Untold Stories- This Thursday- The Moulin Rouge

On October 1st, we are focusing on the history and myth surrounding the famed Moulin Rouge Hotel on the Westside of Las Vegas.

The hotel opened in 1955 as the first integrated hotel and casino in town.  The opening night was attended by some of the biggest names in entertainment.  Everyone had high hopes for this wonderfully designed (by Walter Zick and Harris Sharp) hotel with its giant, neon-script sign (designed by Betty Willis).

The hotel seemed to flourish and stories have been handed down over the years of deserted casinos on the Strip late at night because everyone was at the Moulin Rouge gambling, hanging out and enjoying the jam sessions and the late, late show.

In less than two years, it was closed.  Rumors have been rife for years of the mob being involved, of financial improprieties and more.

On Thursday, Oct, 1st,  we will try to distinquish fact from fiction, history from myth and try to discern what really happened.

Joining us on the panel will be:

Carrie Pollard, dancer who performed at the Moulin Rouge back in 1955

Trish Geran, local author who focuses on the African-American stories of Las Vegas and who's grandmother ran one of the most famous boarding rooms for African-American performers.

Claytee White, director of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV,

Richard Taylor, local historian who has written two books on the history of the Rouge.

Also, I will have a DVD presentation with rare and rarely seen photos of the Moulin Rouge on opening day.

Thursday, Oct. 1st

Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Desert Learning Center

6:30 pm

Admission $9 (note the new lower price!), (discount tickets available if you buy the next three months).

We hope to see you there!

Photos from the Jay Florian Mitchell collection, courtesy of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

Beyond the Mint- Bus is Full, Stand by List started

It's official, the bus is full!

Our big event on Saturday, "Beyond the Mint: The Mid-Century Modern Architecture of Walter Zick", is shaping up to be a lot of fun.

Reservations for the bus tour have been streaming into the RSVP phone line for the last two weeks and as of this weekend, the bus is full.

We have started a stand-by list in case anyone who has made a reservation for the bus tour is unable to attend.

We are thrilled at the excitement and response we have been getting.

To recap:

11:30 am - Reception

12:00 pm - Panel Discussion featuring a DVD presentation by Lynn Zook (LasVegasLynn), a short talk by Alan Hess with an accompanying slide presentation followed by a round table discussion with Alan, Eric Strain of Assemblage Studios and Karen Zick Goff and Claire Zick Walker, daughters of Walter Zick.

The roundtable discussion will be moderated by Lynn and will include a question and answer segment with the audience.

$3 for the Reception and Panel Discussion, reservations are NOT required but it does sound like it will be SRO so don't be late.

1:30 pm - We begin loading the bus.

2:00 pm - Bus Tour begins

6:30 pm - Bus returns to the Nevada State Museum

$5 for the bus tour, a color tour booklet is included in the price. 

We are currently taking names for the stand-by list as the bus is full. 

Saturday, October 3rd

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Dr

Lorenzi Park

We hope to see you there!

This event is made possible by the support of Nevada Humanities, Nevada State Museum, Friends of Classic Las Vegas, VeryVintageVegas.com, Atomic Age Alliance, Junior League of Las Vegas and Brian "Paco" Alvarez.

Special thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for designing the tour poster and booklet.

Special thanks to the Nevada State Museum for use of the image on today's post.

Beyond the Mint: Mid-Century Modern Architecture of Walter Zick

You've waited patiently and we appreciate that.  Here is the latest information on our October 3rd event highlighting the work of local architect Walter Zick with a focus on his mid-century modern homes and commercial buildings.

If you went to school at Hyde Park Jr. High, John C. Fremont, Western, Valley or Clark, if you banked at the Bank of Las Vegas/Valley Bank or bank today at the Bank of America on West Charleston and Decatur, you've been in a Walter Zick designed building. 

If you spent time at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital (today UMC) in the 1960s, the Flora Dungan Humanities Building at UNLV or the old Safeway and W.T. Grants on the corner of Maryland Parkway and E. Charleston, you've been in Walter Zick designed buildings.

If you love the Mint and it's beautiful pink and white neon sign, you know Walter Zick.

Walter Zick, along with his partner Harris Sharp, changed the look of post-war Las Vegas. From schools to banks to residential homes, Walter Zick and Harris Sharp put their stamp on Las Vegas.  They designed buildings for the Test Site, for housing projects, for government buildings.  They also designed hotels like the Moulin Rouge, the Mint and the Union Plaza.  They worked on early remodels of the El Rancho Vegas and the Flamingo.

Much of that architecture is still standing.

We have planned a day of exploring the talent of Walter Zick and we invite you to join us.

Saturday, October 3rd.

Nevada State Museum

700 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park

11:30 am  Reception

12:00 pm 

Panel Discussion featuring noted Mid-Century Modern historian and author (and big fan of the Mint Hotel), Alan Hess; architect Eric Strain of Assemblage Studios and Walter Zick's daughters, Karen Zick Goff and Claire Zick Walker. 

Admission price for the Panel Discussion is $3, reservations for the Panel Discussion are NOT necessary.

Immediately following the Panel Discussion, there will be an afternoon bus tour around Las Vegas pointing out some of the still standing architecture of Walter Zick.  There will be four stops on the tour.  The fifth and final stop will be at the Morelli House, while not designed by Zick, is a beautiful example of mid-century modern architecture.  The Junior League has graciously offered to host tours of the house for tour participants.

RSVP's are MANDATORY for the bus tour due to limited seating.  Leave your name and phone number on the voicemail.  Both are important as we will be calling a few days before to confirm all the reservations.  Admission price is $5. 

You must call 702-486-5205 x 121 to RSVP.  Leave your name and a working phone number.

1:30 pm  Bus Loading

2:00 - 6:00  Bus Tour

The bus will return to the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas by 6:30 pm.

Once we have reached the seating capacity of the bus, we will have a will-call list as well.  We recommend calling as soon as possible to insure that you get a seat on the bus.

This should be a wonderful day of history, fun and a  chance to learn about buildings that you have loved for years.

This event is made possible by the generous support of:

Nevada Humanities, the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas; the Friends of Classic Las Vegas, VeryVintageVegas.com; the Junior League of Las Vegas, the Atomic Age Alliance and Brian "Paco" Alvarez.

Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital, image courtesy of Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

Flora Dungan Humanities Building, UNLV, photo courtesy of Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

How Modern Was My Valley

We are hoping by Friday to be able to post the RSVP phone number for the upcoming Walter Zick Event on Saturday, Oct. 3rd.

As previously noted, that morning beginning at 11:30 am there will be a reception/panel discussion at the Nevada State Museum in Lorenzi Park. 

The Panel Discussion featuring mid-century modern historian and author, Alan Hess; architect Eric Strain and Walter Zick's daughers, Karen and Claire will begin at 12:00 pm.  Admission is $3 and RSVP for that portion of the program is not necessary.

Immediately following the panel discussion will be a bus tour that will feature some of Walter Zick's still standing architecture.  Everything from residential to commercial to community to casino designs will be highlighted.

Seating for the bus tour is limited and RSVP's will be mandatory.  Admission for the bus tour is $5.  The final stop on the tour will be at the Morelli House and tours of the house will be given.  Though Walter Zick did not design the Morelli House, it is a splendid example of the mid-century modern architecture of the era.  We thank the Junior League for opening the house for us.

In the meantime, here are some mid-century modern buildings that you may remember. 

PLEASE NOTE:  These photos belong to the Nevada State Museum and we are fortunate that they are allowing us to post them here.  Any other postings of these pictures on other websites is not allowed unless you have the written permission of the State Museum, Las Vegas.

Cinerama Dome just off Paradise Road

Convention Center and Rotunda just north of the Cinerama Dome

McCarran Airport, 1960s

Sears at the Boulevard Mall

Vegas Village near Commercial Center