Should Wayne Newton Have His Own Museum?

Liberace's museum recently closed down but that hasn't slowed the ambition of another Las Vegas icon who wants his own museum. But Wayne Newton's plan to build a museum and give tours of his home have hit a snag. The Paradise Town Advisory Board has turned down the entertainer's application to the county. The Las Vegas Sun reports that the board voted to recommend denial of the application to the Clark County Commission, which will hear the item at its regular meeting on November 17.

Newton lives on 38 acres in Las Vegas and his plans call for a museum to be built north of Sunset Road and then buses would shuttle guests to Casa de Shenandoah for tours of Newton's home and collections. He would also put on performances at the museum. Newton has said that the museum could provide as many as 400 jobs. Residents from nearby neighborhoods including Las Vegas's pricey Tomiyasu Lane have voiced concerns over traffic. Many have questioned whether or not the 67-year-old entertainer is popular enough to justify the creation of a museum.

In a comprehensive story on this project last month, AOL News reported that Newton bought Casa de Shenandoah in the 1960s and that the property is home to dozens of Arabian horses, African penguins, peacocks and wallabies as well as a memorabilia collection that includes Jack Benny's violin, Nat King Cole's makeup case, a guitar from Elvis and the pool cue that Jackie Gleason used in 'The Hustler.'