Sad Day in history today - Las Vegas is gone - so is Elvis
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
November 13, 2007 10:04pm CST
The Las Vegas Strip - (although not the original strip - Fremont street is that and still there) After 65 years of continous operation, The Frontier Hotel and Casino was emploded this morning using 1,000 pounds of explosives. 2nd restort to open on the Las Vegas Strip - opened in 1942, 16 stories. It hosted Elvis Presley's first Las Vegas appearance in 1956 and the final preformance of Diana Ross and the Supremes on January 14, 1970. This is the last of the originals (best of my knowledge) I've watched the other 10 original casinos be emploded over the years. Sure is a sad day to watch history go up in tons of dust and fall in bits and pieces. I lived in Las Vegas for awhile. These "oldies" were just the best and funnest and I won money at them but never at the "newer" resort casinos. Stardust was dumped few months ago (Wayne Newton got out in time!) I don't think I will be returning to Las Vegas. IT is not what it used to be. And to say it is allnew - yeah it is. But to me, without the history - it just isn't any fun anymore.
1 person likes this
1 response
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
14 Nov 07
That is very sad to me. I feel that they are trying to get rid of the old vegas to make room for the new glitzier family friendly vegas. I miss those older casinos.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
14 Nov 07
The Las Vegas Strip as I and you knew it is basically gone. They have over-street conveyor belts walkways! You can hardly drive the strip at night to see the lights - oh, that's partly cause most of them are gone and replaced by no lite things like volcanos and a pirate ship. Only, In my opinion , minor lighting going on the strip last decade. Not that "it's like daylight" at midnight. That to me was the trade mark of LV - and the slots, but the amazement is gone. Big deal, anyone can build a huge, hi-rise. Shows us something spectacular!!
Thing is, they are starting to get away from the "family" friendly casinos now. My husband has been trying to get construction work there and just got hired so we've been hearing the skuttlebut and they are trying to get the "adult" theme back. No more Circu Circus or themey kind of casinos. They are "resorts" now. Yeah, they'll have something to occupy the kids as some take the kids, but most of it is apparenly going adult. Another sad evolution.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
15 Nov 07
I really miss the old Vegas. I am only 35, but as I was growing up I was always fascinated with the old Vegas of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. That's what I grew up with, the great shows, the glamorous showgirls and the slot machines and high stakes gambling, and the lights of the strip.....that's what really caught my imagination. In the 90's when my husband and I went, we were seeing still some of the old Vegas, but the new stuff was coming in to, and it made me very sad. The shows stank and I was very disappointed.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
15 Nov 07
You want to talk about missing something - - - The slot machines now are SILENT!!! Yes, they are silent unlesss you win something, and if you want to cash out - you get a little slip of paper receipt and you take it to the PayCage. No more nickels, quarters to fill a plastic cup and carry around with you! No more mezmerizing and exciting sound of nickles dropping into the metal bucket trays. They still have the arms but most people don't pull them (I always did even tho I got odd looks - thats part of the fun of vegas!) But gone are the wonderful days of hearing that sound and hoping you get to hear it on your machine!!
