COMMUNITY WRAP

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Desert Love Buggy exhibited at museum

The famous Desert Love Buggy is currently on display at the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas. The Love Buggy, one of the city's iconic public relations tools, is exhibited in the museum's History Gallery on long-term loan from owner Tim Cashman.

The museums is located at 700 Twin Lakes Drive in Lorenzi Park.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free for children aged 17 and younger. For information, call 486-5205.

The Desert Love Buggy is a 1911 Sears-Roebuck Model K business car. In 1939, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce bought several antique vehicles to run in that year's Helldorado Pioneer Parade, then offered them for sale to various individuals and organizations willing to restore them for the celebration.

Las Vegas businessman Jim Cashman, who owned the local Cadillac dealership, bought the K car for $75 and had his shop mechanic, Roy Leland, rebuild it. Christened the "Desert Love Buggy" and given Nevada license plate "7-11," the vehicle debuted at the Pioneer Parade in May 1939. In October 1939, the Love Buggy was featured in the Diamond Jubilee parade celebrating Nevada's statehood.

The Desert Love Buggy became a favorite prop in celebrity photographs promoting Las Vegas tourism and a regular part of Helldorado parades. The car last appeared publicly in the 1994 antique auto parade that closed Fremont Street prior to construction of the Fremont Street Experience.

CINE EN EL CENTROL FILM SERIES

'Cyrano de Bergerac' to air on Thursday

The French drama "Cyrano de Bergerac" will be shown on Thursday as part of the Spanish-language Cine en el Centro Film series at East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

Series curator Luis Bonilla will introduce the film at 6 p.m. and lead a discussion in Spanish following the screening. Admission is free. Call 229-1515 for information.

Gerard Depardieu stars as the title character, who is in love with the beautiful Roxane, but fears rejection because of his oversized nose.

Instead, on behalf of another suitor, the inarticulate Christian, he writes poetic love letters that win Roxane's heart.

The lavish production earned a Golden Globe for best foreign film in 1990 and five Oscar nominations, including best actor for Depardieu.

The monthly film series is presented by the Arts & Community Events division of the cit of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services with support from KWID-FM 101.9, El Tiempo, Tortillas Los Arco and El Mercadito. It continues on June 27 with "Les Miserables."