360 Vegas

*Premium Content Preview Patreon.com/360Vegas There are a collection of men who helped build the city of Las Vegas during its formative years that didn’t have colored pasts.  Their origins are not linked to organized crime and their stories aren’t the sort of things people make movies about.  However they would become the shining examples that the gaming industry could not only exist without the Mob but could continue to grow. A fact that was established in 1941 and continues to endure to this day.  The El Cortez is the city’s oldest hotel casino to continuously operate under the same name and only the 2nd casino ever added to the nation’s historical preservation list.  It’s also the only casino on that list still open to this day.  This is the story of the people and the properties that shaped Downtown Las Vegas.

Random Vegas  Flamingo's cascading feathers signage, on display today on the southwest corner of the property, was created by artist and parade float designer Paul Rodriguez in 1976.  He was also the designer of the Clown marquee for Circus Circus Reno (Neon Museum & Research)    Twitpic of the week    The Eiffel Tower experience in all her French glory, glowing blue, white and red.  The 2/3rd replica of the arc de triomphe, the Paris balloon, it’s all there.  Its a postcard worthy snapshot from @maverickheli of another resort that has embraced its theme in the wake of detheming.  And doing so shows they know who its audience is and how to cater to them.  Continued thanks to MaverickHeli for providing unique perspectives that inspire impassioned monologues.    News Resorts World Entertainment Calendar Maskless May Caesars Slashes Entertainment

Random Vegas In 1968, just before his 2-week residency in the lounge at the Riviera was coming to an end, Shecky Greene was informed that plans were to turn the showroom into a Keno lounge. In an attempt to be funny, Greene came to the stage that final night and began chopping up the stage floor and giving out pieces to guests in attendance as souvenirs The next morning, unaware of this antics, ownership informed Greene they were going to extend his run in the lounge for another month. (Vintage Riviera Research) Twitpic of the week The legend as I’m sure she’s looked to many of her patrons on many a nights.  This is El Cortez after a case of Coors Light and a tough night at the tables.  Magnificent and frightening.  Somehow sticky too, all communicated via their classic signage and usage of neon.  @zotaramichael shares with us a view askew.  A journey that no doubt comes with a story for the ages. News Palms Sale Confirmed Wynn returns to 100% Occupancy Star Trek Returns 2022 NFL Draft A-Lot a

Random Vegas Tiesto and Zedd will make $250k per set during their residencies at Resorts World.  The average headliner club set lasts about 2 hours (@LasVegasLocally)   Twitpic of the Week Possibly the best sign in Vegas history, the gold and maroon turret at the Dunes.  The biggest mistake in Vegas history was losing that sign to a publicity stunt as part of the implosion of the Dunes.  We can’t live in the past but thanks to pictures like @summacorp we can visit it.  Don’t lament that they are gone but appreciate what she gave us while she was around.   News Palms Purchased Harmon Site Purchased Tao acquires Hakkasan    

Random Vegas Mohegan Sun pays Virgin $18 million a year in rent (@VitalVegas) Twitpic of the week Only Vegas makes, or use to make, signage that is entertainment in and of itself.  This week’s winner by @Vegasnvrsleeps shows us two classic icons no longer with us, the Imperial Palace and the Flamingo plumb sign.  The two of them are mesmerizing.  Signage, when done right, tells a story about an experience.  In Vegas, that experience typically comes with a story about the best times you’ve had in your life. News Vegas Rises Karaoke Returns Usher Residency Resorts World Commercial  Brewery Row 

Random Vegas More than 19,000 conventions were held in Vegas in 2011 (@only_vegas) Twitpic of the week How do you explain the 70s without saying a word?  Like @pixvegas777 does with this week’s winner.  A postcard that captures the Stardust in all her mobbed up glory.  There are always people who mourn the loss of a Vegas property but I think it goes beyond that with the Stardust.  The closing of the Stardust was one of the biggest mistakes in Las Vegas history.  And what is replacing it isn’t going to be better than what Stardust was.  It will be more expensive and fancy but not better than the strip with the Stardust.  Thankfully much of her glory is still alive today at the Neon Boneyard. News Celebrate Episode 360 Resorts World Dining and Lounge Options 

Random Vegas 2004: Rehab Beach Club opens, pioneering the idea of a daytime club and forever changing the city’s party scene. (latimes.com) Twitpic of the week It’s like a reset button.  No matter how things were at the tables the previous day, as the sunrises so does opportunity, oblivious to the past.  The mind begins to plot out your new day and the excitement returns as soon as you are conscious.  Moving from one property to another, a warm glow caresses the skin while the air is still fresh and crisp.  @davidcharnsshares ethereal imagery, infinite possibility; Las Vegas.  Simply said, complex to define. News Rio Rebrand Resorts World Residencies

Random Vegas Bruce Willis was offered the role of Danny Ocean in Ocean’s 11 remake and he turned it down (Vital Vegas) Twitpic of the week The Dunes.  Probably the #1 place I wish I saw before they destroyed it.  I’m sure it wouldn’t live up to the hype I’ve created in my mind over the years but it doesn’t reduce my desire to see it.  Perhaps it’s better I didn’t because I have such an idealized vision of the property that was reportedly a grind joint at the end of its life cycle.  But still, I shall fondly continue to put the property, and specifically that sign, on a Pedi stool.  Forever in love with the concept and the legend that was the Dunes, showcased in all its glory by @summacorp News Evolution of Vegas Video Series Sands Sold Murder/Suicide at Wynn

Random Vegas Cosmopolitan has booked 9.3 million room nights since it opened Dec 15th 2010 (Vital Vegas) Twitpic of the week It’s such a different experience to drive up to a Porte Cashere; have people rush up to take your keys and bags while welcoming you to whatever property you’ve selected to enjoy.  Their hustle to take care of you as fast as they can is engrained to prevent any further delay in getting you on your way to whatever adventure awaits you this trip.  I know its an experience available at any hotel in the world but in Vegas, it’s just a tad more grand and alluring, as showcased here by @Summacorp of the original Aladdin.  The VIP experience starts right from the moment you get out of your car. News Mirage shows relocate to Park Theater  Caesars Forecasting  Travel Fanboy Table Minimums  Absinthe Tickets 

Random Vegas  Visitation to Las Vegas was down 55% in 2020 or 19 million people.  The pandemic impacted gambling revenue down by only 34.6% compared to 2019 (Vital Vegas)    Twitpic of the week    The Monte Carlo is an interesting story.  It’s an example of a company lost and looking for an identity, unhappy with the one they’ve already established.  It all started with the addition of Diablos, evolved into a reimagining of the frontage and eventually evolved into a rebranding as Park MGM.  The problem is the Vegas market has something for everyone and when you take one of those options away, something has to replace it.  In this case, the needle not only didn’t recast Monte Carlo’s lot in the market, it degraded it.  Taking a property that pulled in $80 million a year and reducing it to $62 million a year after spending $550 million to rebrand.  Park MGM isn’t going anywhere but MGM Resorts didn’t intend for their new brand to be a discount option for visitors.  Thanks to @las_when for reminding us of

Today, Bob Stupak is considered just another colorful character in the history Las Vegas and properly credited as the visionary behind Stratosphere.  His tacky taste, public antics and wacky persona are all just part of his legend.  The truth is, Bob embodies everything negative you've ever been warned about gambling and the industry.  He didn't want to just take your money, he wanted to make you look foolish while he did it.  His nickname might as well have been "fine print Stupak” because just about everything he did had a catch to it or a technicality he hoped you would miss so he could exploit.  He preyed on those that didn't know better.  But what's wrong with that?  Most people know there is a mathematically proven way to play some games and yet willfully choose to ignore them in favor of strategies that increase the odds already stacked against them.  Some people believe the earth is flat.  The fact is we all have access to the same information, especially in the Internet age.  The only disadvantage on

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*Premium Content Preview Patreon.com/360Vegas Since the creation of modern day Las Vegas, there have always been people lamenting the good ole days, whatever that means to that individual at the time. Determining what is considered “good” is about as subjective as subjective can be.  Most people today will point to the time before the strip was primarily owned by 2 companies, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment.  While the benefits of consolidation are obvious, potentially the best thing about it is the story of how it all happened.  To do that, we are going to have to trace back to how these assets exchanged hands before finally ending up in the corporate portfolio that are currently a part of.  To keep the story clean and the timeline defined, we are only going to focus on the majority owners and only their moves in Las Vegas.  We’re calling this, the Great Consolidation of Las Vegas 

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*Premium Content Preview Patreon.com/360Vegas History hasn’t been fair to Billy Wilkerson.  For years, a myth has lived in romantic Hollywood lour that Bugsy Siegel is the father of modern Vegas.  When in truth, the idea for the Flamingo was stolen and ruined by the notorious gangster who caused the project to cost 6 times more than its original projections.  When it finally opened, it was a disaster of such catastrophic proportions that his partners in the mafia had him killed.   Now it is time to set the record straight about the real man behind the Flamingo.