From Natural History to the History of Sex and Mob Violence

When you think of Las Vegas, Nevada culture and the arts aren't the first thing that come to mind. And it is true that Vegas no longer has the world class Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian Hotel, but it was there for 7 years. During that time it was visited by 1.1 million people (including me) before closing its doors. UNLV still has the Marjorie Barrick Museum and Fremont Street is still home to the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art. 

There is the Museum of Natural History and the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, such as you would expect to find in any metropolitan city. Also, there are many museums that are dedicated to the rich history of the area such as the Nevada State Museum or the Atomic Testing Museum. More of these are in the surrounding areas like the Lost City Museum of Archaeology in Overton and the Boulder City Hoover Dam Museum. There's an Aviation Museum in McCarran Airport and an automobile collection at the Imperial Palace. You can find Bruno's Indian Museum in Boulder City as well.

But Vegas plays host to a few venues that aren't your typical museum fare. The Neon Museum and the Las Vegas Sign Project focus on those wonderful old pieces of signage that make old Vegas immediately recognizable in old movies and TV shows. There's a Pinball Hall of Fame museum. The Clown Factory, Elvis-o-Rama and the Liberace Museum have sadly closed.

Aside from the family friendly locations above there are also a couple that pay homage to two of the oldest themes in history: sex and violence. We'll look at each of these separately.

In the "Sex" category we have the Erotic Heritage Museum on Industrial Road. Their webpage notes that it was created by a Preacher and a Pornographer. It has 17,000 square feet of space for exhibits.  "The EHM is owned and managed by the Exodus Trust, a non-profit California Trust that has as its sole purpose to perform educational, scientific and literary functions relating to sexual, emotional, mental and physical health." Younger adults and old will find this a very unique experience. You'll be amazed at the history and evolution of some items still in use today. Despite knowing individuals who are involved in this enterprise, I moved away before getting a chance to visit. 

The Las Vegas Mob Museum took quite a while to get the green light. It was not without its share of fight and controversy. Former Mayor Oscar Goodman was totally behind this project. Of course, his history as a defense attorney for a number of old-school mobsters might be a good part of that. He is not a man of small ego, that's for sure but overall a very likable man. He considered utilizing an old court house as the home for this museum a big part of his revitalization project for that area of town. It contains exhibits dedicated to both the mobsters and the law enforcement officers who took them down. You can see a section of a bullet hole ridden wall from the Valentine's Day Massacre and a barber chair where another wiseguy was gunned down. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about mobsters like Al Capone, Whitey Bulger and Bugsy Siegel or the good guys like Eliot Ness and J. Edgar Hoover. It covers the full spectrum of mob life and how it lead to the creation of Las Vegas in the first place. And it only cost $42 million of mostly taxpayer money.

If you are planning a trip to Vegas, here's a link to a few places: http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/otherside/museums.html

The Magic Continues...

This song is special. It is one of the rare songs that is connected to so many people and  memories over a span of several years that they all blur together like a movie montage. It was the song of choice for Friday night karaoke at Dino's in Las Vegas almost EVERY Friday night (It probably still is if the group is still going there). 

It brings back the face of Danny G, the Karaoke Master. I love that man, no one can sing "Baby Got Back" and then ease into "Tiny Dancer" like he does. 

I see at least a dozen or more people that made this Friday night pilgrimage. Some were always there, others were in and out as their lives allowed, but we were all members of "Packin and the Packinettes" and we were all rock stars on Friday. 

Some of the group: Packin, Anna, Vanessa, Terri, Carla, James, oh I can't even begin to name them all. I don't even remember when it started, or how it began. It was just what we did.

Some of the memories: 

Packin wanting lipstick for something she was up to and being given the long-lasting kind without her knowledge. (You have to know Packin to truly understand, lipstick is pretty foreign to her.)

Bobbi in the parking lot afterwards, too drunk to go inside to find the ladies room.

Duck Farts - look it up. Just know they may temporarily change your sexual orientation!

Anna's cleavage, enough said! Oh, speaking of cleavage, Sabrina and her Rockabilly look and amazing voice.


Some girl trying to get in on the fun on stage and being put quickly in her place.

An awesome bartender whose name I've forgotten but who was a wonderful lady.

Jack Daniels making me think I could sing like Cher.

Included in the movie trailer in my mind are multiple scenes from B-52s concerts as well. Arriving hours early to be first in line. Everyone in line knowing each other like it was a family reunion, not a concert in the transient city of Las Vegas. The stage out in the water and the crowd dancing and swimming around. Money literally going down the drain. 

It was a crazier time in my life that I wouldn't even try to keep up with now. But I will never forget these moments.