Saturday, December 30, 2023

E-469: List of Sodas

 Random Vegas

About one in 3 U.S. Adults said they thought the tipping culture “has gotten out of control,” according to a survey conducted in May 2023 (Review Journal)
Twitpic of the week
The photo by @Las_when doesn’t date the picture but this is how the Stardust looked when I got the one and only chance to visit the property in 2006, just months before it closed its doors on Nov 1st. The lamentation of properties lost has a long tradition in Las Vegas. However this move has gone down in history as the worst move made by Boyd gaming’s well documented history of brilliance, hindsight being 20/20.
News

Saturday, December 23, 2023

E-468: Meth to Monkeys

 Random Vegas

Allegiant Stadium generated $2.29 billion in economic impact to the city of Las Vegas including $128 million in tax revenue (@mickakers)

Twitpic of the week

Following last week’s holiday theme, @_GrandpaD out did himself with a collection of various Vegas locations themed for the holidays.  Everything from Stardust’s Aku Aku tiki statue with a giant Santa hat on to more views of Fremont St with decorations strewn across the street.  Our favorite this week was the view of Stardust’s original marquee anchored with Christmas decorations, full sized which only further gives perspective to just how large the sign was in its day.  As is common in Vegas signage, if you aren’t paying attention, you might miss the decorations, although not in this photo.

News

Saturday, December 16, 2023

E-467: Extra Space

 Random Vegas

Fontainebleau isn’t the first property to encounter financing problems causing the project to sit unfinished.  That title goes to the Landmark who broke ground in 1961 but had to halt construction in 62 due to financing issues.  So it sat, 80% done.  During that time it was the tallest building in the state of Nevada.  It sat dormant until 1969 when Howard Hughes bought it and finished building the property.  The Landmark would eventually open July 1st, 1969 (Vintage Research)

Twitpic of the week

Festive isn’t exactly how you would describe Christmas in Las Vegas.  Not that the city doesn’t try but the displays are usually in juxtaposition with existing signage and all easily overlooked if you aren’t paying attention.  A perfect example of this is this week’s winner from @_GrandPaD showcasing Fremont St during the holidays, circa 1959.  It isn’t easy to see upon initial inspection because Vegas signs are designed to draw your attention to them.  However, if you look past the marquees you’ll seen garland strung across the street with some bells and whistles.  Signage tangent, this picture shows Golden Nugget in a transitional period with the original signage still on display but with the addition of the steel framed roof sign, added in 1956.  In just a few years, 1961, Kermit Wayne will add a giant bullnose shield on the corners with flanked animated signage on each side.  This will come to be the properties most memorable incarnation of signage, aside from its current.

News

Friday, December 8, 2023

E-466: Sophie's Choice

 Random Vegas

The world record for “largest video game digital display” was broken when someone played Pac-Man on Resorts World’s 100,000 square foot LED screen (@LasVegasLocally)

Twitpic of the week

@maverickheli once again captures a view that is a beautiful metaphor for summers in the desert climate that is Las Vegas.  The photo features an arial view of both Encore and Wynn as well as the sphere, dressed up to look like the sun…or maybe Mars…regardless, it looks hot, both in temperature and in the way kids use it today.

News


Saturday, December 2, 2023

E-465: Careless Love

 Random Vegas

Similar to the myth of Bugsy Seigel and the Flamingo, a popular myth has been told many times over about Howard Hughes and the purchase of the Desert Inn.  The legend says Hughes overstayed his welcome because ownership wanted the penthouse rooms for high rollers coming in for new years.  Instead of leaving, Howard bought the place.  The real story about the Desert Inn purchase is that Howard kept holding up the deal with seemingly petty details.  The two parties would agree in principle to a deal only to have Hughes find something else he wanted to address.  The situation became so heated that the deal almost fell through and his right-hand man Bob Maheu threatened to quit if Hughes changed one more thing.  That was enough to get Hughes to finally close on the deal, paying $13 million for the Desert Inn. (Book - Howard Hughes: The Hidden Years)


Twitpic of the week

No one has done as much with so little than Cosmopolitan.  That resort sits on 4.4 acres, has a premium location next to Bellagio’s fountains and offers something no other property offers, balconies in the majority of their rooms.  The closest is Cromwell which resides on 1.4 acres.  Thanks to @MaverickHeli and Claytonhaam for sharing another stunning view via helicopter of an icon.  Here’s hoping that MGM won’t fuck up everything at the property.


News

LV Sands buys Mavericks


Friday, November 24, 2023

E-464: The Holy Trinity of Podcasting

 Random Vegas

Surprising no one, the sportsbooks at multiple properties reported record breaking action on F1 betting

Twitpic of the week

I know it looks like this at every F1 track but damn it looked cool in Vegas.  Whatever you think of F1 and/or its impact on the city you can’t argue they know how to illuminate a track.  That was captured magnificently on ESPN via helicopter, then shared via screenshot by @MeltzVegas.  Many records have been reported as a result of the often-trolled event but it was the spectacle promised; and as usual, the Sphere impressed.  Here’s to hoping our Wishlist of things to improve actually get addressed.

News

Saturday, November 18, 2023

E-463: Infalable

 Random Vegas

The Westward Ho was advertised as “The World’s Largest Motel”.  It had 777 rooms and closed in 2005.  When demolished they had to take down 27 total buildings. (@las_when)


Twitpic of the week

What else can you say but wow?  Here’s hoping Vegas properties will take notice that you can do so much more with LED signage than just running commercials.  If the Sphere hadn’t already endeared itself in the hearts of the locals it did with this display showcased during F1 practice, shared by @kerrybilicki.  Featuring elements of the Flamingo, classic Sahara, googie stars from Stardust’s glory days and a lot more all represented on this global display of Vegasy goodness.  Salud to much more of this.


News

Saturday, November 11, 2023

E-462: Confrontentional

 Random Vegas

The office of Sam “Ace” Rothstein and the Tangiers sports book in Martin Scorsese’s Casino was filmed on the site of an unopened casino at the Jockey Club (@summacorp)
Twitpic of the week
 
One of the reasons Vegas is like no other place on the planet is the wide array of architecture it has on display. It has a mixture of traditional, themed and many in a category of their own. Unfortunately, the creativity that brought us the likes of Caesars Palace, Paris and Excalibur, shared here by @las_when, seems to have been forgotten or at least abandon. The situation leaves those that appreciate them to desperately fear that the themes that make the city so unique are now the targets for redevelopment by those who thought an office park on the strip was something visitors wanted. The only constant in life is change so rather than lament the inevitable we should try to just enjoy what we have while we have it.
News

Saturday, October 28, 2023

E-461: Easily Offended

 Random Vegas

The music video for U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, filmed in downtown Las Vegas in 1987, was done in one take, shot in less than 3 hours with a skeleton crew and an unsuspecting cast of extras. All the stuff in the video really happened.  The music video is credited with introducing, or in some cases re-introducing, Fremont St to the masses and creating a demand for the area that it hadn’t had in a long time. This would go on to spark the need to renovate the area with an attraction that would draw people to it.  Today, we know it as the Fremont St Experience.  (RJ.com)


Twitpic of the week

The rebranding of a property must be an inexpensive process.  Consider how quickly Caesars Entertainment rebranded Imperial Palace into the Quad, shared by @MeltzVegas, only to rebrand the property less than two years later into the Linq.  Naming aside, we’ve been a fan of the properties transformation from what was considered by most to be one of the worst properties on the strip when it was Imperial Palace into what we have today.  I can’t emphasize enough that Keren wouldn’t step foot in Imperial Palace and since the transformation, we’ve not only spent a considerable amount of time at the property but we’ve spent the night at more than once.  The Linq is proof concept that you can make a discount version of Cosmopolitan.


News

Saturday, October 21, 2023

E-460: Human Cholesterol

 

 Random Vegas

Roughly 26 international destinations are reachable from Las Vegas (@lasvegasweekly)

Twitpic of the week

In Las Vegas, perspective is everything.  While some may look at gambling losses as a negative, those that love the city understand its part of the dance that leads to a win.  This week, @luckytraveling shared a POV that reminds one that even when passed out on a casino floor one can still find beautiful imagery.  Captured is a view of the Cromwell hallway from the floor up to the chandeliers and while it doesn’t feature anyone on the floor, its easy to make that leap in a monologue.

News

Saturday, October 7, 2023

E-459: Like A Period

 Random Vegas

Advertising at the Sphere costs approx. $450k for a one-day campaign, $650k for a week.  For comparison, traditional billboards cost $20k a month, Mekka Walgreen’s is $65k a month and a 30 second spot during the 2024 SuperBowl will run you $7.5 million. Pricing for the Sphere does include production development of the ad.  (VitalVegas & News3lv.com)

Twitpic of the week

Barbary Coast, in all her chasing lights glory, shown here by @las_when as she was originally introduced to the market, with a white exterior.  Even better, this picture was taken before the pedestrian walkway was installed.  This was Fremont quality exterior lighting, not found on the strip in too many places these days.  While we prefer the property it is today, Cromwell, we will always prefer this signage.

News

Saturday, September 30, 2023

E-458: Drunk Tony

 Random Vegas

Because they used the shell of the Marina Hotel, the entire MGM Grand project was considered a remodel rather than new construction. Therefore, property taxes were set at the value when the Marina was built. (@AStotland)
Twitpic of the week
 
While it may be hard to wrap your head around, motels used to dominate the Vegas strip and beyond. They must have seen the writing on the wall when hotel towers became the future of hospitality but that didn’t stop properties like the La Concha from continuing to try and compete in the market. In 2001, the property was approved to build a 520 foot tall hotel tower, a 645 square foot condo tower and a shopping mall. In 2004 the La Concha was closed and demolished to make room for the new project. The iconic concrete shell lobby was carefully dismantled and donated to the Neon Museum who reassembled it and use it as the attractions lobby. The signage, shown here by @Las_when, is on display in the neon boneyard to this day. The project was ultimately canceled for reasons unknown and the property has been sold multiple times. It is currently owned by the Siegel Group and trust me, you don’t want these people opening a hotel/casino. Think Circus Circus, Imperial Palace and Excalibur at their worst but strip out the themes.
News