Join us as we separate myth from fact, share stories of the men and women who helped build the town and celebrate one of the most fabulous cities ever built!
My pal Dennis McBride needs your help. He has a photo, presumably taken in the late 1960s, that includes a mystery singer who used to perform on the Las Vegas Strip. Can you help us identify our mystery singer?
From left to right: unidentified woman, crooner Tony Martin, funny lady Nancy Austin, Mrs. Austin's manager/husband David London, and our mystery singer.
Let us know if you can help! Post your results!
She was once one of the grand dames of the Las Vegas Strip. When she was built, she was the first high-rise on the Strip. For many years, Liberace, Dean Martin and other classic Las Vegas entertainers graced the stage of the showroom.
But in recent times, the Riviera lost a lot of her glamour and in trying to stay alive resorted to just barely hanging on.
We hope the grand dames luck is changing. Steve Green at the Las Vegas Sun reports about that the bankruptcy plan includes improvements and possibly new gaming equipment.
The Riviera Las Vegas hotel-casino would be spruced up and receive new gaming equipment under its parent company's bankruptcy reorganization plan.
Unable to service its approximately $291 million in debt and liabilities, Riviera Holdings Corp. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in Las Vegas on July 12.
Investors led by longtime hotel and gaming industry executive Barry Sternlicht of Starwood Capital Group have acquired some of the debt and intend to lead the company out of bankruptcy.
Besides its 2,075-room Las Vegas property, the company owns the Riviera Black Hawk casino in Colorado.
For more follow this link
Liberace was one of the early entertainers to grace the Las Vegas Strip. He loved the little oasis in the desert. He quickly became the highest paid entertainer on the Strip and his name graced the marquee at the Riv for years.
As his fortunes and his popularity rose, Lee bought a home in Las Vegas, near what is today UNLV, off of Tropicana just west of Maryland Parkway.
A museum is dedicated to his life not far from the house and Tivoli Gardens, the restaurant he owned, is still doing business.
However, his home has come up for sale and the belongings and fixtures are being auctioned off. If you're a fan of the Travel Channel, you've no doubt seen the various hour long shows that include highlights from the interior of the house.
This series has been very popular so I thought we would end the series on an up note:
The pineapple fountain that once graced the front of the Tropicana
Snow day, December 2008
The El Rancho Vegas with its famous pool
Downtown 1955
A slogan that brought thousands for a visit
The original House of Lords rendering, Sahara Hotel
The El Morocco (formerly the Bank of Las Vegas) and Jack Dennison's Copper Cart
