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Liberace Museum
Liberace poses with his brother, George, at the Liberace Museum on April 15, 1979.
Published Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 | 9:40 a.m.
Updated Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 | 4:36 p.m.
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Liberace Museum Tour (April 15, 2009)
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diggJohn Katsilometes visits the Liberace Musuem for a museum tour on its 30th anniversary.
Liberace
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As the highest paid entertainer in 1955 making $50,000 a week at the Riviera, Liberace paved the way for a generation of marquee entertainers who would draw thousands of people to the Strip with just a mere flashing of their names in lights.
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- Liberace Museum: State of the Union
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One of Las Vegas' jewel attractions, and a significant part of its cultural and entertainment history, is closing.
The Liberace Museum, which has exhibited the jewelry, pianos, garish gowns and other artifacts owned by the great pianist and showman, announced today it will close effective Oct. 17. The museum opened April 15, 1979.
Liberace Foundation Board of Directors Chair Jeffrey Koep informed the staff this morning that all paid positions — full- and part-time — would be eliminated as of closing on that Oct. 17 date, which is a Sunday. A total of 31 employees, including 12 to 14 full-timers, will be let go, Koep said.
"This is a pretty straightforward business decision that's basically been a long time coming," Koep said. "The biggest thing to the board is the human beings affected, that we are going to have to get rid of our employees. ... But also, we recognize what Liberace meant to the history of Las Vegas, and that makes this very difficult and sad for us."
Sagging visitation numbers, which have led to insufficient funding to meet the attraction's payroll and operating costs, are the stated reasons for shuttering the famous museum.
At its peak, the Liberace Museum rivaled Hoover Dam as one of the region's most popular off-Strip tourism destinations, drawing 450,000 visitors per year. That number is closer to 50,000 today, even with an aggressive marketing effort by the museum that has helped boost raw visitor numbers through such promotions as 2-for-1 ticket packages. But actual ticket revenue has not matched even modest gains in visits to the museum.
Officials long have said that the museum has suffered as the competition from the Strip has become more enticing to tourists and that Las Vegas residents are not compelled to visit an attraction that sits far from the city's heaviest population bases.
"You know, there are a lot of people in the town in the years I've been associated with the board who say, 'Yeah, I'm aware of (the museum), I've never been there, it would be interesting to go there sometime,' and never make it there," Koep said. When it was noted that the museum had thrived at that very location for years, Koep said, "You bet, you bet, and in one sense there is more competition (from the Strip), and the other part that I find in this town — I don't know if other people do — if you live in the southeast, you really don't want to drive to Summerlin. If you live in Summerlin, not inclined to drive over to the southeast. Getting people who live in Las Vegas to the museum hasn't been easy.
"Our tourism numbers from the Strip have actually been pretty steady, but getting locals to turn out has been a challenge."
The museum has suffered a slow demise, suffering from financial struggles for more than a decade.
"The past dozen years the whole museum and foundation operation has not been as financially healthy as it should have been, " Koep said. "It's not something that happened suddenly."
The museum's profitability was further compromised because the museum and foundation owns the plaza on which the attraction and a number of businesses share space at the retail center. Several businesses have closed recently and have not been replaced, leaving the museum with a financial shortfall as landlords for that parcel (Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens, the restaurant once owned by Liberace, is independently owned and not affected by the museum's closing).
As a result, the Liberace Board has been forced to draw money out of its endowment account — its saving account, in effect — to meet expenses and payroll at the museum. This has been going on for several years, said Koep, who uses as an example the purchase of a shuttle a few years ago to transport visitors to and from the museum from the Strip. The van itself was funded through the Foundation's endowment account.
And playing landlord for the parcel originally purchased by Liberace also has helped drive the museum into the red.
"The plaza has not been completely rented out, and frankly it's not the most desirable rental space in the valley," Koep said. "But six years ago, before the market crashed, we were able, from our endowment funds, to pick up the losses of the museum and the plaza and keep Liberace's name alive through the museum. When the market crashed, our endowment fell, and with less people coming into the museum and buying things from the store, that money simply was not coming in."
The memorabilia that has been displayed at the museum will be stored and maintained by the Liberace Foundation Board of Directors, which is in final negotiations for a national tour of pieces of the attraction that might begin as soon as the summer of 2011. This tour would be similar to "Bodies" or "Titanic," with the artifacts displayed in a single city for a three- or four-month run.
Koep stressed that the attraction closing "indefinitely, but not forever." The plan and hope of the Liberace Foundation is that it will one day move the museum from its current home to a busier retail center. Museum officials, led by foundation president Jack Rappaport, were in talks to move the attraction to Town Square, but a deal was never struck. Regardless, the museum still is weighing options for a new home.
"We're very interested in looking at one of the centers — whether it's CityCenter or Town Square or any of the centers that have gone up in Las Vegas, or a Strip location," Koep said. "Somewhere where we would be more prominent, where we wouldn't have to worry about leasing extra property we don't need, setting up the museum and the (gift) store and going back into business in that sense. That is something we truly are pursuing. When say we're closing the museum, we're saying we're closing at this location for now and gather ourselves financially so we can remain solvent at this point, so we can take advantage of a move in the future."
The final decision to shut down the museum was made during an Aug. 26 meeting of the Board of Directors (which will remain intact, as it is a group of non-paid officials), which voted unanimously — 8-0 — that closing the museum was the most prudent option to maintain the financial health of the Liberace Foundation's scholarship program.
The foundation has awarded more than $6 million in financial aid to gifted music students since Liberace himself initiated the program in 1976.
To conceivably remain open at its current location, Koep said a gift from "some angel" would be required. At the beginning of the summer the museum announced a fund-raising campaign to reach the magic number, which is $5 million, to remain open. But donations have been stagnant, to put it kindly, and even such events as last year's 30th anniversary celebration, Liberace's birthday party earlier this year and the museum's frequent performances at its cabaret could not generate enough interest to keep the doors open.
Also, an announced feature film adaptation of Liberace's life was to begin filming in the spring of 2011, a project that could provide a huge boost to Liberace's name recognition. But the star of that film, Michael Douglas, is suffering from throat cancer, rendering the project uncertain.
What is certain is that the Liberace Museum as it has been known in Las Vegas for more than three decades soon will be a part of the city's past.
"We feel it's not just Liberace the entertainment icon, it's the Liberace who represented the city, change in entertainment," Koep said. "People are amazed when they learn his story, amazed to know he was once the highest-paid entertainer on the Strip at one time, and one of the highest-paid entertainers in the country. He was culturally important, and still is, and by closing the doors now, and focusing on the national tour, we can keep our scholarship program alive and plan for the future."
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
This board has no business sense whatsoever. While it is close to the strip, the location is horrible, especially at night. And marketing campaign? What campaign? Maybe in the tourist books but locally, you wouldn't even know it was there. You should attempt to market to locals too as they generally have guest to entertain. It's said that something like this couldn't survive. 31 employees? Wow. Maybe the board should take a pay cut too. What an unfortunate loss for Las Vegas. Way to run a business down.
I visited the place about 10 years ago, when my house was being built. My girlfriend thought the whole place was tiny and tacky. Rip Taylor, the toupee king, was giving out plastic rings, and complained when I asked for 2. Overall, a disappointment.
Liberace is dead, let's get over it, and move on.
Virtually unknown by anyone under 40.
Move it to the Mirage, I'm sure they'll lease some cheap space to you.
Oops, meant Riviera
Liberace is not unknown to all the music students under 40 who continued their studies thanks to Liberace music scholarships over the past 30 years. I hope the board is successful in preserving the scholarship program and honoring his commitment to share the gift of music with Nevada's youth for many years to come.
Liber Who?
First Elvis-A-Rama, Now this?
Why not put it at a gaudy strip casino with nothing to lose and a lot of room like Circus Circus?
There needs to be a museum for the years of entertainment that has been in this city for years. Not only the big names, but the little names too, like Cook E Jar. Are the casino kahumas that afraid of the little money that will be lost with people seeing a museum and not at slots or tables. Wynn and Adelson made big art museums and showings. I will bet anything, this will be bigger and a better tourist attraction. Why? It's different and it will be the only one. Not even Hollywood can compare. AND IT IS VEGAS!!! Our history is being lost. Nothing to stand on to move forward with. Isn't this what Vegas is about? entertainment? If Goodman can build a mob museum, why not the entertainment too. Does someone care about this important history here? The Rat Pack was not the only entertainment. That is all the world knows. Please lets find a way to make more of it here.
The legacy of certain musical performers can last for a long time because of the immense contribution they have made. The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Mozart and Beethoven are certainly on this list.
Others are famous because of their notable or outrageous performance. Liberace falls into this category, along with Bing Crosby,Rudy Vallee and Al Jolson. Unfortunately, many of those in the second group can fade from memory.
RobRBaron and tvegas are correct in their opinion. Ask anyone in the world under 40 if they know of the first four performers I listed. Most likely they will. Ask about the next group, and you'll get a puzzled look.
In 50 years, will anyone under 40 remember Lady GaGa, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Green Day, Barbra Streisand?
My wife and I visited the museum a few years ago on one of our many trips to Las Vegas. I'm really glad we did. I hope they find a good home for it in the not-so-distant future.
Hah! Good catch, sevenhills.
I went there once ,back in '99 . The place was a little wierd. But,he is an unknown to those under 40.
With all these museum closing they need a street with the history of Las Vegas.Downtown would be the place because it all started there.
Why can't Adelson's museum area feature this? would it hurt? Why can't each casino who had Liberace take a peace and other pieces from other people and make the history of what happened in each casino from day one. Show it off with pictures and film clips on the walls while walking like MGM did with Oz. There is no excuse to loose this legacy. Or downtown area where once there was a museum. Good idea wolf. The bean counters have got to stop the greed and start looking at what can be saved. They will make a lot more money. To the bean counters: stop sticking their noses in the air like you are better than everyone else and look at Vegas for the good it had. Maybe, people then will look at the good it has and will have.
someone took the money and ran!
Who can blame Liberace's people if they want to move the museum out of this neighbourhood that has changed a lot. Still, this is sad news for Liberace fans like me all over the world. Let's hope that his people are seriously considering a new project and that the "reloaded" museum will finally live up to Liberace's great legacy as a showman.
I went for the 30th anniversary and it cost me $.30 to get in.. Place is weird. I really didnt enjoy it. Shut it down..
An absolutely stunning performer. For all those "under 40," they have no idea of what they missed. Those were the days when performers performed, kept their politics to themselves, kept their skirts down, their panties up and cloaked themselves in an aura of mystery. The dreck that passes for music today will soon be forgotten. Not so with performers such as Liberace.
To all of those who are commenting about the Liberace Museum negatively, you are missing two big facts. First and foremost, 31 more people are out of work in this city. Do you even care about that, more people losing their livelihood? Secondly, whether you liked Liberace or the Museum, it's a big part of Las Vegas history. This is just another example of how this city destroys history.
To all of you, put yourself in their position. They all work there and are probably upset that one, they are losing their jobs, and two, (I imagine they care about the place enough to work there), they are losing a place they love.
Before you write your ignorant comments think about it, especially if you are unemployed, because 31 MORE people are going to be in the job running. Also, to those of you that visited the museum years ago, have you been there lately? I attend a lot of shows there with the strip entertainers and it's very modern and a lot of fun.
I wish these people the best and this is a sad day for Las Vegas and for the entertainment industry as a whole.
John, this is simply a PR piece spewed out by the ineffective and dysfunctional Board of The Liberace Museum and Foundation. For years, they have overseen the general mismanagement of staff resources and funds. They have plundered (in every sense of the word) The Liberace Legacy. Very few of these folks knew or care anything about the man and his music. Anyway, this "temporary closing" goes way beyond that - and you might wish to put Mister Koep and his buddy Jack Rappaport (so strategically omitted from your "article") on alert that the truth will out and quite frankly enough is enough - Liberace deserves a much better legacy than an association with all these losers (including incompetent staff) who have dragged him into oblivion.
Liberace Foundation Board of Directors Chair Jeffrey Koep: "A total of 31 employees, including 12 to 14 full-timers, will be let go."
Pretty sad when the Board Chair doesn't even know how many (12 to 14) full time people worked for him. How could he not know an exact figure?
Poorly directed and poorly funded nonprofits should close their doors.
I agree with those who say it doesn't matter whether one is a fan or not. Liberace was a part of the great history of entertainment and he has earned the right to recognition. Here in Bakersfield, Buck Owens has been honored in many ways. Fans like me really enjoy it. Those who don't care ignore it. The occasional detractor wants it all taken out. Korn is also from Bakersfield. I don't listen to their music, but they have the right to be recognized for their accomplishments too. Just because someone doesn't like something doesn't mean it should go away. Liberace was popular when I was a kid, we all enjoyed his flashy outfits, pianos, cars, etc. Gotta go, Buddy Alan Owens is playing at Buck's tonight!
I am in shock. I can only hope that whomever is left in charge of all the museum items they do the right thing and find a way to hold on to them for a future museum. I agree the museum is in a poor place. It's not easy to get to when you visit Vegas. (Even with the shuttle it takes so much time out of your visit with the travel back and forth.) It's been long overdue for the museum to move closer to the strip area.
I know there has to be paid staff at the museum but it seems like 31 paid staff is a high number. Don't people volunteer anymore? Most non-profit organizations run mainly on volunteers not paid staff. I feel bad for the 31 people who will lose their jobs. Las Vegas doesn't need more unemployed people and Las Vegas doesn't need another part of there history destroyed.
Liberace helped build Las Vegas and it's a shame that none of the casino's have stepped up to the plate to help out either by donations or by offering space in one of their establishments. Once again, Corporate America is more interested in the bottom dollar rather than an overall experience for their guests.
I'm under 40 and I feel privileged to have seen Liberace as a young boy. If the museum had the opportunity to have his items displayed at a major property many many more people under 40 would know who he was and given the chance to learn of him may understand why it's so important to keep his legacy alive not only through the foundation but the museum as well.
It's a sad day for true Liberace fans around the world. I can only hope a new museum is opened at a later date.
Hey Pat_Prescott, do a search for "Rappaport" and you'll see the name you said was "strategically omitted" from the "article."
It is quite clear from most of these responses what one of the major problems for the Liberace Museum was (besides the incompetence and general disinterest on the board): Do none of you realize that Liberace was a powerful symbol of American popular culture, the rise of Las Vegas as resort destination, Las Vegas entertainment, and the rise of television? That is what museums are about, reaching an audience that can use its narrow focus to gain greater understanding of the world around them.
If you only go to museums for people you know, that is shameful. If you truly believe that no one under 40 knows who Liberace is than you are naive. It is definitely a reflection on your own youth if you think that people under a certain age cannot know his talent and showmanship. As a 20-something, I honestly do not know a single person my age (nationwide; I am no longer a Las Vegas resident) who does not know who Liberace is, even if on the basest level. You're telling me that people under 40 know less about Liberace than say, Andrew Jackson? Because I don't see the Hermitage stressing over its situation. Other similar examples are countless.
And for all making comments saying that it should go here or there (both honest suggestions and jokes)... is that the mission of the mob museum? Is that the mission of Circus Circus? Obviously, no. Liberace is a legitimate NPO with a legitimate goal and legacy. Not some yack fest that doltish community members can stuff anywhere for a quick profit.
I hope Las Vegas thinks long and hard about the loss of a major cultural institution as well as a dozen full-time jobs. And I hope that future community opinion of Koep and Rappaport reflect that thought.
If they put all that stuff in some venue on the Strip I guarantee you it will be a big big hit with the geezers. Liberace was a big favorite in the 50's, 60's and 70's. That "museum" on Tropicana is too far out. You gotta have foot traffic. It's an impulse purchase.
Why doesn't Las Vegas "The City" or "The Convention Group" have a cool museum right on the strip? Not only for Liberace, but for all of them.... Frank Sinatra, Sammy, Dean, Danny Ganns, Benny Binon, Bugsy... And more?.........where is old Mr. Goodman's involvement.? Vegas politicians are sleeping at the wheel.
There is a huge open space in the Atomic Testing Museum called the Harry Reid wing. Last time we were there it was basically empty - empty - empty except for a couple of tvs. If Harry who is as old as you can get he would care a little about Nevada history. He could donate the space for use for this. It has a tie in to the Atomic Testing Museum as in the same generation. It could be a cool type of "this is then" type piece. Of course, Harry Reid cares little about the 30 people being unemployed!!!! He brags he has done something for Nevada but keeps on loading on the unemployed bodies and taxing the rest to death. Then of course with the death tax, he wants the rest of your money as well.
Go ahead - vote for Harry Reid - he is the worst senator in history.
why does it take 30 employees let alone 12-14 full time employees to run such a little museum.
doesn't look very big from the outside.
Oh yes John, I stand corrected, I see you wrote "led by foundation president Jack Rappaport". Let's just clarify that a little, all Rappaport led, was a group of rag tag employees (there were a few gems in the team - but they were let go) and he wasn't even able to do that with any form of success. Both he and Koep ran the place into the ground - and Koep intends to continue this farce by remaining on the Board. Time to call it a day guys - the game's up.
[[[Why doesn't Las Vegas "The City" or "The Convention Group" have a cool museum right on the strip? Not only for Liberace, but for all of them.... Frank Sinatra, Sammy, Dean, Danny Ganns, Benny Binon, Bugsy... And more?]]].........
I ultimately agree -
Adjecent museums throughout the walkway for each and every significant entertainer and icon that contributed and MADE Las Vegas for what it is/was !!!
Love to see a Sammy Davis and a Liberace Museum side by side, and the list goes on for the other entertainers too many to list.
Who'd of thought at the time that Trop and Spencer would end up being such a crappy location 20 plus years in the future for the museum, it does need to be relocated for any chance to preserve Liberace's heritage, however the younger generation of today could care less of the old Las Vegas icons that made Las Vegas in the first place....
The young typical Las Vegas visitor of today only cares about : American Idol (which I call it American Karaoke), judging and reality(fake) shows, and nightlife clubbin thinkin that they are a somebody, sad but thats what it is.
It would do better as an attraction inside a casino or at least somewhere on the Strip! I saw it many years ago and it's worth checkin' out before it closes !
We all agree a musuem of all of Vegas history would be good. The entertainment area is truly lacking and that is the best part that every tourist knows and remembers of Vegas's past and now. Do you believe they will remember a slot machine or a table? No, they remember seeing Garth or Barry or Cher. From what I have read, they are going to sell Liberace's life to collectors. We will loose history and stability. Once again Vegas controllers are not waking up to the need for stability and community. The past is a hugh part of this. I do not believe the local and state have waken up to this. Maybe, its time to go. A transent movement is on the rise again and all signs are pointing to it. This is a sign. I am sad. They have not learn their lesson. The bean counters win again.
Let me first say I'm a Liberace fan who is absolutely devastated by the news of the museum closing.
Here's a thought, years ago the museum was operated by Liberace's brother and sister in law Dora along with a few other folks in the smaller stand alone building. Why not go back to basics? Have 2 full time staff and perhaps one or two part time staff. The rest can be volunteers helping to run the museum. Part of the collection could be housed in the stand alone building and the other part could go on tour to museums around the world. This would help keep the Liberace history in Las Vegas as well as spread knowledge of Liberace and his Legacy around the world.
I agree it needs to be closer to the strip and the area it's in is much different than it was 30 years ago, however, it would buy the museum more time to reorganize AND keep it open. I am very disappointed in the board of directors. They should be fired for allowing this to happen. When you sit on a board of directors you don't allow things to get this bad. You work hard and you ensure the mission of the organization stays alive and stable. The financial troubles didn't happen over night. The belt should have been tightened when membership and traffic started their decline. Although tough decisions, they should have been made 5 years ago, not yesterday. Being a board member means you work on the mission and have a responsibility to get money, give money or get off the board. It's not just a privilege to sit on the board it's a role, a working one.
The staff have always been very nice when I have visited the museum and I truly feel bad that they are losing their jobs. It's easy to criticize things after the fact, however, 31 paid staff??? Are you serious? I thought 6-7 of them were paid and the rest were volunteers. When Mr. Rappaport took over a year or so ago he obviously knew the state of the museum finances. He had a golden opportunity at that time to figure out how to get volunteers in and reduce paid staff. If he was the right person for the job this would have been a no brainer. Instead, he wrote about his pipe dreams on the museum website under "President's Message". He was going to move the museum to the strip. Obviously his vision and the reality of museum finances were much different. Where was the board when he was talking about this sort of move? If they were looking at finances every month they would know this was a fantasy not a reality.
I am so outraged by Mr. Rappaport and Mr. Keop. they were obviously asleep at the wheel and instead of going back to basics like I mentioned earlier they are taking the easy way out and closing the museum. What sad individuals.
If you go to www.liberace.org and look at the board of directors you may be as shocked as I am. Who are these people? No wonder the it's been a sleeping board. Anna Nateece...are you serious? She is a wonderful lady but other than being Liberace's furrier what could she offer the board of directors? There are plenty of influential people around the globe that knew Liberace why aren't they on the board?
I would like to challenge the Las Vegas Sun to run some of these comments on the front page. Challenge the Mayor of Las Vegas and the Casino's to help keep this open under new management and a new board.
Are there enough people out there like myself that feel the same way? What is next? If the same people on the board are in charge of the Foundation will they run that into the ground as well? How do regular folks dismiss the board and find a new one that can run things correctly?
I agree with the other readers who suggest a living legacy museum for all great Las Vegas performers. That would stimulate a continuing interest in attending the museum by adding new celebrities on an ongoing basis.
I visited that museum many times. The staff always made me and my guests feel welcome. It was obvious they really cared about the place. I did meet some great volunteers there as well. If they couldn't get local visitors to come, how would you expect them to get lots of volunteers? I also enjoyed many of the late shows there performed by wonderful entertainers. In talking with the staff, I found out that most had been working since early morning and by then it was late into the night. I believe they were there because they loved and believed in that place. I feel very bad for all of them. By the way, I checked and the Foundation and Museum board are one in the same!
The news says they are going to sell his estate. Las Vegas has lost history and stability again. A museum is the best idea. Let's hope someone outthere agrees and has the money to do it. Otherwise, its the same Las Vegas, Bean counters win and the transiants will start. To me this is a sign of no stability. I'm getting tired of it.
Many of the posters herein have made great ideas about how and why the Liberace Museum could - and should - continue.
Liberace's museum SHOULD be moved to a better location (that is marketing and draw), and the design of the museum revised (to update visuals with modern technology)- and thus, gain the public's attention, and become a draw that is profitable. After all, LIBERACE and his mastery of the piano, IS THE DRAW, as it is for every other world famous pianist - living or dead.
The draw for Liberace was, and I suggest CAN STILL BE, his EXTRODINARY abilities as a master concert pianist - and his performances as one of the world's GREATEST - out-of-the-ordinary, ENTERTAINERS.
LIberace deserved every bit of acclaim he received, and his title of Mr. SHOWMANSHIP!
If the Board of the LIberace Museum is reading this, my suggestion is to add a collection a Liberace's showroom performances - presented on very large screen, so people can SEE and HEAR the music, and entertainment (jokes, talking to the audience, etc.) that made his performances so memorable.
Thes "video" re-creation could be in a medium-size Liberace-styled showroom - as part the re-designed (MORPHED) museum - with movie-theater style seats - and for the (reasonable) price of admission to the museum.
This attraction could begin as a "walk down memory-lane" past museum exhibits - which also had smaller-screens interlaced along the way, which showed Liberace performaning his various acts.
The large screen showing "live" Liberace performances, would be at the end of the museum area - adjacent to a more glamorous and exciting souvenir gift shop, that would be in character with Liberace's very vivid talent.
Now, although I have been aligned with the entertainment business as a management consultant, at times, I would think that SOMEONE at the Liberace Foundation could have thought of all this by themselves - as a way to SAVE THE MUSEUM.
We seem to be all about CHANGE in this country these days - in government, in regulating Wall Street, in making so many radical changes in business and elsewhere - WHY NOT RE-INVENT THE MUSEUM, AND MORPH INTO SOMETHING THAT PRESENTS LIBERACE A BIT MORE EXCITING!
THEN, you will get the attention of the public - young and old; visitor, conventioneer, and local residents. But as was once said: "GIVE 'EM WHAT THEY WANT" And WHAT do "they" want? Well, in Las Vegas, they want to see LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, and hear and see the performance; they want what Las Vegas has to offer, and is not available anywhere else in the world.
So, changing how the Liberace Museum PRESENT its content, and the EXPERIENCE one enjoys by visiting a bit of Las Vegas history - could be a money-maker; but only if some visionaries were involved in planning such a re-opening.
There are thousands of venues who use such a model for presenting, whatever; the US Park Service, Disneyland, Elvis museums, to US Presidential museums. It works!
"If they couldn't get local visitors to come, how would you expect them to get lots of volunteers?" By shannonblake1977
Sept. 11, 2010
10:18 a.m
Today's article says they got locals to attend on Sundays when it was free to residents. In this economy there are tons of people out of work. I'm sure given the opportunity people would volunteer in any of the job functions so they could list it on their resume rather than listing nothing. This helps show they haven't been just sitting around collecting unemployment. There are always plenty of volunteers if you just ask.
To grantstevens 1000: Jamie James and Ray Arnett, the two people listed as "Emeritus" Directors, were two of Liberace's most trusted employees when he was alive. As far as I know he also considered them to be close friends, almost family. I wonder what they are thinking and why they're not acting (retired or not). Cheers from a Liberace fan in Switzerland
To Toptth: Both Jamie and Ray are in very poor health. The last I heard from one of the foundation employees was that one of them has alzheimer's or dementia and the other one is very old and not in good health. Their position on the board is in name only. From what I've been told they haven't had any input in years.
I would like to point out to readers, again, that this didn't happen overnight. I seriously want to know why the board of directors didn't tighten the purse strings years ago. If I don't have money in my checkbook, I need to scale back and stop writing checks so I don't go belly up. If membership (keep in mind, the last time I asked how many members they had they said they didn't know, no one really keeps good records on that) is declining then you have to cut staff and expenses. Instead the museum spent more money on celebrations (see their website to see pictures.) Although it's nice to have celebrations you can't if you don't have the money to do so. It doesn't take a genius to figure out they didn't have the money last May to celebrate his birthday and the museum's 30th anniversary. If they did then they wouldn't be closing doors next month.
On a flight I discovered an article on the attractions in Vegas, the Liberace Museum was listed as the third most visited spot, that was three years ago. I had been coming to Vegas for many years but had never known of the museum. I walked into the showroom and was stopped short by the magnificient display, it was as though I was inside a marvelously decadent jewelry box. I have worked in the fashion industry for two decades and was absolutely amazed by the brilliance of the design and technology required to create it. I had heard of Liberace but really was not privy to his career. Once I had wandered over the entire museum I had become a fan, not necessarily of his ability to play the piano but of the entrepreneuriel spirit and creativity that this individual exhibited for over forty years. The garments that were created for the performer are priceless, the technology almost non-existent. I am curious as to why the musuem has not received funding, there are many grants that I suspect would have been obtained by this institution if applied for by a skilled grant writer. If the museum did not apply then they are guilty of being shortsighted and not understanding of the worth of the collection. These garments rival that of European royalty. I have had the opportunity of sending students from Otis and Parsons to see this collection, the end result is always WOW - this is amazing!
While I am focusing on the clothes I have to say the car and piano collection is most enjoyable and on a return trip was greatly enjoyed by my husband.
It would be a travesty if this museum is allowed to fail. An investigation needs to be conducted to discover how and why this was allowed to occur.
supply and demand drives all or almost all biz adventures. from a guy or chickie selling wares on the street corner to typewriter factories in the 80's. for example,no one would pay to see rudolph valentinos' living room and now the same for mr. liberace's stuff especially the huge non PC of fur coats being displayed. haven't been there maybe no coats.
While I agree that fur is not pc (although if you look at the fashion magazines this past month it is all over the most recent fashions - and not all of it faux - tragic with the recent technology in textile manufacturing) It is difficult for me to understand the comment above - should all museums be closed, is the past obsolete? Are we doomed to be philistines?- I was just at the Met in NY and thoroughly enjoyed the Fashion exhibit -Victorian to the 1950's - It was inspiring and showed what some of the most talented designers and craftspeople were capable of creating - there is a great story at the Liberace Museum - not only brilliant design and execution but probably more importantly a story about human perserverance,that is a story that never grows old.
This is very sad. Liberace is a part of a city's history who should not be forgotten.
It's kind of ridiculous -- We have a "mob museum" being built about how the "mob" built and ran LV. We are talking about ruthless and cold blooded people who bled the town the dry.
Maybe things were better when the "mob" ran the show, but in the end their greed and poor decision making led to their downfall.
But one would think there could be museum featuring artists like Liberace, Rat Pack, Elvis, Wayne Newton, etc. All the great concerts, all the famous celebrities that have performed here.
Gaming aside, over the years millions came to LV for the entertainment. There really should be something to recognize the artists that played here.
Just my take.
Check out my always informative and entertaining blog about LV:
http://jimmyhoofa-lv.blogspot.com/
Put the collection in the west wing of Environ's mansion...or the Riveria. Or is that the same place?
The food really did suck..... and service was not much better.
As for the Collection.... It belongs in Vegas, But what happens to the Ghost? (Tune the piano, maybe he can sleep then.)
I remember seeing Liberace on a TV interview maybe 30-35 years ago. (60 Minutes, 20/20?) He talked about trying to write his performance clothes off on his taxes and was audited, being told that clothes are not able to be written off, since one can use their clothes on off days, around the house, etc. He showed up at the audit wearing the "loudest" rhinestone suit in the closet. The write-off of clothes was immediately approved as a business deduction!
Liberace was one of the great performers from an era that produced many greats (Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, Buck Owens, The Beatles, Wayne Newton, Tom Jones, Osmonds, Elvis, Sammy Davis, Jr., Diana Ross, Bob hope, Doris Day, Jimmy Stewart, etc.).
I hope the museum finds new funding.
I have reviewed the financials filed with the IRS for the Foundation. Revenues were steady year over year at around 450K for admissions and 480K in concessions. In one year, 08-09 the Board allowed 40K a month to be spent on advertising which seems to be an outrageous amount.This seems to be after a spending spree when the Foundation, in addition to its annual revenues of around 800K had an additional 1.2M in non interest savings and by years end had only 161K. What could this Board of Directors possibly done with over one million dollars in cash.Who wants to buy the land at a depressed price, land that Liberace purchased through his Foundation? I suspect that there is a story here. The land can be bought cheap and over a year ago this same Board talked of taking Liberace's pieces on a national tour but it still not has happened and no one is holding their breath. The Board has a fiduciary obligation to protect the endowment, make sure the investments were secure, and protect the articles in the museum, many of which are serious need of restoration and have been for over 10 years, as does the property itself. Read the Form 900 filings by the non profit foundation with assets over 15M. Look and see how the cash was spent on some interesting items and also ask yourself that with 800K in overall income, 200K going out for scholarships, interest income of around 70K, and one million in one year alone gone from the savings account someone needs to show us the money. This Board really deserves to be taken to task to explain how this could have happened. All of us knew in by the fall of 08 we were in the thick of recession so why didn't they shift their portfolio to protect it? Who gets paid to manage the investment? How much did the Board get paid and why is travel expense in one year alone over 40K? I encourage people to go to websites the offer free access to IRS filings by Non Profits and you will find yourself asking the same questions as I am. This board is probably covered by errors and omissions insurance if they did something wrong without intent and no one knows for sure what happened, but income going down in 06,07,08 is not true based on filings. 800K on average in admissions and concessions (This is clearly listed on the filings) should have offset expenses. But wasting 40K a month in advertising deserves to be looked at and whoever was on the Board and allowed this to happen should write checks to cover the failure of an approved marketing ploy that caused the foundation to suffer. Management of assets is critical for any Non Profit Board whoever they have hired in previous years to manage things clearly made some bad choices. This Board's actions call into question its competency to manage a significant Las Vegas institution and ability to manage assets of listed at 15M. To say that income has declined over the last 10 years is not accurate based on the filings of just the last three years which is available on line.
Interesting that according to The Foundation's 990 IRS filing, it appears that Board in May of 2005 took out a mortgage against the property of 1.9M as reported in their 2007-2008 report and rental expense of 460K. Why did they take out a mortgage in 05 when their income was pretty good and their investments were doing well? Why did The Board pay 58K on accounting fees, seems pretty steep to do tax returns for a Non Profit in one tax year. From 2003 through 2006 they had income in excess of 4.5M and in these same years interest on investments came to around 1/6M. This combined with admissions and concession income the Foundation and Museum was doing pretty well but accounting expense and legal fees in one year were over 100K, why? It looks like in 07-08 they spent nearly 1M on preserving costumes, operations, etc. Who did the Board pay to take care of the costumes? Since no improvments are evident to the property where did the money go. Scholarships totaled around 205K. There is a lot of data which you can review for free by registering at www.guidestar.com. You want to look at Liberace Foundation and then pull their 990 filings to see the details. I do this with some of the charities I have supported in the past and its a good way to learn how your donations are being spent. I still wonder why the took out a mortgage in 05. Was it because money was cheap to borrow? But in making this decision they now have to come up with 460K to cover rental expenses it seems. Lots of questions and hopefully someone will get the answers.
The Museum, catered to an older tourist population which is not a predominant demographic now. The under 40, have niether taste nor inclination to visit a museum of this caliber irrespective of the location. You can't blame locals or count on locals since this town is like a Twin City-people don't cross the Strip unless they have to. The best option for this Museum is Mid West-like Wisconsin.
Did Darin Hollingsworth work at one time for Merrill Lynch prior to his being hired by Mr. Koep to serve as Exec. Director? Did Mr. Hollingsworth and the Board move the investment portfolio to Merrill Lych after Darin was hired? Did Mr. Koep interview the most qualified applicants to run a non profit of this size or did he hire Hollingsworth who may have been a colleague at UNLV? Did the Board approve taking out a 1.9M mortgage on the property in 2005 which costs the Foundation over 450K a year to pay down? Did the Foundation settle lawsuits with former employees and how much did they spend. In 2007 did the Board approve over 58K in accounting fees and if so, why so much. Did the Board pay nearly 30K in one year alone for legal services and if so, why? Are the members of this Board qualified and experienced to manage assets valued in excess of 15M? Did the Board expenditures for advertising of nearly 40K a month to improve attendance under Mr. Hollingsworth tenure and if so, was the Chairman at that time Mr. Koep a colleague at UNLV? These are fair questions which need to be answered but they won't because I suspect this is not newsworthy compared to reality TV actors or other nonesense, yet many people donated over the years to this foundation trusting that Liberace's legacy would be protected by a competent Board of Directors. Employees are intimidated and have been for years and I do not believe that the 990 filings with the IRS have been reviewed by a reporter who would note how the Board burned through a lot of cash and yet invested nothing in the property that is evident to visitors. Why a mortgage in 05. Why didn't they simply look for a smaller property in old town or closer to the Strip when cash was cheap in 05 rather than borrow 2M. Income in excess of 800-1.2M year over year with nearly 4.5 alone from 03-07 in revenues indicates that they had decent cash flow. But someone picked bad investments, a bad firm to manage them, and then borrowed against the property...and for what? This is really tragic. This Board of Directors which has determined to shut down the museum needs to be held accountable to the public because I think Liberace would be disgusted by the closing of his museum which is an important part of his legacy and part of the historic culture of Las Vegas. The questions above need to be answered by a qualifed competent individual and I question whether there is one on this Board. The museum failed on their watch therefore they are responsible. Blaming the economy for bad business decisions is a cop out. We saw the bubble in the fall of 2007 and it took hold in the fall of 08. With so much at stake, its fair to say that this Board has failed in its mission and should be removed even if its by the IRS or a Superior Court Judge.
I had googled Liberace Foundation and Museum and was directed to an article by Mala Peterson, the address is http://www.lvol.com/gossip/
The article was somewhat enlightening - evidently the President of the company Jack Rapaport previously on the board, is a realtor with much at stake at the sale of the museum property (evidently the commission would be quite a bit), his company is also the one who manages the property. Then going to the Foundation List I noticed that one of the board members is an attorney, the question is whether this individual is the one whose law firm charges hefty fees? It seems odd to me that the individuals running the institution are also receiving attractive fees for their companies, how can this be allowed???? One would assume that to be a board member (OR a president) of a non profit one would be required to not have a conflict of interest.
Bingsboy and Fashionmaven :
If all these posted issues pointed out by both of you are legit facts that seem straightforward, these board of directors in control have a lot of explaining to do.
The way it sounds here is far worse than the county firefighters issue at hand on milking the pay system, the museum appearently was doing ok although less revenue was generating, the directors had all this time to purchase other property, then relocate the museum to preserve Liberace's heritage.
I hope both of you are wrong for Liberace's sake but I seem to think he is rolling in his grave on what it looks like similar to a trust fund dissolving upon benefitting the ones with special interests involved.
A facebook page has been created "Keep the Liberace Museum Open".
@dipstick, I apologize for lumping the multiple suggestions for moving the museum to other places into one. After rereading your comment, I can tell you were serious. But, that still doesn't save jobs, and it also wouldn't be keeping with the mission of either institution.
Grantstevens1000: Keep the museum open? YES! But investing millions of dollars in the current location, would that make sense? If an investor is found, you might as well move the museum to the strip. BTW would love to be friends on Facebook. I will be joining the page, my name is Thomas.
I understand that Mr. Rappaport will continue to be paid while the staff will terminated. Mr. Rappaport was on the Board. I read somewhere that his own charitable foundation donates to UNLV which is Mr. Koep, the Liberace Foundation/Museum is Chairman, who is also employed by UNLV. Is it true that Mr. Rappaport has a business partner on the Board? Not sure. I also read that Mr. Koep's secretary or someone who works for or with at UNLV is also on the Board. I read on the WSJ website about potential conflicts of interest by several Board members, many of whom are responsible for what happens to the museum and foundation since this happened on their watch. Rappaport doesn't need the money so why are they paying him so shouldn't he up his contribution to the foundation to the full amount of his salary? Besides, when he was on the Board the thing was going into the tank so rewarding him with a title and salary seems questionable at best. Is UNLV involved with this since Koep is Dean or Department Head there. This is the same school that benefits from Rappaports donations so there is clearly some stuff here worth looking at. Rappaport should not be involved in the sale of the land or buildings, a third party should be brought in, unless he gives the full amount of commissions to the foundation. I have never heard of a non profit with so many potential conflicts or people who either not qualified to manage an endowment and museum or who could possibly benefit from being on the Board. Otheran than Anna, did any of these people even know Liberace personally and well? I wonder what makes them stakeholders?
It's sad, but the reality is that Liberace was a niche artist to begin with, and as time goes on fewer and fewer people know who he was. I remember watching him on television when I was a child, and I always enjoyed his flashy outfits. I have been to the museum and enjoyed it. For those who do not have the same memories the significance is lost. Perhaps some of the items in the collection can be enjoyed as part of a larger museum collection, but a museum dedicated to Liberace alone is going to have a very difficult time keeping a clientele.
The article stated that 450,000 people visited the museum in its early yrs. and now it was down to 50,000 folks .. and a buncha poster are blaming the location for the low numbers?
Did they move from the 1979 location?
The Liberace museum is one of those places I've driven by, dozens of times, and thought "I've got to check that out sometime". I guess I better hurry if I want to go.
At the very least, they need to preserve the costumes, as this is a unique and wonderfully over-the-top collection. Maybe a Vegas museum in which performers along the spectrum are featured, from Cook E. Jar to Liberace to Siegfried and Roy. A larger museum that would put them all in context could be quite valuable. Perhaps the costumes need to be handled by an archivist and costume historian separate from the granting aspects of the Foundation.
The Board and its President are parasites who have raised little money and donated even less I bet. Foundation Members can remove the Board. All they need to do is get together and call for a meeting and remove them and Rappaport the real estate agent who knows nothing about running a museum and little about foundation. He has given more to Cope's employer, UNLV, than the Foundation he takes a 90K pay check from and its not like he's hurting for money.
THE WHOLE ORDEAL IS RIDICALOUS, YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT ALL THE MONEY THAT LAS VEGAS HAS THAT THEY COULDN'T COME TO THE RESCUE. IN MISSISSIPPI, WHERE I AM FROM WE PRESERVE HISTORY, IN LAS VEGAS THEY DESTROY HISTORY. HOPE TO GET TO LAS VEGAS BEFORE THEY CLOSE IT DOWN.
The reason why the number of people to be fired is imprecise (i.e. 12-14) is because the collection will have to be inventoried, packed, preserved and stored.
You can't just lock the door and go home.