Supporters urged to turn out in front of Liberace Museum

Supporters of the Liberace Museum plan to take to the sidewalk today to keep the attraction from closing and its bedazzled collection from being packed away come Oct. 17.

Organizer Jeff White invites supporters to gather from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the shopping center at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave.

"This museum is part of the culture of Las Vegas," says White, who was sales and events manager there from 2001 through 2005.

The Liberace Foundation cited a visitor decline and fading interest in the late entertainer as reasons for closing the museum and licensing the collection for a touring exhibition.

The protesters allege mismanagement by the foundation's chairman, Jeff Koepp, and its president, Jack Rappaport.

"It would be great to see a change of guard and people who care about this museum. That's not apparent at this point," White says. The protest is an attempt to "get some investigations going and get to the bottom of things."

Despite its serious intent, "if people show up in costumes, I can't prevent that," he says. "We're serious with a humorous side. Liberace laughed at himself more than anyone else."