Mapes Hotel News Reel 1996

[@ronkemperful]

Along with 15 other students, I performed at the Mapes Hotel in 1969 as a seventh grader in front of a group of women from the Soroptimist Club. It was up on the top floor of the Mapes where we recited poetry. We were so good that we were invited by one of the Soroptimist members, Betty, who hosted an AFTERNOON WITH BETTY, a program hosted on KOLO, playing old movies with breaks where guests were interviewed or performed. At that time, KOLO had the only color television camera in Reno and we performed in front of that giant color camera so very long ago.

[@kiqw]

I lived in Reno in the fifties and early sixties and had a job which required me to make a delivery to KPET on the mezzanine floor one afternoon. As I finished my delivery I was rushing out to catch my bus home (in those days they stopped on the Virginia St. Bridge)and I rushed out the double doors a little too fast and almost hit Clark Gable who had just returned from the "ranch" where they were shooting that day. He was dusting himself off between the doors. I said pardon me (as my jaw hit the floor) and he grunted OK or something. AS I exited the outer door I saw Montgomery Cliff exiting the Limo but my bus was nearby so I rushed to get on it. What a story I had for my landlady that day! The loss of that hotel was very sad and downtown Reno is very sad these days. Why the city managed to save the Riverside Hotel Building (as least part of it) but not the Mapes really puzzles me to this day. Gone also are al; the stores I used to patronize and there are some puzzling concrete slabs of buildings now just north of First Street. Is City Hall asleep at the switch?

[@armandtoledo6706]

Someone made money destroying Old Reno...the city is soulless now.

[@kiqw]

@@armandtoledo6706 I agree 100%. I don't even like visiting there anymore.

[@KneeJerkish]

Is it a city government's reponsibility to clean up the failures of private enterprise? Is City Hall in the business of running hotels and casinos? The Mapes closed in 1982 because the Mapes business failed.. The poorly constructed building sat empty and decayed for years, passing through the hands of many different private owners, all of whom failed to revive the old place. In 1996, the Reno Redevelopment Agency took it over. Despite its designation as a historic landmark and "most endangered site" status, the agency was unable to get any help from the National Historic Trust. The City of Reno brought in many engineers and organizations in an effort to get the building restored, but it was deemed too unsafe, and was finally demolished instead of allowing the building to eventually fall over on its own. Tourists and other outsiders would like to blame the city for not fixing what private enterprise broke, and even we citizens were sad to see her go, but please don't blame the city or its taxpayers.

[@larryparis925]

Worked there during the summer months in the early ‘80s.

[@muziklvr7776]

Was it an enjoyable experience?

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I lived in Reno 1996-2004. It was a nice place to live. I worked at a News Station there & this was a huge story over the years I was there, until they blew the old-girl up. It was a beautiful piece of architecture, but buildings were a lot more expensive to raise at the time & this had fallen into really-bad disrepair. It was sad when they imploded it. ☮️

[@shangri-la-la-la]

We lost this for a glass whale....

[@ThriftStoreHacker]

I'm new to Reno and a history nut. It's sad that the city let this grand building sit and deteriorate like it did. More and more I've realized that Reno doesn't care about history, just profit and filling the pockets of city officials to knock down anything they want regardless of value.

[@bobcuster8930]

Thrift Store claimed: "More and more I've realized tha t Reno doesn't care about history, just profit " That is nonsense. Reno has museums and all kinds of vintage signs and memorabilia up. Try and get out more ...

[@XNTN808]

Yes, its like California.

[@KneeJerkish]

A private business fails miserably and we blame the city. The "old girl" was about to fall over on her own, and we would blame the city for that too. The fact is that for years the city did everything in its power and spent everything in its coffers (my tax money) to save the building, but because it was so poorly built by private business, it was hopeless. Think before posting.

[@generay6807]

Was so sad to see the Mapes imploded. Another piece of Reno history gone.

[@muziklvr7776]

I inherited a fancy lamp with a very ornate shade my grandmother bought 20 years ago that was originally located in the Skyroom of the Mapes Hotel. The plastic pieces display a hint of yellowing, probably from the constant haze of smoke billowing from the mouths of hardcore professional smokers of yore, but the crystal/glass pieces cleaned up nicely. Also have some other very rare items from Reno that really should be in a museum there, like a 24 pack of glass bottled Sierra beer still in the original box. It ceased operation in 1957.

[@nemo227]

It's a little bit of history. Everything changes. I left a little bit of money there (but not much) in the sixties and I've changed too but I have my hazy memories. I liked the Mapes, the Riverside, Harrah's, Harold's, the Primadonna, etc. Back then you had to try them all.

[@666Brago]

I never got to go inside that building because I was born in 1984.

[@XNTN808]

The Mapes always looked so sad and lonely for all those years before it was imploded. I wonder if it could have been saved today. There was a lot less money and fewer resources in Reno in those many years it sat alone and stone cold in the wind when a new Grand Wagoneer on the road was a big deal, Wingfield Springs had no roads, and Damonte Ranch was a ranch.

[@Set-Apart-By-Grace]

I've been to the Sky Room a couple times...what elegant evenings! It was cool to see Tad Dunbar. I feel like I grew with him! I live in NC right now but I know, Reno is not the Reno I grew up in. The downtown magic is gone. The Mapes, Harolds Club, The Primadonna, and so many others.....gone.

[@jayd2655]

Marilyn Monroe was unattractive in person but photographed like a million dollars. Interesting.

[@greggshugar539]

Tad Dunbar was the man. Here's to Reno's Ron Burgundy!

[@MrSkegman]

Mapes Hotel reno--I watched hot august parade in the nights of august years ago from this hotel.it was special --I will return no more!

[@michaelhuynh8793]

I'm 13 years old I never can't go in the building because I was born in 2004 I never have a chance that's like 4 years later it's gone I don't know today I think is a parking garage now

[@bobcuster8930]

No, The Mapes area is now a public park in reno...

[@CameronCobb]

Yeah and they use to have the ice rink there but now they moved it in front of the aces stadium

[@2013musicman]

Now said park is more of an art display area that has the old park lane mall clock, metal letterings that spells out believe, among others.

[@joeb7373]

Ed and Tad in the same clip!!! Remember the Pizza Oven, Ed?

[@johnperry2133]

I remember it... That and Mayfair Market. Good times!!!!

[@timearly5226]

@@johnperry2133 Yes! But let's not forget Tony's Delicatessen and Kai's Squeeze Inn. And while on memory lane, the Granada and Majestic movie theatres.

[@johnperry2133]

@@timearly5226 You are right! I remember those places, especially the Granada Theater, I spent countless hours there in my youth!

[@Jplent1]

Played the Al Bello Show in the Casino lounge and the Skyroom. Frank Fanelli was a good friend and he played there a lot. Played golf with Charlie Mapes in Phoenix. After the show I'd walk up to the Waldorf where Jack Joseph had a late night radio show. He was a true gentleman. Joe Conforte used to come in with his entourage of hookers wearing a mink coat. Hung out there with Sam Butera's guys "The Witnesses." Lots more too.

[@bobcuster8930]

Decent--but Mistakes Here--at 5:05 Mr. Dunbar was wrong claiming "The Misfits" was Montgomery Clift's last movie....Clift made "Freud" for Misfit's director John Huston after this MOVIE...and when at 5:10 Harry Spencer claims Marilyn Monroe was "surprisingly unattractive" in person--Mr. Spencer sounds like a complete bozo... It's his opinion--but how wrong could any person be? He must be the first person to call MM " unattractive", ever..

[@michaeljames2948]

Agree what rude comments by Spencer, why not just focus on facts instead of his personal opinion of her appearance.

[@technicalfacilities5295]

think of Eli Wallach's statement about women in general in the misfits"