BLVDS Las Vegas "Generations" Oct/Nov 09 issue 16

issue 16

community

culture

design

flavor

Welcome to the dawn of a great new age.

Today, seniors find themselves in a new prime of life.

To help them make the most of it, the Harrah’s Foundation is now a proud sponsor of the AARP Foundation.

Through funding of programs that make it easier to access public benefits, manage personal finances and obtain employment assistance, we’re enabling more older Americans to live independent, fulfilling lives.

At the same time, we’re supporting programs that help family members train to be better caregivers.

We believe the next stage of life can be the best stage of life for millions of Americans.

That’s the promise of a new age.

Artist’s rendering. Card not available.

Your card gets you into whatever you’re into.

Free with Museums on Us® Just show your Bank of America check, credit or ATM card to over 100 museums nationwide on the first weekend of every month for free admission to art, science, history . . . whatever it is you’re into. It’s on us.

Participating museums in Las Vegas: Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Springs Preserve Visit bankofamerica.com/art to sign up for monthly email or text reminders.

Offer valid the first full weekend (Sat. and Sun.) of the month through December 31, 2010. Photo ID and any valid Bank of America check, credit or ATM card must be presented. Free admission limited to cardholder at participating institution. Excludes fundraising events, special exhibitions and ticketed shows. Not to be combined with other offers. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2009 Bank of America Corporation. SPN-121-AD

Find Your Passion!

Cedar City

Our 2009 Season

As You Like It • Henry V • The Comedy of Errors Private Lives • The Secret Garden • Foxfire Tuesdays with Morrie • The Woman in Black The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

June 29 – October 17 800-PLAYTIX • www.bard.org Michael David Edwards in Cyrano de Bergerac, 2008.

Help Us accomplish our Diamond Studded Goal

The WHY Ranch will offer a specialized after school program giving underprivileged youth the opportunity to experience the Wild West heritage of Las Vegas through our free Diamonds in the Rough Program. Our specialized one child - one horse - one leader environment is tailored for each child’s specific needs. WHY Ranch needs your support NOW. “Diamonds in the Rough” begins fall 2009 with our new partner, YWAM (Youth with a Mission.) Contact us today to learn how you can help make a positive impact in our Las Vegas youth!

Visit whyranch.com for more information or contact us at (702) 644-9177

What does it look like to

Give Back?

In partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center, BLVDS is looking for artist submissions.

Winning submission will be featured on the cover of our December “Giving” issue.

pure. powerful. arts.

issu e 17

Your Ar t H e re

Slava & Leonard Grigoryan Classical Guitar Wednesday, October 14 • 8 p.m. $35

Midori For more information on BLVDS, visit BLVDSLV.com.

For information on the CAC and submission requirements, visit lasvegascac.org.

Submission deadline November 6th, 2009.

Have questions? Email them to GivingCover@blvdslv.com

One of the World’s Leading Violinists Friday, October 23 • 8 p.m. $40 - $55 - $85

William Kanengiser

A Forbidden Broadway Christmas Catherine Stornetta, Conductor Saturday, December 5 • 8 p.m. $40 - $55 - $85

ATTENTION: BLVDS Readers Save 15% on Broadway Tickets!

Call the box office today and mention code: BLVDS

Classical Guitar Wednesday, November 18 • 8 p.m. $35 2009 – 2010 season pac.unlv.edu • (702) 895-ARTS (2787)

COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

COMMUNIT Y

Spotlights D r. M i c h a e l G re e n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 M o r d e c h a i Ye r u s h a l m i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Discovering Las Vegas Local Resources Put Histor y at Our Finger tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Corner 4 Success M e n t o r i n g P r o g r a m Te a c h e s L i f e S k i l l s t o A t - R i s k G i r l s . . . . . . 1 9

BLVDS

w h a t ’s i n s i d e

ARTICLES & HIGHLIGHTS C U LT U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3

C U LT U R E

Southern Nevada Living History Association Reenacting the Past Educates and Enter tains . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Day of the Dead at the Springs Preserve Traditional M exican Holiday Celebrates Loved Ones . . . . . . . . 29

DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

DESIGN

The Stocker Mansion A Home Full of Hear t and H istor y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Nevada State Museum Preser ving Histor y for Generations to Enjoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

F L AV O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

F L AV O R ON THE COVER: TOP ROW FROM LEFT: 1950’s cheesecake at the Sahara © LVCVA;

Fremont East © Grace Rakich; Hoover Dam under construction © UNLV Special Collections. MIDDLE ROW FROM LEFT: The Strip, 2009 © LVCVA; Welcome to Las Vegas, 1960 © LVCVA; Springs Preserve © Alexis McAllister. BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT: The Rat Pack, 1960 © LVCVA; Neon Museum © Greg Warden; S.P., L.V. & S.L. locomotive #3649 in Las Vegas, 1905 © UNLV Special Collections THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Helldorado Parade, 1947; Jayne Mansfield © LVCVA

Tiptoe Shoes K eeping Generations of Little Feet Happy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Huntridge Diner Making Milkshakes and Memories for a New Generation . . . . . 46

Honoring Rick and Jeri Crawford

Celebrating Present and Future Artists Saturday November 14th, 2009, 6:30 p.m.

For tickets and reservations, please call by Nov. 2, 2009

Four Seasons Hotel, Acacia Ballroom www.NSAmusic.org (702) 384-2787

My family came to Las Vegas in the early 1950’s to serve at Nellis Air Force Base during the Korean War. After the war was over they decided to stay because Las Vegas was booming and there were many opportunties for a growing family. I have been part of this city since its population was under 100,000. I grew up on the edge of town in a subdivision called Twin Lakes at Washington and Rancho and proudly call myself a native.

Las Vegas has grown many times over since I was a kid, and in this issue we will take you back through time as we explore the “Generations” of our hometown—the people who have helped shape and record its history and the businesses that have been there for us along the way. And don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate the generations that have passed during “Día de los Muertos” this year at the Springs Preserve. I can hardly wait!

— Jan Craddock, Publisher

B L V D S

contributors

THE TEAM Jan Craddock President & Publisher Sherri Kaplan COO & Co-Publisher Pat Marvel Consulting Editor Kimberly Schaefer Managing Editor Randi Daniels Ar t Direction & Design C O N TA C T U S 1000 N. Green Valley Pkwy, Suite 440-178 Henderson, NV 89074 (p) 386.6065 (f ) 386.6012 blvdslv.com

THE TEAM

EDITORIAL BOARD Debra Blitzer Durette Candito Rick Carpenter Jack Chappell Audrie Dodge Nancy Higgins Darin Hollingswor th Gina Jackson Wendy Jordan Pam Lang Debra March Randi Chaplin-Matushevitz Kimberly Maxson-Rushton Karen Rubel Kristen Sande Shaun Sewell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jessica Campbell Hektor D. Esparza Joyce Gorsuch Jodi Nelson-Springberg Sara Nunn Laurel Rustemeyer Kimberly Schaefer PHOTOGRAPHY Anthony Gibson Grace Rakich Craig Schaefer Greg Warden Garrett Winslow

Copyright 2009, by BLVDS, Inc., all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from BLVDS, Inc. Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, however, BLVDS, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. BLVDS, Inc. accepts editorial and photography submissions. Please send all submissions to: editor@blvdslv.com.

LocaL reSoUrceS LiKe The SPeciaL coLLecTionS aT UnLV anD The LaS VeGaS neWS BUreaU ProViDe an inTiMaTe LooK aT oUr rich LaS VeGaS hiSTorY. corner 4 SUcceSS iS a MenTorinG ProGraM DeSiGneD To BreaK The cYcLe of DoMeSTic VioLence anD Teach aT-riSK GirLS The SKiLLS neceSSarY for a SUcceSSfUL fUTUre.

B L V D S

commun i t y

The LocaL SPoTLiGhT

artIcLes spotlights dr. michael green Telling Nevada’s Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 mordechai yerushalmi Caring for Customers, Committed to Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 discovering Las Vegas Local Resources Put History at Our Fingertips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 corner 4 success Mentoring Program Teaches Life Skills to At-Risk Girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

faciNg page: San Pedro, Las Vegas & Salt Lake locomotive #3708

in Las Vegas, 1914 © UNLV Special Collections

Number of CANCer treAtmeNt CeNters iN NevAdA

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Pediatric 3196 S Maryland Pkwy, Ste 400 Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.688.6180 Boulder City 999 Adams Blvd, Ste 103 Boulder City, NV 89005 702.293.0357

Dr. Michael Green

Te lling N e vada’s Stories

If you have kids, chances are they’ll end up learning Nevada history from Michael Green, Ph.D. “When you get your seventh grade Nevada history, you get it from me,” Green says, referring to Nevada: A Journey of Discovery, the middle school textbook he authored. Green is currently hard at work on a college-level textbook entitled, The Nevada Experience, on the same subject.

A longtime Las Vegas resident, Green teaches history at UNLV, where he earned his undergraduate degree in history. “I came home from graduate school in ‘92 to work on my dissertation. The college hired me in 1995, so I had the job, got tenure, and I stayed,” Green says.

The journey toward his current position began when he tried journalism, working at a now-defunct local newspaper. “I was lucky in growing up here and working at a newspaper where you find out things, in getting to know some people who know some people—it may not have hurt that my dad was personally fired by Lefty Rosenthal,” he admits,

With whom would you like to trade jobs?

Vin Scully, who broadcasts for the Dodgers, but not far behind would be Maureen Dowd or Chief Justice Roberts. And some would say “heaven

chuckling. “It got me very interested in our Las Vegas history.”

help the country.”

Speaking of the city’s checkered past, and his process of writing the

If you could take only one book with you to a deserted island, what

textbooks, Green says, “I always laugh because the publisher said, ‘Can

would it be?

you do profiles of aspiring business people?’ and I thought, ‘Bugsy

I always liked Hawkeye Pierce’s answer: the dictionary. All the other

Siegel?’ which is a reminder that when you’re doing Nevada history and

books are in it. But I would probably take a biography of Lincoln, but I

Las Vegas history, you deal with some interesting characters.”

won’t choose which one.

Green has kept this sense of humor throughout the writing of several

Where would you most like to travel?

other works on local history, including 2005’s Las Vegas: A Centennial

I would most like to travel to and in Europe, especially the United

History, co-written with Gene Moehring, a work both “scholarly and

Kingdom. I have a lot of castles to look at.

popular,” in Green’s words. He also co-edited the online Nevada encyclopedia, and writes Nevada Yesterdays, a bi-weekly column read by former Senator and Nevada Governor Richard Bryan on KNPR. Green is also a popular guest for talks on Nevada history. “I’ve done a lot of talks over the years, everything from the Chamber of Commerce

What’s on your “to do” list?

What’s on my “to do” list is to correct a book manuscript for the university press, grade some papers, work on a book I’m doing on Lincoln’s election, and make sure to goof off.

to the neighborhood Rotary Club, although I’ve had to cut way back on that to try to meet some book deadlines. I’m always afraid the publishers are going to know some of the people who used to run Las Vegas,” Green says, laughing. In addition to the local history works Green has written, upcoming works include Politics and America in Crisis: The Coming of the Civil War, and Lincoln and the Election of 1860.

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issue 16 g e n e r a t i o n s B L V D S L a s V e g a s 1 1

CO M M U NI T Y t h e l o c a l s p o t l i g h t

Mordechai Yerushalmi

C arin g for Customer s, Commi tte d to Community Mordechai Yerushalmi is originally from Israel and, as a successful businessman, he could choose to live anywhere in the world. But for him, Las Vegas is home. As he explains, “The desert is great. You get up every morning and see the sun, and believe me it’s a blessing. The sun brings health and happiness.”

He has owned and operated The Jewelers since 1976, has raised a family here, and has seen Las Vegas grow and change. And though he enjoys the success of having his four grown children join him in the family business— operating several stores across the Vegas valley—for him the ‘70s represent a golden era in Las Vegas.

Yerushalmi remarks, “I liked the old days in the ‘70s when everybody knew

neighborhood. They come for the price, quality, and service. In today’s economy, if you don’t give great service you cannot survive.”

each other and it was like one big family. It was totally different. There

And while The Jewelers still counts athletes and celebrities among their

was not much traffic. It was a little big town. Now it’s more corporate,

clients, today they are equally proud of the work they do supporting local

everyone’s looking at the bottom line.”

non-profits including the Public Education Foundation, the I Have a Dream

Longtime Las Vegas residents likely remember The Jewelers television commercials from the ‘80s featuring world champion boxers like Leon Spinks and Larry Holmes, or basketball great Irving “Magic” Johnson. In

Foundation, and the Las Vegas Philharmonic. “This town made me what I am,” Yerushalmi explains, “so I think it’s imperative that I give back to the community.

those days, Yerushalmi rubbed shoulders with professional athletes and

What makes you say “wow?”

made friends with Lakers fans at games during his frequent trips

People who help others.

to California.

While there isn’t as much celebrity fanfare surrounding Yerushalmi these days, there are still many familiar faces to be seen at The Jewelers. While in the ‘70s he was more of a jetsetter, today he forgoes out-of-state trips to Lakers games in favor of minding The Jewelers’ flagship store. It is here that he has been in operation for more than 30 years, and it’s also the place where old friends from the world over come to see him.

Yerushalmi smiles and says, “I’ve been here for 36 years and it’s great when, all of a sudden, you see someone from overseas that you haven’t seen in years. I love seeing old friends. You know, there are some longtime customers that fly into town and come here straight from the airport and leave town without doing anything else but shopping here.”

Where would you most like to travel?

I would like to take a month off and travel the northwestern United States and western Canada.

What is your greatest indulgence?

I love to spend Sundays at Lake Mead. It’s my favorite pastime—just relaxing in the boat and enjoying the water.

With whom would you like to trade jobs?

An astronaut. I would like to spend some time in outer space.

If you could have a “do-over,” what would it be?

I would have had more children.

About the store’s locale he comments, “If you see where this store is, you know people aren’t coming here because it’s in a glamorous

12 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

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I

Kitchen and Bath

N N O V A T I V E a remodeling company

Las Vegas, NV

(702) 340-3510 www.innovativekandblv.com

Lic. # 0073577

facing page: The Strip, 1968 © LVCVA

CO M M U NI T Y t h e l o c a l s p o t l i g h t S a r a N u nn

Discovering Las Vegas

Loc al R esour ce s Put History at Our Fin g er t i ps L a s V e g a s a s a c i t y m ay l a c k a l o n g h i s t o r y, b u t l u c k y f o r u s , i t ’ s w e ll - d o c u m e n t e d a n d, i n m a n y c a s e s , r e a d ily ava il a b l e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y.

At the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, the history begins

somewhere else to somewhere else, up through the rise of gambling,

right at the site itself. Collections Curator Dennis McBride explains, “The

Nellis Air Force Base, through to the present day.”

location is very historic, Lorenzi Park. It was an oasis originally, artesian springs. This whole area east of the museum, the park that’s just been renovated, that was all vineyards and orchards. It was a wonderful working ranch at one time. Las Vegas started out as an agricultural center, there were ranches that produced all kinds of things—grapes and figs and melons of every sort. There were cattle as well. Las Vegas began really as an agricultural area, and they promoted it that way right into the 1910s and ‘20s.”

Surprised yet? It turns out there’s a lot more to learn about the city we call home. Much of this history can be found at the museum. McBride explains, “The whole west end of the building is devoted to the history of Las Vegas, from the time it was just a watering hole on the way from

14 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

Among the most significant items on display here is the painting Las Vegas Ranch by Frederick Dellenbaugh. Painted in 1876, this is the earliest known painting of the Las Vegas valley, a window into our not-so-distant past and a startlingly pastoral view of what is now our bustling metropolis.

It’s Southern Nevada’s pre-history, however, that really gets McBride excited. “I really enjoy the natural history gallery the best, I think. If people know what this area looked like in prehistoric times—it was very wet, and very green, and it was full of the most amazing variety of wildlife. I have this image of mastodons walking up and down the Strip. Where there are now casinos and singing fountains, there were mastodons and prehistoric horses, and there was an ocean full of monster fish. I like that kind of thing.

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CO M M U NI T Y t h e l o c a l s p o t l i g h t This Page: 5th Street Grammar School circa 1929 © UNLV Special Collections

I like people to come in and see this was what it was like then.” Exhibits in

Some of these archives are even available to desk-bound researchers

this gallery include Ichthyosaur, a 48-foot long giant marine reptile fossil

who will find a surprising wealth of resources online for easy perusal.

that spans an entire wall, a giant Shasta ground sloth, and the museum’s

The Digital Collections include scanned photos, personal and

13-foot tall Columbian mammoth skeleton.

government documents, audio and video projects with transcripts, maps, histories, newspapers, articles, and more, all relating to historical

Those on a more focused hunt for a glimpse of Las Vegas history from

subjects relevant to Las Vegas and Nevada.

the people who lived through it would do well to check out the UNLV Special Collections, founded in 1967. According to Manuscripts Librarian

The current featured collection, Southern Nevada: The Boomtown Years,

Su Kim Chung, “We have a pretty far-ranging collection of material from

features a wide range of materials focusing on the importance of mining and

early town pioneers. I like to call them the street and the school people.

the Union Pacific Railroad in town, as well as a section of teaching resources

You see a lot of names of pioneer families that founded Las Vegas, and

including student activities. Covering boomtowns including Tonopah,

we were fortunate enough to be founded at a time when some of those

Goldfield, and Eldorado Canyon, this collection offers a rarely seen, in-depth

people were still living, or their descendants were still living in town.”

look at what it was like to live in these Nevada towns during the boomtown

This good fortune has led to UNLV receiving extensive collections of

years, with over 1,500 items of ephemera available for perusal.

documents, photos, and other ephemera directly from the families whose names are still known today.

Within the Special Collections is the Center for Gaming Research, which

The Las Vegas News Bureau is an archive of historical photographs available for non-commercial and non-profit uses. The News Bureau is a division of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA)

Chung theorizes may be the largest collection of gaming research

and was originally created by the Chamber of Commerce as a tool for

material in the world. The Special Collections are a popular haunt for

generating publicity for Las Vegas.

local historians, researchers, writers, journalists, and many others.

Many photographs in the Collections are available for use.

16 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

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THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: The Beatles arrive at McCarran, 1964 © LVCVA; Fremont Street in the late ‘70s © UNLV Special Collections

Founded in 1947 as the Desert Sea News Bureau, the entity now known

preserve history and save it where it needs to be, and ultimately present

as the Las Vegas News Bureau is primarily a resource for media. As Lisa

it to people who need to know something or want to see something or

Jacob, senior manager of the News Bureau puts it, the News Bureau’s

study, or just spend an afternoon seeing what it used to be like.”

“mission is to support the mission of the LVCVA through photos and

The history of our city is at our fingertips. Why not go discover it?

video to promote Las Vegas around the world. We work mainly with news media to promote the positive aspects of Las Vegas and what a great city it is to visit and do business in.

“Because we’ve been around for over 60 years, we’ve become an archive of photographs, primarily of the entertainment industry, of the history of Las Vegas,” Jacob continues. Classic images include “Miss Atomic Bomb,” now a part of the Smithsonian Institution’s collection, and the

For more information on the variety of historical resources available in Nevada, please visit the following websites: Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs nevadaculture.org.

University Libraries Digital Collections digital.library.unlv.edu

classic “Floating Craps Game” shot at the Sands in 1953, as well as video of Elvis Presley, Liberace, the Rat Pack, and other Las Vegas icons. News

For more information about the Las Vegas News Bureau and to view a

Bureau images are also made available to the public through various

collection of images available to the public for non-commercial use,

exhibitions at libraries and public buildings in Las Vegas, as well as in

please visit their website at lvcva.com.

the Las Vegas Convention Center.

UNLV Libraries Special Collections are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Like the massive community that keeps Las Vegas up and running today,

9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., with

a smaller community of historians and archivists works together to keep

other hours by appointment. For more information, contact Manuscripts

Las Vegas and Nevada history alive and available for anyone who wants

Librarian Su Kim Chung at 895.2234 or sukim.chung@unlv.edu.

to learn. As McBride explains it, “We pass things around, and that way we

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Prou dly P res Our new enting www w .rain bowc ebsite! ompa ny.o rg

Up Next: December 4,5,10,11,and 12 at 7 pm December 6, 12,and 13 at 2 pm Charleston Heights Arts Center (702) 229-6553

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THIS PAGE: Graduation day © C4S

J o d i N e lson - S p r i n g b e r g

Corner 4 Success

Mentorin g Pr o g r am Teaches Life Ski lls to At-R isk Girls R u s h i n g f r o m o n e m e e t i n g t o t h e n e x t, A m i e J o G r e e r b r e e z e s i n t o t h e r e s ta u r a n t wi t h a w e l c o m i n g s m il e .

S h e h a s t i m e f o r a q u i c k l u n c h b e f o r e s h e i s o u t t h e d o o r a g a i n a n d o n t o h e r n e x t a p p o i n t m e n t. S h e i s r u n n i n g t e n m i n u t e s b e h i n d s c h e d u l e i n a d ay t h at i s j a m m e d wi t h a p p o i n t m e n t s . H e r l at e n e s s i s e a s ily f o r g iv e n s i n c e v e r y f e w p e o p l e c o u l d e v e r k e e p u p wi t h h e r s c h e d u l e .

Greer and her husband came to Las Vegas to retire. Her husband fell

to helping at-risk girls gain the emotional, social, and behavioral skills

right in to retirement, but Greer was restless. She volunteered to serve

needed for creating a more positive and constructive future.”

on the Board of Trustees of Safe Nest. While serving on the board, she realized that the domestic violence programs were only focusing on the adults involved, so she decided to create a program that worked with adolescent girls to break the cycle of domestic violence, which Greer describes as, “not just patching it up, but preventing it.”

With that goal in mind, Greer created Corner 4 Success (C4S) G.I.R.L.S.

These young ladies participate in a 15-week program that meets for one hour each week and teaches them about self-esteem, etiquette, education, and appearance. Additional classes focus on conflict resolution, communication skills, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. The C4S G.I.R.L.S. Club enlists guest speakers to teach each topic who are experts in their field of work. These mentors pass their wisdom to this

Club Life Skills Program, a non-profit organization that mentors girls

younger generation of women and are selected from throughout the

ranging in age from nine to fourteen. Greer explains, “We are committed

community. They include members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

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CO M M U NI T Y t h e l o c a l s p o t l i g h t THIS PAGE FROM LEFT : Amie Jo Greer in action; G.I.R.L.S. Club members © C4S

Department, a motivational speaker, a designer and models for “Dress

use. The girls even enjoy the gentile practice of the wait staff pulling out

for Success.”

their chairs prior to being seated.

The dining and etiquette class takes place at Rosemary’s Restaurant, the

C4S G.I.R.L.S. Club, with its focus on one generation mentoring the next,

local gourmet hotspot owned and operated by the husband-and-wife

already has seen its first class of graduates. The next class is due to start

team of Chefs Wendy and Michael Jordan. Greer and Wendy Jordan both

soon. Like so many non-profits, the organization’s biggest problem is

served on the Board of Trustees of Safe Nest and later crossed paths

funding. In order to afford these children the opportunity to improve

again leading to Jordan’s involvement with C4S G.I.R.L.S. Club.

their lives, Greer needs to keep the program running. Currently she is dependent on donations from various community organizations, as

Jordan generously offered her services and use of her restaurant to Greer and C4S G.I.R.L.S. Club for the group’s dining and etiquette class. As Greer explains, “Most of these girls have never had a fine

well as from her own personal endeavors. She hopes one day to have a permanent meeting location and enough mentors on hand to continue advising girls who have graduated from the program.

dining experience.”

For more information about C4S G.I.R.L.S. Club, please contact the Chef Wendy selects the menu based on the degree of difficulty involved in eating the dishes. Each lesson starts with soup, and then moves on to

Corner 4 Success Charitable Foundation at (888) 803.7661 or visit their website corner4success.com.

linguini with a whole chicken breast, and ends with a platter of bite-sized desserts. All parts of the meal are used to teach the girls about proper dining techniques and etiquette, such as how to properly hold a knife, the location of glassware and plates, and where to place utensils after

20 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

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FA L L R E G I S T R AT I O N N O W O P E N Special thanks to the Toby Benedict Charitable Fund & Nevada Community Foundation for their support.

Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater & Conservatory Holsum Lofts, 231 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite # 110-120, Las Vegas NV 89102 702-366-9136 www.LVDANCE.org

MeMBerS oF the Southern neVaDa liVing hiStory aSSoCiation Bring the PaSt to liFe By re-enaCting hiStoriCal eVentS. Wearing PerioD CoStuMeS anD engaging in a Variety oF aCtiVitieS inCluDing MoCK BattleS, the Snlha eDuCateS anD entertainS. Don’t MiSS the SPringS PreSerVe’S FirSt CeleBration oF the traDitional MeXiCan holiDay, DÍa De loS MuertoS, or Day oF the DeaD. enJoy FooD, Fun, anD aCtiVitieS For all ageS.

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culture

e n t e r ta i n M e n t & a C t i V i t i e S

articleS Southern nevada living history association Reenacting the Past Educates and Entertains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 day of the dead at the Springs preserve Traditional Mexican Holiday Celebrates Loved Ones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

FACING PAGE: Civil War reenactment © SNLHA

C u lt u r e e n t e r t a i n m e n t & a c t i v i t i e s THIS PAGE: Reenactors’ camp © SNLHA

L a u r el R u ste m e y e r

Southern Nevada Living History Association

Reenac ting the Past Educ ates and Enter tain s

S o m e t i m e s , t h e b e s t way t o l e a r n a b o u t h i s t o r y i s t o l i v e i t. T h e S o u t h e r n N e va d a L i v i n g H i s t o r y Ass o c i at i o n d o e s j u s t t h at, b r i n g i n g t h e pa s t t o l i f e t h r o u g h a va r i e t y o f a c t i v i t i e s .

The SNLHA specializes in Civil War reenactments, although other time

At these events, the first thing members do is set up camp. Those

periods, including World War II and ancient Rome, are also covered.

who do not enjoy roughing it in tents have the option of staying at a

Currently, there are approximately 55 members. As membership grows,

hotel, but for many people, camping out is a big part of the appeal.

the ability to represent other eras will also grow.

Most importantly, members dress up in period costumes and recreate historical living. This includes mock battles.

Most months, there is one historical reenactment event within driving distance of Las Vegas. SNLHA members are not expected to go to all of

The battles may be fake, but the excitement is real. So are the cannons

them, but they are encouraged to attend at least two events per year,

and guns. Armed with these weapons, the reenactors play various roles

and some do much more.

such as officers, infantry, and cavalry. They are divided into two opposing sides—for Civil War reenactments, the Union and Confederate armies—

“This is strictly a volunteer organization,” says Lisa Coffey, the civilian

and stage battles that display historical military tactics.

coordinator. She explains that members have to balance their participation with work and family obligations. With her husband, Jason

Although historical accuracy is highly valued, safety is always the top

Coffey, the SNLHA president, she attends six to eight events each year.

priority. Guns are loaded with blanks and safety checks are performed

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THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Battle born; riding side-saddle © SNLHA

beforehand. All horses used are well-trained and accustomed to loud

“Our primary purpose is to educate—educate in a unique way that brings

noises. If anything goes wrong, for example, if someone falls off a horse,

history out of the textbooks,” says Lisa. Jason adds that children are

the battle is put on hold.

much more likely to pay attention in class after they have had a hands-on experience. This is why the SNLHA occasionally does presentations in

The biggest event for the SNLHA is the Civil War Days in the Battle Born State, a reenactment held on Nevada Day weekend. This year, that means October 31st and November 1st. Located at the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, this two-day event features something for

local schools. Additionally, on the Friday before the Nevada Day weekend reenactment, teachers are invited to bring their classes out to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, where reenactors are on hand to answer students’ questions and demonstrate aspects of historical living.

everyone, from mock battles and field hospitals to period fashion shows and ladies’ tea. There will also be sutlers (period merchants) and food

“History, to a lot of the younger generation, is a dry subject,” says Dan

vendors present.

Tuziak, who plays a soldier in the 9th U.S. Infantry. As a reenactor, he works to get students interested in the subject. He adds that he’s learned

Like many of the other Civil War reenactments, this event is open to

a lot, too.

the public. It is being organized by the SNLHA in partnership with the American Civil War Society. The state park vehicle admission is $5 per car,

SNLHA members have the choice of becoming a civilian or soldier

and admission to the event is $5 per person, with discounts for children.

reenactor. Most of the soldiers are men, but gender is not necessarily an issue. Currently, two female members participate in the mock battles,

In addition to the reenactments, the SNLHA also participates in Helldorado Days, Fourth of July, and Veteran’s Day parades and works with the Boy Scouts and local schools.

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although these women have to dress up and “pass” as men. This is not merely a modern practice; there were actually several hundred women who did this during the Civil War.

issue 16

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C u lt u r e e n t e r t a i n m e n t & a c t i v i t i e s THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Firing the cannon; soldiers in action © SNLHA

The battles are important, but in order to make reenactments as

Whether members are in it for the history, the battles, the clothes, or the

historically accurate as possible, all members need to have the proper

camping, everyone seems to get something out of it. “It was like stepping

costumes. As a result, sewing is a very useful skill. “This is an expensive

back in time. It was a pleasant change,” says Raquel Ayala, describing her

hobby even for someone who does sew,” says Lisa. She assures people,

first experience as a reenactor.

however, that sewing period costumes is not as difficult as many people think. Every month, the SNLHA holds a meeting at the Old Mormon Fort State Park, and Lisa is on hand to help people with their costumes.

People can start out with the easier pieces, such as the undergarments and simple skirts, and progress from there.

For more information about the SNLHA or the Civil War Days in the Battle Born State reenactment, please visit their website at snlha.org.

Civil War Days in the Battle Born State Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Members who are not interested in sewing have other options. They can buy period clothing, or they can commission someone else to sew outfits

October 30-November 1 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

for them. Regardless of how members obtain their costumes, clothing is a big part of the reenactments. “It’s interesting to see through the clothing how society has evolved,” says Coffey.

26 B L V D S

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Las Vegas Premiere!

Dec. 18 - Dec. 24

Nevada Ballet Theatre presents

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography: Peter Anastos

ORDER NOW!

(702) 946-4567 or (877) 374-7469 or online at nevadaballet.com.

Tickets also available at Bally’s Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets.

GROUP SALES: (702) 967-4938.

James CanfieldArtistic Director

Open Nightly November 21 - January 2 Sunday - Thursday: 5:30pm - 9:00pm Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm

Fun for Everyone Beautiful decorations & millions of lights Nightly entertainment • Photos with Santa Two passenger trains • Antique carousel Gingerbread house display • Storytime Cabin New this year: Santa’s Speedway Tickets available at all Las Vegas area CVS/pharmacy locations All proceeds benefit people with disabilities at Opportunity Village Stop into a participating Las Vegas area Shell Station for your chance to win Magical Forest prizes

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500 S Rancho Drive Suite 16 Same Day, Evening, or Weekend Appts

C u lt u r e e n t e r t a i n m e n t & a c t i v i t i e s K I m B E r Ly S C H A E F E r

Day oF the DeaD at the SPringS PreSerVe

tr aDitional MeXiC an holiDay CeleBr ateS loVeD oneS the Springs Preserve will celebrate its first Día de los Muertos on

scary storytelling rides through the Preserve’s trails. guided tours of the

Sunday, november 1st from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

origen experience will also be available.

Día de los Muertos, the “Day of the Dead,” is a traditional Mexican

admission for the Día de los Muertos celebration is $5 for adults, $3 for

holiday full of color, joy, and remembrance of loved ones. the holiday

children 5 to 12, and free for those 4 and under.For more information

is celebrated on november 2 in connection with all Saints’ Day on the

about the Springs Preserve and the Día de los Muertos festivities, please

1st and all Souls’ Day on the 2nd. it focuses on gatherings of family and

visit their web site at springspreserve.org.

friends and the celebration of the lives of those who have passed.

Día de los Muertos

the Springs Preserve celebration will include traditional food vendors,

november 1

live entertainment, and a display of altars. attendees will be able to vote

3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

for their favorite of these vibrantly colored private altars. entertainment

Springs Preserve

at this joyous occasion will include Mariachis, a Día de los Muertos play,

333 S. Valley View Blvd.

and dance performances.

las Vegas 89107

the day will also include fun-filled, family-friendly activities—face

822.7705

painting, decorating of sugar skulls (a popular holiday custom), and

29 B l V D S

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VISIT BLVDSLV.COm FOr mOrE DETAILS ON ALL EVENTS C u lt u r e e n t e r t a i n m e n t & a c t i v i t i e s

OC TOBEr

utah Shakespearean Festival Fall Season

10th Annual Wine and Food Tasting Extravaganza

The 12th Annual “Bite Of Las Vegas”

now - october 17, 2009 Southern Utah University 800-PlaytiX, bard.org

october 15, 2009 5:30 p.m.

Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation gaudin Jaguar/Porsche/aston Martin 796-3133, krubel@nah.org

october 18, 2009 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Clark County and Mix 94.1 Desert Breeze Park mix941.fm

measure Twice, Cut Once

Hawaiian Festival & regatta

Las Vegas Performing & Visual Arts College Fair

now - november 19, 2009 City of Las Vegas Charleston heights artslasvegas.org

In Danger

now - november 25, 2009 City of Las Vegas Bridge gallery artslasvegas.org

3rd Annual Family, Fur & Fun Festival

october 10, 2009 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Nevada SPCA Summerlin Community Park familyfurandfun.com

Fall Art Festival

october 10 - 11, 2009 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MonteLago Village villageartfestivals.com

Dragon Boat regatta and Art Festival

october 10 - 22, 1009 10 a.m.

Lake Las Vegas

Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

october 12, 2009 8 a.m.

Shriners Hospitals for Children tPC Summerlin jtshrinersopen.com

Food and Hunger: Eating in America

october 16 - 17, 2009 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Lake Las Vegas

Artwalk

october 16 - 18, 2009 The District at GVR thedistrictatgvr.com/events

Altered States: Artists re-imagine the Book

october 16 - january 02, 2010 City of Las Vegas reed Whipple Cultural Center 229-1012, artslasvegas.org

Fossinana - A Boy, A Girl october 16 - 18, 2009 The Vibe 4061 Silvestri lane 301-3153

Albert’s Tarantella

october 17, 2009 7 p.m.

Goldwell Open Air Museum goldwellmuseum.org

12th Annual I Have a Dream Gala

october 17, 2009 6 p.m. green Valley ranch ihaveadreamlasvegas.org

Lift your Spirits

october 17, 2009 6-10 p.m.

The District at GVR thedistrictatgvr.com

october 13, 2009 7 p.m.

Black Mountain Institute unlV Student union theatre 895-5542 blackmountaininstitute.org

Timeless Innovation

Slava & Leonard Grigoryan

Italian Festival

october 14, 2009 8 p.m.

UNLV Classical Guitar Series Doc rando recital hall 895-artS, pac.unlv.edu 30 B l V D S

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october 17 - 18, 2009 8 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Nevada Ballet artemus W. ham Concert hall nevadaballet.com october 17 - 18, 2009 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

M Resort Villaggio Del Sole themresort.com

generations

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october 19, 2009 7-9 p.m.

City of Las Vegas las Vegas accademy of international Studies, Performing & Visual arts nationalcollegefairs.org

3rd Annual Heroes of Southern Nevada Awards

october 22, 2009 7:30 p.m.

American Red Cross rio all Suites and Casino 702-369-3674 heroes@redcrosslasvegas.org

AArP Presents Vegas@50+

october 22 - 24, 2009 AARP Sands expo and Convention Center aarp.org

midori

october 23, 2009 8 p.m.

UNLV Performing Arts Center artemus W. ham Concert hall 895-artS, pac.unlv.edu

Ghosts and Goblins of Nevada’s Past Halloween

october 23 - 24, 1009 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Clark County Clark County Museum accessclarkcounty.com

Fantasy Gala

october 24, 2009 6:30 p.m.

Lied Children’s Museum Caesar’s Palace ldcm.org

God Lives in Glass

october 24 -25, 2009 1 p.m.

CSN Performing Arts Center nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

Las Vegas youth Orchestra

october 24, 2009 2 p.m. henderson Pavilion 267-2171, lvyo.org

4th Annual Trunk-or-Treat Event

october 24, 2009 5-8 p.m.

Easter Seals Southern Nevada 6200 West oakey Blvd. eastersealssn.org

A Haydn-mozart-Handel Celebration

october 25, 2009 7 p.m.

Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society artemus W. ham Concert hall 895-artS, accessclarkcounty.com

Boys Like Girls

october 25, 2009 5:30 p.m. henderson Pavilion 267-2171, hendersonlive.com

James Ellroy: Demon Dog of American Crime Fiction

october 25, 2009 2 p.m.

Clark County library lvccld.org

r. Carlos Nakai

october 25, 2009 2 p.m.

Clark County Winchester Cultural Center accessclarkcounty.com

The Great Pumpkin run

october 30, 2009 Easter Seals Cashman Field eastersealssn.org

Ghostwalk – Halloween Night!

october 31, 2009 5-8 p.m.

The District at GVR Main Street and the green thedistrictatgvr.com NOVEBmEr

Vegas Valley Book Festival

november 04 - 08, 2009 City of Las Vegas artslasvegas.org/vvbf/index.html

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VISIT BLVDSLV.COm FOr mOrE DETAILS ON ALL EVENTS New Play Festival

Strut your mutt

november 07, 2009 Clark County Dog Fanciers Park strutyourmuttlv.com

november 21, 2009 Pottery West 685-7573, potterywest.com

Informal Dance Concert

Vegas Valley Book Festival Keynote Address with E.L. Doctorow

november 21 - january 03, 2010 5:30 p.m.

Opportunity Village Oakey Campus opportunityvillage.org

november 04 - 22, 2009 Nevada Conservatory Theatre Black Box theatre 895-artS, unlvtickets.com november 04, 2009 1 p.m.

CSN Performing Arts Center nicholas. J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

Silverman Triathlon

november 05 - 09, 2009 silvermannv.com

Vegas Valley Book Festival Opening reading with Kay ryan

november 05, 2009 7 p.m.

Black Mountain Institute the historic Fifth Street School 895-5542 blackmountaininstitute.org

The madwoman of Chaillot

november 06 - 22, 2009 CSN Performing Arts Center Backstage theatre 651-liVe, csn.edu/pac

Is He Dead?

november 06 - 22, 2009 Las Vegas Little Theatre lvlt.org

Camelot at the magical Forest

november 07, 2009 6:30 p.m.

Opportunity Village oakey Campus opportunityvillage.org

Target Children’s Book Festival 2009

november 07, 2009 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

CIty of Las Vegas artslasvegas.org/tcbf/index.html

Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival

november 07, 2009 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Clark County library lvccld.org

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november 08, 2009 7 p.m.

Black Mountain Institute Clark County library auditorium 895-5542 blackmountaininstitute.org

Folk Songs, Chanteys, Spirituals and Broadway Selections

november 08, 2009 2 p.m.

Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society Winchester Cultural Center 455-7340, accessclarkcounty.com

Berkley Hart Concert

november 13, 2009 7 p.m.

West Charleston library lvccld.org

10th Annual uSN Scholarship Golf Tournament at Cascata Golf Club november 16, 2009 8 a.m.

University of Southern Nevada Cascata golf Club 968-2055, usn.com

Snow White and The Seven Dwarves

november 17, 2009 British National Theatre of America the horn theatre, CSn bntofa.org

William Kanengiser

november 18, 2009 8 p.m.

UNLV Classical Guitar Series Doc rando recital hall 895-artS, pac.unlv.edu

21st Annual Festival of Trees and Lights

november 19, 2009 6:30 p.m.

Down Syndrome Organization of Southen Nevada the Paris hotel 649-1990 dsosn.org

Pottery West Charity Event

magical Forest

masterworks II Two Twentieth Century masters: Bartók & Gershwin

november 21, 2009 8 p.m.

Las Vegas Philharmonic artemus W. ham hall 895-artS lasvegasphilharmonic.com

Las Vegas Santa run

december 05, 2009 8 a.m.

Opportunity Village town Square opportunityvillage.org

A Forbidden Broadway Christmas Catherine Stornetta, Conductor with the uNLV Jazz Symphony

december 05, 2009 8 p.m.

UNLV Performing Arts Center artemus W. ham Concert hall 895-artS, pac.unlv.edu

Jazz Combos

A Christmas Carol: Scrooge & marley

november 27 - dec 13, 2009 Nevada Conservatory Theatre Judy Bayley theatre 895-artS, unlvtickets.com DECEmBEr

Henderson FabTech Desert Classic

december 06, 2009 2 p.m.

CSN Performing Arts Center nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe, csn.edu/pac

CSN Orchestra Concert

december 07, 2009 7:30 p.m.

CSN nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

CSN Concert Band

december 03 - 06, 2009 City of Henderson eldorado Valley hendersonlive.com/specialevents/fabtech-desert-classic

december 08, 2009 7:30 p.m.

CSN nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

FALL DANCE CONCErT

CSN Big Bands

december 04 - 05, 2009 CSN Performing Arts Center nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

Wonder of the World

WinterFest Celebration

december 04 -13, 2009 Las Vegas Little Theatre Black Box theatre lvlt.org

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

december 10 - 12, 2009 City of Henderson henderson Convention Center & events Plaza hendersonlive.com

december 04 - 13, 2009 2 or 7 p.m.

The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre Charleston heights arts Center rainbowcompany.info

issue 16

december 09, 2009 7:30 p.m.

CSN nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

Winter Choral Concert

december 10, 2009 7:30 p.m.

CSN nicholas J. horn theatre 651-liVe (5483), csn.edu/pac

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Mary Joy aLDerMan Was onLy seVen years oLD When she FirsT saW The hoMe ThaT Was To Be hers 40 years LaTer. Learn aBouT This uniQue hoMe, BuiLT By archiTecT WaLTer Zick, anD The hisTory oF Those Who LiVeD anD LoVeD WiThin in iTs WaLLs. The neVaDa sTaTe MuseuM aT LorenZi Park has Been coLLecTing anD PreserVing arTiFacTs, anD Teaching us aBouT neVaDa’s hisTory since 1982. sTaTe BuDgeT cuTs Mean iTs oPening DaTe aT eXciTing neW Digs aT The sPrings PreserVe reMains uncerTain.

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archiTecTure & sTyLe

articles the stocker Mansion A Home Full of Heart and History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 the nevada state Museum Preserving History for Generations to Enjoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

faciNG PaGe: Dellenbaugh’s Las Vegas Ranch (1876)

© Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

FACING PAGE: Mayme Stocker at home © UNLV Special Collections

Design architecture & style

K i m b e r ly S c h a e f e r

The Stocker Mansion

A Home Full of H ear t and H is tory W h e n M a r y J o y A l d e r m a n f i r s t s e t f o o t i n t o t h e d o w n t o w n h o m e t h at w o u l d s o m e d ay b e h e r s , s h e wa s s e v e n y e a r s o l d a n d aw e s t r u c k .

At the time the home belonged to one of Las Vegas’ most prominent and

But before he became what Very Vintage Vegas blogger and downtown

influential families, the Stockers, and Alderman was brought for a visit by

realtor Jack LeVine describes as “the godfather of mid-century modern,”

her grandmother. Alderman recalls, “My grandmother said, ‘We’re going to

Zick designed homes in Las Vegas including the Stocker home on which

Mayme’s mansion.’ Of course, I didn’t know what she was talking about. She

construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1952. LeVine says of

brought me over here, and I will never forget it. I came in, and I remember

the home that “it would make a great museum.”

standing here looking into the kitchen and thinking, ‘This is the kitchen!’ because our kitchen wasn’t nearly as big.”

Author and historian Lynn Zook shares LeVine’s appreciation of the home’s significance. “It’s one of the first early ranch style homes built here, and

The 5,000-square-foot home that Alderman’s grandmother called “Mayme’s

built before Zick got started with mid-century modern design. It’s the only

Mansion” was built for the woman who held the first gaming license

remaining building designed by Zick before that period,” Zook explains.

that was issued in 1931. Mayme Stocker was a wife and mother with no

She also points to one very unusual element of the home’s design that

background in the gaming business who relocated to Las Vegas in October

makes it historically relevant, the basement.

1911 with her husband and three sons. Her husband, Oscar, worked for the railroads which drew the family to our young, growing city. As an employee of the railroad industry, Oscar was not permitted to be involved in the gaming business. And so it was that Mayme became the licensee.

But it’s the kitchen that first caught Mary Joy Alderman’s attention as a child, and it was that same kitchen that cemented her decision to purchase the home 40 years later. “My husband and I were at a party across the street, and I saw the ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard. I told him to pull up into the

Mayme Stocker opened the Northern Club on Fremont Street in 1920

driveway. When I looked through the window, and I saw the glass in the

during a railroad strike that left her sons unemployed. Orginally opened as

cabinet doors, I said to him (he’d been bugging me to move to an acre in

a soft-drink emporium—a common business in the days of Prohibition—

the northwest of town), ‘there’s an acre that I’ll move to.’” Like the rest of

the business was converted to a casino in 1931. The Northern Club was run

the home, those kitchen cabinets are original.

by Mayme’s son Harold until its closure in the Depression, after which the Stocker family operated the hotel and leased out the first floor.

Alderman and her family had lived two blocks away for 24 years until they moved into the Stocker home in 1993. “I haven’t changed anything,” says

The Stocker home was designed by architect Walter Zick whose career is

Alderman. “I didn’t want to move in here and put in granite countertops.”

best marked by a number of mid-century modern gems that have dotted

In fact, the home is full of stunning original details including the wooden

the Las Vegas landscape. Zick, along with his partner Harris Sharp, is known

floorboards, the marble fireplace, and hand-crafted plaster crown moldings.

for his designs of casinos including the El Rancho Vegas and The Mint. He is also responsible for designs on the campus of UNLV including the Flora Dungan Humanities Building and the now-demolished Maude Frazier Hall.

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The home has a formal living room, formal dining room, family room, and three bedrooms on the main floor, each with its own bath. Three

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Design architecture & style THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: The Stocker Home in the 1950’s © UNLV Special Collections; Mary Joy at home © Garrett Winslow

more baths bring the total to six. And while Alderman hasn’t altered the

the hot summer months, surrounded by her husband’s things, wrapped

structure itself, she has filled it, floor to ceiling, with her own history. She

in the warm embrace of the memories that they shared.

has over 200 different collections, all of which are on display throughout her home. “I’m a saver. And I’m told that my flair is in display,” she chuckles.

“I had all of these things in boxes at my old house, and I when I moved here, I decided to put it all out.”

Alderman has filled her life with new friends since she lost her husband.

She’s a member of the Flamingo Club, a group of mostly younger denizens of the downtown neighborhoods. Her involvement brings her and her historic home into the realm of a whole new generation of Las Vegans. Says

And so she has. There are dolls, Asian figurines, china, and glassware.

fellow Flamingo Club member, Steven Franklin, a.k.a Downtown Steve, “The

Also on display are her mother’s and grandmother’s brooches, purses,

group adds a sense of community and history. It gives us a perspective of

shoes, evening gowns of personal significance. Each and every item has

the past of Las Vegas that has been lovingly taken care of and preserved.”

a story and significance in her own history. There are photographs of her

Having homes like Alderman’s still in existence in the neighborhood “lets

family hung on the walls including images from her childhood. Hanging

you know the history of where you live,” he continues.

next to those treasured images of her youth are the very dresses worn in the photographs. “Provenance,” she says with a smile.

Living in “Mayme’s Mansion” is really a dream come true for Mary Joy Alderman. She is living in a home that is representative not only of our

That rare basement is filled with her husband’s race car memorabilia.

common past in Las Vegas, but also of her personal history. And she has

Romie passed away three years ago, and Mary Joy’s face lights up now

filled every square inch of that historic home with items that remind her

as it surely did when she met him as a teenager. She was married when

every day of her past. “This house is full of my life. If I could be anywhere

she was only 17 years old. “Romie was the champion out at Craig Road

in the world, it would be here. My home is the most wonderful place in

Speedway in 1973. And believe me he was movie star quality!” she

the world to me.”

exclaims. Now Alderman sleeps in the naturally cool basement during

36 B L V D S

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Design architecture & style THIS PAGE: The new Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas © Craig Schaefer

J oyc e G o r s u c h

The Nevada State Museum

Preser ving History for Gener at ions to Enj oy L i k e t h e n i m b l e d e s e r t b i g h o r n s h e e p, T o m D y e r n e e d s a k e e n s e n s e o f b a l a n c e . E n t r u s t e d w i t h o b j e c t s f r o m N e va d a’ s pa s t, D y e r c a r r i e s o u t h i s pa r a d o x i c a l m i s s i o n — p r o t e c t i n g t h e m , y e t s h a r i n g t h e m w i t h a m u lt i g e n e r at i o n a l p u b l i c .

“Legislative statute charges us with collecting, preserving, and educating

from the museum’s current home in Lorenzi Park, the new location, with

the public about the heritage of Nevada and the southwest,” says Dyer,

its completed, state-of-the-art facilities and welcoming, breathtaking

exhibits manager at the Las Vegas branch of the Nevada State Museum.

architecture, offers more visibility and will hopefully draw more visitors

“You need to understand how an artifact was used, follow certain

in to view their state’s historical artifacts. The new Nevada State Museum,

standards to keep it from deteriorating, and learn how to maintain it.”

Las Vegas was designed by local architecture firm Steelman Partners.

Now, in addition to the usual duties of designing, building, maintaining, and

The new building is itself already a relic of more prosperous times. Bond

dismantling exhibits, Dyer and the rest of the museum staff are preparing to

money paid for the building, but state money pays for salaries. Budget

move house—from Lorenzi Park, where the Las Vegas branch of the museum

cuts to the state’s Department of Cultural Affairs create uncertainty as to

was founded in 1982, to a new location at nearby Springs Preserve.

when the new facility will be able to open.

“For years, decision makers talked of moving the museum to a more

A theater major who graduated from UNLV, Dyer draws on his background

central location,” says Dave Millman, director of the Las Vegas branch

to bring history to life, especially for schoolchildren. Higher fuel costs mean

of the Nevada State Museum. It is uncertain when the new Springs

that fewer busloads of schoolchildren now visit the museum; however, a

Preserve facility will open for the first time. About a five-minute drive

small part of the museum can visit them, in the form of portable exhibits.

38 B L V D S

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b l vd s l v. c o m

THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Rotunda of the new museum building; Dyer with model of the temporary gallery © Grace Rakich

A small band of local actors visit schools and reenact true stories from

A high-tech classroom for educational programs is also part of the new

Nevada’s history. And teachers can borrow a so-called “traveling trunk” full

museum space, a feature lacking in the current location. Behind the

of artifacts that relate to a particular theme.

scenes, collection storage space is also of the highest quality.

With any luck, all of the artifacts, collections, and their caretakers will

So while our history is being preserved at the Nevada State Museum, its

move into their new home sometime in 2011. With over 16,000 square

future is still yet to be determined. More certain though is the museum’s

feet of exhibit space, the new museum entrance centers on a soaring

mission: “It’s our job to share with the public its own heritage,” says Dyer.

rotunda that will soon be home to a giant bristlecone pine sculpture.

“We show them why it’s worth saving, worth talking about.”

Visitors can gaze out of floor-to-ceiling windows at what is arguably the best view of Las Vegas to be found anywhere.

Until the new Nevada State Museum opens, please visit the museum in its current location in Lorenzi Park. You may also view plans and videos

In addition to expanded exhibition space for the museum’s permanent

by visiting architect Steelman Partners’ website at paulsteelman.com.

collection, the new location also includes a temporary exhibition space

You may also view a video rendering of the permanent exhibits of the

that is nearly 3,000 square feet and will house an ever-changing array of

museum by visiting exhibit designer Think Jacobson and Roth’s website

exhibitions. Just off the temporary gallery is a stunning ballroom with an

at thinkexhibits.org.

over-sized terrace that overlooks the grounds of the Springs Preserve and the city skyline beyond. Adjacent to this space is a top-of-the-line gourmet kitchen. The ballroom and kitchen enable the museum to tap into another very viable revenue stream by offering the space for rent for special events.

Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas nevadaculture.org 700 Twin Lakes Drive Las Vegas 89107

The new facilities also include a library with what Dyer describes as

486.5205

“first-class” storage for research materials that are available to the public.

Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

b l vd s l v. c o m

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WiTh SUperior CUSToMer SerViCe, A greAT SeLeCTion AnD QUALiTy fooTWeAr, TipToe ShoeS hAS KepT generATionS of LoCAL feeT heALThy AnD hAppy. The hUnTriDge Diner hAS Been SerVing Up MeMorieS AnD greAT fooD for yeArS. noW UnDer neW MAnAgeMenT, The Diner iS eArning A LoyAL foLLoWing for iTS reAL iCe CreAM MiLKShAKeS AnD freSh BUrgerS.

B L V D S

flavor

D i n i n g & r e TA i L

articles tiptoe shoes Keeping Generations of Little Feet Happy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 huntridge diner Making Milkshakes and Memories for a New Generation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

FAcING PAGE: Tiptoe Shoes © Grace Rakich

THIS PAGE: Alexis chooses her favorite © Grace Rakich

J essi c a Ca m p b e l l

Tiptoe Shoes

Keeping Gener ations of Li ttl e Fee t Happy F o r t h e pa s t 2 5 y e a r s , M o n i k a P i n k u s h a s o w n e d a n d o p e r at e d a u n i q u e c h i l d r e n ’ s s h o e s t o r e r i g h t here in Las Vegas, Tiptoe Shoes. Specializing in European foot wear, Tiptoe carries the finest and most c o mf o r ta b l e b r a n d s ava i l a b l e .

The inspiration for opening Tiptoe Shoes came back in the ‘80s when

One of the many things that sets Tiptoe Shoes apart from other stores,

Pinkus’ daughter was a little girl. A native of Germany, Pinkus found

and has kept the business alive throughout the years, is their attention

when she moved to the United States that the shoes here were just not

to detail and accuracy. Many of the brands Tiptoe carries have been

as comfortable or as well made as the European brands that she was

medically and scientifically designed and tested to provide just the

used to. “They only had those hard Buster Brown type shoes,” she says.

right amount of support for growing little feet. But it is more than great

“Very stiff and uncomfortable. Shoes need to be able to bend.” So she

shoes that make this store so special—it’s great people. Pinkus and her

loaded up on shoes for her growing daughter each time she visited

staff are trained to accurately take each child’s measurements so that

Germany, and between visits had her relatives ship shoes back to her.

the shoes fit properly without causing discomfort or irritation. They

Eventually, she found a little store in California that specialized in

even keep a log of each customer’s measurements on file and chart

European shoes, which inspired Pinkus to create her very own children’s

their growth for when their parents bring them in again. Such personal

shoe store here in Las Vegas. The doors opened in 1985, and Tiptoe

service is sadly an uncommon occurrence in so many businesses

Shoes has been in business ever since.

these days.

b l vd s l v. c o m

issue 16 g e n e r a t i o n s B L V D S L a s V e g a s 4 3

f lav o r d i n i n g & r e t a i l THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: Aidan tries on shoes; Charlie checks out a new style © Grace Rakich

Tiptoe is known for their friendly and customized personal service.

Tiptoe carries a wide variety of children’s shoes both casual and formal,

Having been in business so long, Pinkus knows customers by name and

ranging in sizes from newborn infants to teens. They carry the most

has watched many children grow up over the years, some of whom are

exclusive styles and brands, including ballet slippers, tap shoes, and jazz

now bringing their own children back to the store to buy shoes. One

shoes, as well as a wide variety of backpacks, socks, leotards, leggings,

happy Tiptoe customer, Nancy Caschette, says she used to bring her

tights, and darling hair accessories in an array of colors. They also have

daughter to Tiptoe for shoes when she was a little girl. Now that her

a selection of shoes that meet the uniform requirements of many local

daughter is all grown up, Caschette has carried on the family tradition by

private schools. They even have cowboy boots! Stop in for yourself and

shopping at Tiptoe for her grandchildren. “The store is just as great now

say hello to Pinkus and her team and find out why Tiptoe is not just a

as it has always been,” she says.

children’s shoe store, it’s a Las Vegas institution.

When asked what it is that keeps her coming back all these years,

Tiptoe Children’s Shoes

Caschette praises Tiptoe’s consistently great customer service. “Other

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places just don’t take the time to make sure the shoes fit properly,” she

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they really know their stuff.” With high quality products, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and many loyal customers like Caschette, it is easy to see why Tiptoe Shoes has been so successful all these years.

44 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

b l vd s l v. c o m

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MAKing MiLKShAKeS AnD MeMorieS for A ne W gener ATion The corner of Maryland parkway and Charleston was a happening

this year. With a no-frills east Coast-inspired menu, the formula for its

place in 1978. At the huntridge Theater, the movie Grease was in

success is simple—quality American food served in a nostalgic setting.

its first theatrical run. i only know because it’s one of my earliest memories. i was four years old and John Travolta and olivia newton John seemed like gods of cool at the time. of course the theater, as well as the huntridge neighborhood surrounding it, have roots that go back much further.

The huntridge Theater was the go-to spot for families in the area.

And for a long time, so was the burger joint across the street. At the huntridge Diner, families could enjoy a burger and a milkshake in a vintage, soda fountain environment. Later on, and for a good long run, the Bill fong family served up beef chow mein and Chinese cheeseburgers there until passing on this gem to other operators just a few years ago.

Today the huntridge Theater is still awaiting its resurrection, but the huntridge Diner is not. Joel hoffman has been operating it since early

46 B L V D S L a s V e g a s g e n e r a t i o n s i s s u e 1 6

“it’s good food at reasonable prices,” states hoffman. “it’s also one of the few places in town where you can get a milkshake that’s made with real ice cream. And my hamburgers are the best, made from fresh ground beef. They’re not frozen,” he says.

Since reopening, it has become a hot spot for local television news professionals, as well as a handful of harder-to-recognize print journalists. open for breakfast and lunch, the place is steadily gaining repeat customers. huntridge Diner 1122 e. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas 89104 834.3333 Monday-friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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