grammar school.

3.  Visit the other historic neighborhoods around Las Vegas.  As Las Vegas began to grow, the city started spreading out.  Historic neighborhoods such as Huntridge, Marycrest, Alta, Bonanza Village, Beverly Green, Paradise Palms and John S. Parks all offer glimpes into the growth from a dusty railroad town to the Entertainment Capital of the World.

2.  Walk Fremont Street.  Forget the gambling and the girlie places.  Fremont Street is the oldest street in Las Vegas.  Read our Brief History (click on the link above) to get started.  From Main to 6th Street, if you look close enough you can still find glimpses of its historic past peeking out in the darndest places.  So, take a walk down to the El Cortez and back and pay attention to the buildings.  You'll be surprised at what you find.  Afterwards, go to Dona Maria's for some of the best and most reasonably priced Mexican food in Very Vintage Vegas!

1.  Start attending our monthly series, Untold Stories at the Springs Preserve.  We are beginning our third season at the Springs Preserve next week.  This is the only series that each month brings long-time residents out to talk about the history they made and that they witnessed.  Want to know more about the history of Las Vegas?  Then join us the first Thursday of every month (dark in January) and hear how history was made here from the people who lived it.  Upcoming topics include Mining in Southern Nevada, the History of the Moulin Rouge, Howard Hughes and Las Vegas and Las Vegas History You Don't Know.

First Thursday of Every Month at the Springs Preserve.  6:30 pm.  Come early and check out the museums, the hiking trails and the view.  The Springs is where Las Vegas began.  Without it's flowing water, no one would remember Las Vegas today.  So, come immerse yourself in history.  It won't hurt and you'll be surprised at how much you learn and how enjoyable history can be to learn!

Support the Historic Huntridge Diner!

It's been a part of the Huntridge neighborhood and part of the fabric of Las Vegas for more years than I can count.  When I was a kid, it was a treat to go to the movies at the Huntridge theater and then go across the street and have a milkshake at the Huntridge Diner.

It was owned for years by a branch of the Fong family.  Rather than see the history lost when the Fongs decided to retire, a local man came to the rescue and took over the business.  He's given the diner a facelift but kept the 1950s/1960s look and feel.

Today, it needs your help.  In these tough economic times, it takes courage to open a restaurant or take over a historic lunch and dinner counter.

Show your support, go have a meal at the Historic Huntridge Diner.  If you see any of the FCLV/VVV crowd, be sure to say "hey".

From our pal Paula Francis at KLAS-8:

CLASSIC DINER OPENS IN TOUGH TIME:

A local man who says retirement was driving him crazy admits he may be even crazier to open a new restaurant in the middle of a recession. But after resurrecting the old Huntridge Diner, he’s just hoping the retro restaurant’s colorful past will help it survive long enough to have a future.

It’s 50’s and 60’s decor, music, and milkshakes are definitely a blast from the past. If the historic Huntridge Diner can hang on long enough, it’s future could be as bright and shiny as its new facelift.

Just like the music, the old-fashioned milkshake machines are shaking again and the burgers, ground from fresh round daily, are sizzling on the grill. “I make everything the moment they ask for it,” said Chef Moses Cruz.

The historic diner, located inside the old Huntridge Drugstore at east Charleston and Maryland Parkway is back in business, much to the delight of old time Las Vegans like Mayor Oscar Goodman and young new regulars like Chris Turner — who can spot a good thing even if he wasn’t even born yet the first time it came around. “It looks like it would have 50 years ago. It’s cool,” he said.

“This fountain behind me is 40-years-old. You just don’t see places like these anymore,” said restaurant operator Joel Holffman.

Its bright red booths, shiny counter tops and freshly painted walls are adorned with 50’s and 60’s memorabilia. In fact, Hoffman says all that’s missing here is a steady stream of customers. “It’s frustrating! If the place was dirty, I could understand it. Or if the food wasn’t good, I could understand it,” he said. “Our prices — $6.95 for a fresh grilled hamburger or philly steak, fries and a soda.”

But like the historic Huntridge Theater directly across the street, which remains closed for now, the Huntride Diner went out of business for a while as well. “I remember going to the Huntridge next door when it was a movie theater. I saw Woodstock there. Wow, that was 40 years ago,” said customer Brian Babbitt.

Hoffman wonders if folks, like long-time resident Brian Babbitt, just haven’t realized the historic restaurant is back in business and better than ever. “If they come in once, they’ll be back,” he said.

Hoffman says he only needs 50 customers a day to turn a profit. But right now he’s only averaging 10 to 12. He says word of mouth will have to start traveling faster if the restaurant is going to survive the recession.

And yes, we will have our salute to the 40th anniversary of the King in Las Vegas later this afternoon!