Las Vegas, NV – 15, October, 2009: The Junior League of Las Vegas, Inc. (JLLV), a women’s volunteer organization committed to developing the potential of women and improving the community, is proud to be hosting two public events The Junior League of Las Vegas will present two public special events in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the building of its mid-century historical preservation project, the Morelli House, built in l959. These two events to take place on Oct. 22 and 24, will complete the Junior League’s yearlong celebration of this golden anniversary milestone having presented another public anniversary program, “Morelli and His Music,” earlier in April. 

The first event on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7:00 p.m., will feature a lecture entitled “The Genius of Mark Twain” by well-known literary lecturer, Dr. Elliot Engel at the City of Las Vegas Senior Citizens Resource Center at

With 260 lectures a year covering over 50 literary topics, Dr. Engel speaks to a wide variety of diverse audiences throughout the United States and Europe.  In addition to his busy lecture schedule, he has published seven books both in England and the United States. The most recent, A Dab of Dickens & A Touch of Twain, was released by Simon & Schuster in late 2002 and will soon go into its second printing.. His articles have appeared in national magazines, including Newsweek. Dr. Engel has written three plays that have been produced during the last five years. PBS Television stations around the country have aired Professor Engel’s mini-lecture series on his favorite author and literary hero, Charles Dickens.

Additionally, a Golden Anniversary Open House and special exhibit, “Las Vegas: Circa l959” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Morelli House. The Junior League’s Morelli House docents will conduct tours and the “Morelli Models” will model l959 vintage outfits recently donated by historian and Junior League member, Mimi Rodden.   Several community citizens and the Las Vegas News Bureau have offered to share their collections of memorabilia and photos that are relevant to the Morelli House and its year of completion in l959.  The Golden Anniversary Open House and the “Las Vegas: Circa 1959” exhibit are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required for the Golden Anniversary Open House, but are requested for groups of ten or more. Call 822-6536 or e-mail jrleagueoflv@aol.com.

About the Morelli House

The Morelli House, is a classic example of mid-century Las Vegas residential architecture that was built in l959 by Antonio Morelli and his wife, Helen, in the Desert Inn Country Club Estates, now the Wynn Resort. Antonio Morelli was the musical director and orchestra leader at the Sands Hotel Copa Room from l954 to l971 during the Rat Pack Showroom Era in Las Vegas. In 2002, in order to save the home from demolition, the Junior League relocated the house from its original site to the corner of

Ninth Street

and

Bridger Avenue

in the city’s historical district. With the support of the Nevada Commission on Cultural Affairs and many other generous donors, they restored the house to its original condition and held its public debut in 2007, which began the public programming component for the project. The Morelli House is listed on the State’s and the City’s Historical Registries and was awarded the first Mayor’s Urban Design Award for Historical Preservation in 2008.  For more information about the Morelli House visit the Junior League’s website: www.jllv.org.