Preservationists begin daily vigils, mull civil disobedience to halt Mapes implosion

Martin Griffith

Monday, Dec. 27, 1999 | 10:57 a.m.

RENO -- A new group of preservationists has begun holding daily vigils in front of the historic Mapes Hotel in an effort to halt its Super Bowl Sunday implosion.

About 30 protesters drew mixed reactions from passing motorists Sunday as they waved placards during the first "Mapes Watch."

"Put the Reno City Council in jail," one motorist yelled while giving protesters a thumbs-up.

"Tear it down. It's an eyesore," another yelled moments later.

Reaction among motorists appeared divided Sunday, with those honking in support of the Mapes slightly outnumbering those yelling disparaging remarks.

The all-day vigils also are designed to monitor the activities of demolition crews, which have been ordered by the Nevada Supreme Court to drastically limit their work pending the outcome of an appeal pending before the court.

"We're not going to let the Mapes go down without a fight," said Pete Menchetti of the Citizen's Campaign to Save the Mapes. "We need everyone who wants the building to stand to take a stand with us."

A Reno judge last week rejected preservationists' lawsuit aimed at halting the Jan. 30 demolition of the Mapes, but their appeal now is before the high court.

Preservationists contend the city council's Sept. 13 vote to tear down the Mapes should be voided because it was preceded by illegal secret meetings on the 52-year-old building -- on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of the nation's 11 most endangered buildings.

Menchetti said his group's direct action strategy complements the legal action taken by the national trust against the city.

His group also has discussed circulating fliers and contacting elected officials, and has not ruled out civil disobedience, he said.

"We'd like to get enough people to link arms around the Mapes to keep workers out," Menchetti said.

"If the city holds these illegal meetings and breaks the law, what's wrong with us taking advantage of our right to peaceful assembly? And civil disobedience is peaceful. We're not talking about violence."

Protester Marie Diane Rice said she's taking part in the vigils because of the special memories the Mapes holds for her.

In the 1950s, she played violin lead for Ray Bolger and other entertainers in the Mapes Skyroom, and accepted a marriage proposal there.

"I have such beautiful memories associated with this building," she said. "The new buildings aren't Reno. This is Reno. It's history."

"This whole thing confounds me," added Mark Taxer. "I grew up in a city (Portland, Ore.) that redevelops its historical properties and reaps economic benefits doing so."

Built on the banks of the Truckee River in 1947, the 12-story, art deco building was the first in the nation constructed specifically to house a hotel, casino, restaurant and entertainment under one roof.

During the Mapes' heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, entertainers such as Mae West, the Marx Brothers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace and Tony Bennett performed at the resort.

The Mapes, which has been vacant since 1982, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.