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Tiki Central / Locating Tiki / Bali Hai, Las Vegas, NV (motel)

Post #599928 by bigbrotiki on Sat, Jul 30, 2011 1:11 AM

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DC ol' pal, please allow me to throw some light on this subject matter:

The church did not replace the Bali Hai, since it was built in 1966. It is also not a "Tiki church", but perhaps the best example of mid-century modern architecture left in that godforsaken town - much more so than the comparatively bland Bali Hai ever was.

It seems kind of ironic that of all the classic modernist structures built in Las Vegas in the mid-century (the Mint, the Stardust, La Concha, etc.) the only one that survived is a church. It is not only a great example of A-frame architecture...

...but sports some of the finest modernist mosaic murals I have ever seen:


(front detail)


(interior side altar)

This also can be said for the stained glass work:


(front door detail)

..for on the interior, each side has 5 tall stained glass windows:

...of which this one is the most noteworthy...

...because of its contemporary detail:

...an obvious attempt by some local high rollers (sinners) to secure a place in heaven. :wink:

The only other mid-century modern church I like better is the one you showed me in your town, DC. :)

I beg forgiveness for this little excursion into ecclesiastical modernism, but it is a pet subject of mine that I only got to touch on briefly in Tiki Modern.

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2011-07-30 07:20 ]