Abstract
The Antonio Morelli Papers (approximately 1910-1989) consist of photographic prints and slides, scrapbooks, concert programs, correspondence, and audio recordings that chronicle the professional and personal life of longtime Sands Hotel and Casino orchestra conductor Antonio Morelli and his wife Helen. The collection also documents Morelli’s efforts to provide classical music concerts for the Las Vegas, Nevada community and his involvement with the Guardian Angel Church on the Las Vegas Strip. Included in the collection are reel-to-reel tapes and digital files of musical performances conducted by Morelli.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Antonio Morelli Papers (approximately 1910-1989) consist of photographic prints and slides, scrapbooks, concert programs, correspondence, and audio recordings that chronicle the professional and personal life of longtime Sands Hotel and Casino orchestra conductor Antonio Morelli and his wife Helen. The photographic prints and slides depict Morelli’s early life in Pennsylvania, various musical performances, family and friends, travels, and the Morelli home in Las Vegas, Nevada. The collection also documents Morelli’s efforts to provide classical music concerts for the Las Vegas community and his involvement with the Guardian Angel Church on the Las Vegas Strip. Included in the collection are reel-to-reel tapes and digital files of musical performances conducted by Morelli.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, Junior League of Las Vegas, Inc. Endowment Fund, transferred all right, title and interest they had in the Antonio Morelli Papers (MS-00558) to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged alphabetically.
Biographical / Historical Note
Longtime orchestra conductor at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Anotonio Morelli worked throughout his life to bring music to the public and provide music education through his scholarship fund at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Anthony "Tony" Morelli was born on July 22, 1904 in Rochester, New York, and grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania as one of nine children. Beginning in 1914, Morelli was educated in Italy at Milan's San Celso Military Academy and then at the Royal Conservatories of Music in Milan and Parma.
Upon returning to the United States in 1925, Morelli worked as a pianist and wrote musical arrangements for theater productions. He also conducted various orchestras throughout the country in the 1930s and 1940s, including serving as the orchestra leader for the RKO Palace Theater in Albany, New York. While in Albany, Morelli met Helen Collins, who was working as an advertising agency secretary, and the two married in 1935.
Morelli first visited Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953. Sands Hotel and Casino president Jack Entratter, who had known Morelli from the Copacabana Club in New York City, offered him a position as the hotel's new musical director, which he started the following year. It was at this time that he became known as “Antonio.” During his time as the Sands musical director, Morelli worked with many of the great entertainers of the day, including performing during the Rat Pack appearances at the Sands in 1960.
In addition to his work at the Sands, Morelli produced and conducted free Las Vegas Pops concerts called "Shirt Sleeve Symphonies," as well as special religious liturgical services for the public and holiday events. With an initial contribution of $5,000, Morelli established the Antonio Morelli Friends of Music Scholarships for young musicians at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A devout Catholic, he commissioned several stained glass windows for the Guardian Angel Catholic Church on the Las Vegas Strip. Antonio Morelli died on June 17, 1974 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Source:
Hess, Alan. “Antonio Morelli's Journey to Las Vegas.” Online Nevada Encyclopedia. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.onlinenevada.org/antonio-morellis-journey-las-vegas
Preferred Citation
Antonio Morelli Papers, approximately 1910-1989. MS-00558. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2009 by the Junior League of Las Vegas; accession number 2009-017.
Processing Note
Material was processed by Joyce Moore in 2011. In 2014, as part of the legacy finding aid conversion project, Hana Gutierrez revised and enhanced the collection to bring it into compliance with current profesional standards. Subsequently Hana Gutierrez entered the data into ArchivesSpace. In 2025, Landon Paljusaj processed additional material, made access copies of born-digital materials that were received on optical discs, and updated the finding aid.
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Custodial History
The Morelli House, originally located on the Desert Inn Hotel golf course, was moved from that location in 2001 to Ninth Street and Bridger Avenue to save it from demolition, and has been preserved as a historic residence by the Junior League of Las Vegas. Just prior to moving from this house after her husband's death in the 1970s, Helen Morelli gave this material to a neighbor for safekeeping. After Helen's death, this neighbor presented it to the Junior League of Las Vegas, who took possession of the house and donated this material to UNLV Special Collections in 2009.
Appraisal Note
Acquired by Su Kim Chung, curator, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in entertainment.
Separated Materials
Some of the photographs in this acquisition were removed from the collection and placed in the Antonio Morelli Photograph Collection, 1932-1970. PH-00365. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.