It's Coming!!! Our second annual Mid Century Modern Las Vegas Weekend!

Our emails hint that many of you very much wanted us to have another Mid-Century Modern Las Vegas weekend filled with panels, architecture, tours and more.

Well, we heard you.  Check back this weekend to find out all the details for our "Mid-Mod Marvels:  A Celebration of Mid-Centuiry Modern Architecture and Design".

A reception at the Morelli House on Friday evening Oct 22nd.

On Saturday, October 23rd, a panel on Mid-Century Modern Architecture and Art, a panel on the history of the Las Vegas News Bureau and the Las Vegas premiere of the documentary on William Krisel, the architect behind Paradise Palms.  William Krisel will be with us in person and will attend the screening.

And best of all, Alan Hess, the authority on all that is MCM,  will be back with us guiding us through all that is Mid-Century Modern and the architects who changed forever the landscape of Las Vegas as well as handle the Q&A at the Krisel film premiere.

And yes, there will be a double-decker bus tour on Sunday afternoon with a new route, new open houses and lots of history.

Sound like fun?

It's all coming the weekend of October 22nd and you don't want to miss this as tickets are limited!

So check back here this weekend for the deets! 

More on the Liberace Museum Protest

From Jeffery White event organizer...

Dear Friends of the Liberace Foundation and Museum:

I am writing this to you, asking for your time and support for a worthy cause. We will be staging a Protest demonstration on Wednesday September 22^nd from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.  This demonstration will be a peaceful protest to keep the Liberace Museum Open.  We will be marching on the sidewalks surrounding the Liberace Museum.  This will also help to shine a spotlight on those responsible for its demise.

It is believed that the Liberace Museum has been grossly mismanaged by the past two Museum Presidents under the current watch of the Liberace Foundation Board President Dean, Jeffrey Koep of UNLV. 

This Non-Profit organization like any other should be held accountable for any and all mismanagement.  Non-Profit Boards have a fiduciary responsibility to the Public, especially when a large monetary trust is concerned. 

Las Vegas has been a city that all too often bulldozes its history.  Then we complain that our culture is non-existent.  We have said good-bye to the Las Vegas Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum.  The Liberace Museum is a Part of the Las Vegas Culture, as well as Liberace himself being a part of the Las Vegas Cultural fabric.  Entertainment has been synonymous with our colorful past.  Can we afford to let go of yet another iconic part of Las Vegas history? 

Now is the time to show your support and save a legacy that was given to the people of Las Vegas. Given the right leadership, this can be saved. 

Please do your part and join us in attending this peaceful demonstration to help prevent yet another Museum loss.  Let’s focus on the FUTURE so that the generations to come can also enjoy Mr. Showmanship’s legacy.

In closing….I would like to leave you with the closing remarks from Liberace’s book. “The Wonderful Private World of Liberace”

“What lies ahead should be determined by what we’ve missed in the past.  The present should be spent realizing all of our unfulfilled dreams and ambitions…My attitude is that nothing is impossible – it just takes a little longer.  Making up for lost time is the best motivation of all in planning for the future”

I’ll Be Seeing You!  (On Wednesday)

Jeffrey White

Protest Organizer



Liberace Fans to Protest the Closing of the Museum

Fans of the Liberace Museum are outraged at the closing of the Museum (see our post below).  According to our pal, Johnny Katz at the Las Vegas Sun, a protest is planned for Wednesday morning at 11:30 am in front of the museum.

Jeffrey White, the event organizer, is calling for the ouster of Liberace Foundation Chairman, Jeffrey Koep and Foundation President Jack Rappaport.  Rappaport's continuing role is unknown but he thinks he may be asked to handle the choosing of items for a possible national tour.  He is also trying to find a new home for the Museum on the Strip.

According to Katz, Koep said meager visitation numbers at the museum (from a high of 450,000 at its peak to around 30,000 last year) and an absence of revenue from businesses in the strip-mall plaza owned by the foundation were the reasons the distinctly Las Vegas attraction is closing.

Koep said the museum had for years been financially sustained by the endowment fund set up to award scholarships, and it had reached the point where the museum had to close to preserve that fund, he said. The Liberace Foundation had once awarded $500,000 annually to gifted students; last year that number fell to $65,000.

The organized outcry likely won't be a massive effort. A turnout of between 75 and 100 is expected. But White, quoting from legendary cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, said the group would not be deterred:

"A small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

For more on the Museum prospects and a film on the life of Lee:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2010/sep/17/supporters-liberace-museum-refuse-close-show-witho/

Riviera announces bankruptcy plan

She was once one of the grand dames of the Las Vegas Strip.  When she was built, she was the first high-rise on the Strip.  For many years, Liberace, Dean Martin and other classic Las Vegas entertainers graced the stage of the showroom.

But in recent times, the Riviera lost a lot of her glamour and in trying to stay alive resorted to just barely hanging on.

We hope the grand dames luck is changing.  Steve Green at the Las Vegas Sun reports about that the bankruptcy plan includes improvements and possibly new gaming equipment.

The Riviera Las Vegas hotel-casino would be spruced up and receive new gaming equipment under its parent company's bankruptcy reorganization plan.

Unable to service its approximately $291 million in debt and liabilities, Riviera Holdings Corp. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in Las Vegas on July 12.

Investors led by longtime hotel and gaming industry executive Barry Sternlicht of Starwood Capital Group have acquired some of the debt and intend to lead the company out of bankruptcy.

Besides its 2,075-room Las Vegas property, the company owns the Riviera Black Hawk casino in Colorado.

For more follow this link