If you were in Las Vegas in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s, you would have had to stay completely away from media to not know of the city’s showmen of that era. Liberace and Elvis were neighbors in Palm Springs at that time, as well performing in their respective shows on the same stage, at the Las Vegas Hilton. You might also have caught Dixieland piano showman Fred Finn in the always-raucous Mickey Finn Show, the legendary Siegfried and Roy, or Wayne Newton. But nearly everyone in Las Vegas in those days also would hear the name, news, and often the 750cc Harley Davidson of daredevil Evel Knievel.
Years after his passing, an Evel Knievel Museum came together in Topeka, Kansas. Recently, the operation has committed to moving to downtown Las Vegas. Spearheading that action is the guy they call Joe Friday. Joe toured the Liberace Museum Collection at Thriller Villa a few months ago. Then he came by Liberace Garage to interview the Liberace Foundation’s Jonathan Warren about the history of Las Vegas showmanship. Have a listen!
Evel Knievel was a motorcycle stuntman who captured the media in Las Vegas in beginning with his legendary jump of the Caesar’s Palace Fountains in 1967. He followed that up with multiple jumps in 1973, leading up to his jump of 13 buses.
His most spectacular stunt promotion was to take place in Las Vegas, but never quiet came together. Evel proposed jumping from an airplane with no parachute, and landing in one of 13 stacks of straw. He proposed casinos take bets on which stack he would land in.
Liberace’s influence on the costuming of countless performers is well documented, and we are so thankful these estates are among the crowds who enjoy visiting the source of so much of this showmanship technique. We look forward to visiting the new Evel Knievel Museum in Las Vegas.
The Liberace 