Most people are not aware that Las Vegas got it's start as a major hub in the early 1930's as traffic west increased and the town began to grow. However, it wasn't until the early 1950's that Las Vegas began forming as a major gambling and entertainment mecca. Join the author's tales of working as a crew member moving up to leadership roles within major productions of the day in Sin City. As he recounts the many celebrities who performed during Las Vegas' heyday, the productions worked on, issues encountered, and each star's preferences and quirks, the reader will be swept away within a Golden Era of show business and the activities of headliners during a time when Las Vegas was making a name for itself. From Howard Hughes' real estate to the Rat Pack, and on to major productions in the 1970's, each detail is a reflection of a city that never rests, and now it has evolved into today's glitzy entertainment and gambling capital.
About the Author: While we were running our B&B in Sedona Arizona there wasn't much leisure time to devote to this project. It wasn't until we retired that the free time allowed me to sit down and put all the pieces of the puzzle together. What helped the process along were the many framed photographs, in black and white mounted on our entry wall of the many great stars we had the privilege of working with. These portraits were accumulated over the years when Las Vegas was in it's infancy. Upon our relocation to Sedona to start our new life, these images of our old life came along. Upon check-in and taking our guests to their lodgings, they would stop and to inquire as to the history behind these icons of old. Each autographed image had a story to tell and it became commonplace for us to relate these stories to our guests, since most were familiar with these giants of show business. The great majority of them wanted to hear all about these people and it was not long before our star studded wall became famous. As I rummaged through my notes it brought to mind that our town was very personal. You knew the resort's owner by name, and often he would know yours. No mega buildings, only modest bungalow style posh motels spread over acres with few rooms and a swimming pool. One could converse with the casino manager, and discuss your children with the showroom waitresses whose kids went to the same school as yours. Church going was vibrant, some services were held in hotel showrooms after their second show. In the fifties one could drive down the strip from the Tropicana to the Sahara in minutes. That's the Las Vegas we knew and grew up with.