PCP - 360 POV: Casino E-8

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In this installment, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by analyzing the scenes showcaseing Andy's Warning to Ace and the view of Fremont St from the restaurant at Plaza.

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-6

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In this installment, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by analyzing Ace & Gingers wedding, when Nicky gets put in the black book, the location listed as "Back Home" and when Ace catches Ginger with her former boyfriend/pimp.

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-5

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In this installment, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by analyzing the view from Ace's Penthouse at night

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-4

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In this installment, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by analyzing the view from Ace's Penthouse when Nicky comes to visit and the car ride Ace and Nicky take around Fremont St. 

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-3

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In this installment of 360 Vegas POV, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by analyzing the scene when Andy Stone asks Ace to run the Tangiers as well as the introduction of Ginger, Ace's future wife. 

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-2

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In this installment of 360 Vegas POV, we continue our analysis of Martin Scorsese's movie Casino by breaking down two scenes that will help to establish the geographic layout for the movie's version of the city of Las Vegas.  While we do that, we'll compare the films version of Vegas to the one that actually existed at the time as well as today.  

360 Vegas POV: Casino E-1

 

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Casino is the story of Sam "Ace" Rothstein and the events that occurred while he ran the Tangiers hotel and casino in Las Vegas.  The movie is based on the real life of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal and what happened while he was running the Stardust.   

What's fun about this movie are the choices Scorsese makes, how often his story accurately mirrors the real events that inspired it and where they deviate from one another.  Not only the differences in the narrative but in the movie version of the city of Las Vegas.  Both are set in the 1970s through the early 80s.  However since the movie was filmed in 1994, without the use of modern CGI, differences between how the landscape looked during the time the story is set in and what it looked like during filming were unavoidable.  Despite that challenge, Scorsese made the conscious effort to represent the city as it existed during that time when he could, changing it when it benefited the story. 

In that spirit, lets play a game.  We want to see how close the movie storyline matches what really happened. While doing that, we'll compare the landscape in Scorsese's version of Vegas to the real one.   

We'll start by assuming both are exactly the same and analyze the movie to either confirm this or establish that they're different.  As we encounter moments that conflict with the chronological events, we'll acknowledge them, then remove them from the equation so we can move on connecting the moments in time that still match up.  We'll continue doing this until we're finally shown something that breaks the last connection we have, to the continuity of the real events. 

Regarding the landscape, we will allow it to help us progress in the timeline but not to establish a break in it.  Conflicts will simply be documented differences between the movie landscape and the real one.  That being said, one rule we will make is you can't make things up.  The Tangiers will be the only fictional landmark.  The rest of the landscape can only be reconfigured, either in location or in its evolution.  The moment something can't simply be reconfigured to explain what you are seeing, the game is over.  That includes making changes to the infrastructure.  IE, things like roads and landmarks exist exactly as they are, or were, in the Las Vegas until something is shown to force us to relocate them.  So if we are driving along the strip and after the Flamingo we see the Golden Nugget, then that's where the Golden Nugget exists in films version of Las Vegas.  It doesn't become a problem until we see the Golden Nugget shown again but located in a different geographical location 

Also, understand that an argument can be made to challenge any of this.  This is just a chance to over analyze a movie and talk about Vegas while doing it. 

360 Vegas Review: Golden Gate Hotel & Casino Spring 2016

It is literally the original hotel in Las Vegas, built in 1906 and given the address 1 Fremont St. It was originally the Hotel Nevada, then in 31 it became a casino and was renamed Sal Sagev, Las Vegas backwards until 1955 when a group of Italian-Americans from San Francisco rethemed it into the Golden Gate.

Fast forward to today and this isn’t what you would expect out of a 110 year old property. This is the very definition of classic. It’s old without being dated, it’s small without feeling cramped and it's themed without being gaudy. Much of that can be attributed to it’s most recent owners, Greg and Derek Stevens. Their 2012 renovation may be the most subtle and functional ever in a place that doesn’t really have any space to grow. With 122 rooms Golden Gate is the smallest hotel/casino in Vegas on Fremont or the Strip but again, that somehow adds to it’s charm.

And the future looks even brighter. The Stevens group’s recent acquisition of La Bayou next door seems to indicate plans for expansion of the Golden Gate. And the purchase of the Las Vegas Club, Glitter Gultch and Mermaids across the street makes it clear that they are making their claim to shape Fremont St as they see fit. Those who are fans of the D have reason to believe a players club card that connects all 3 properties is coming soon.

Rating (scale of 1-5)

Mark - 3.5/5

Keren - 3/5

Alastair - 4/5

360 Vegas Review: New York New York Hotel & Casino Spring 2016 (aka Kayotay Tackos)

The themed resort is one of the things that makes Vegas so special.  If you just want to gamble, you can find casinos all over the place.  Only in Vegas can you walk from an Egyptian pyramid to a Mid-evil Castle to New York City without even traveling a mile.   

Enter NYNY, MGM’s contribution to the Vegas themed offerings.  Located on the corner of the busiest intersection in the United States, Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd, NYNY was a huge hit from day one.  It aimed for the mid-market right out of the gate and they came.  Some have argued that the property has an identity crisis with Cirque’s most provocative production in residency while also offering a huge arcade and a roller coaster, clearly aimed at entertaining those not old enough to gamble. 

Today, it’s one of the anchor properties of MGM’s outdoor promenade “The Park”, a play off of New York’s central park, if only in general concept and location to the themed resort, complete with a 20,000 seat arena and home to the cities first professional team.  Coming up on it’s 20th anniversary, it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

360 Vegas Review: O'Shea's @LINQ Spring 2014

Never has the death of a shittier place been so lamented by so many.  When O'Shea's was closed in 2012 to make way for the Linq project, even though it was announced it would return once the Linq project was done, people bemoaned.

Maybe people were skeptical that Caesars entertainment wouldn't keep its promise. Maybe they thought it wouldn't be the same or maybe people just really like having their shoes make that suction cup sound as they attempt to traverse across the urine and vomit covered linoleum. 

Whatever the reason, people celebrated its return. Little more than an Irish bar with a casino in it, O'Shea's made sure to bring back its staples, Beer pong, karaoke, cheep booze and gambling as well as the drunken loud vibe are alive and well. In fact, it’s been so successful that Linq promised to expand O'Shea's into the space next door left vacant due to a failed deal with a potential tenant. However that has yet to materialize.

Rating (scale of 1-5)

Mark – 3.5

Keren – 2

Alistair – 3

360 Vegas Review: Harrah's Hotel & Casino Fall 2014

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When some people think of Vegas, they think of over the top opulence.  Elegance unlike you've ever experienced. Fine dining, lavish suites, lush pool areas and larger than life themes are just some of the
amazing options you can expect to enjoy during your Vegas vacation. You can expect none of these when you visit Harrah's. 

That isn't meant to insinuate that Harrah's isn't a nice property because it is. Adequate might be a word that best describes it.  It has clean rooms, decent food options, entertaining shows and a pool. The table limits are low, gaming options are many and it has a nice location on the strip. There are far worse places to stay in Vegas. 

Unless you are looking for lavish amenities, odds are you won't be disappointed. What Harrah's lacks more than anything is an experience.  Sure they do make something of an effort to have a Mardi gras
theme but there isn't much holding that vibe together.  What Harrah's offers is reasonably priced amenities. It’s the kind of place you store your stuff in while doing all the other things you came to Vegas to do. 

Vegas Mate Rating – 3/5 chips

Mark, Keren & Alastair – 3/5 chips

360 Vegas Review: The D Hotel & Casino Fall 2014

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Originally introduced to the market as the SunDance hotel & casino by Moe Dalitz, the D renovated the properties 2nd incarnation as the Fitzgerald from the bottom of the options barrel into something Fremont St desperately need, a cool option. You can feel the difference the moment you walk in the door. The energy is palpable, young and extremely alluring.  

When plans were announced and the name unveiled, shows like this venomously hated it. When we were told the name didn't have one meaning but 3; Downtown, its location in las Vegas, D, the nickname of new owner Derek Stevens as well as for Detroit, his hometown, it didn't help. The name and theme were called everything from unimaginative & dumb to the worst property name in Las Vegas history. We said that.  We were so wrong.

What Derek Stevens and company did to the Fitzgerald is nothing short of remarkable. It's hard to believe its even the same property. How someone was able to take that unique casino layout, erase all the bad memories it recalled upon first site and replace it with the vibe it has on the bones of the past is beyond impressive.  But its not just the casino.  The D has really nice renovated rooms that carry through the cool vibe the property exudes. It has some quality, all be it limited, dining options, low
limits and even vintage gaming options on the 2nd floor casino including the only surviving sigma derby machine on Fremont.  Simply put, The D is the best property in downtown Las Vegas today. 

Vegas Mate Rating – 3/5 chips

Mark – 5/5 chips

Keren & Alastair - 4/5 chips

360 Vegas Review: Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino Spring 2014

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Mandalay Bay, or as some have referred to it as, the Mirage south, is a property that very much earns that comparison.  From the gold tri-point tower, aquatic animal encounter, iconic pop cirque show and quality high-end dining, Mandalay Bay needed to be the Mirage 2.0 to overcome the tremendous disadvantaged of being the southernmost property on the Las Vegas Strip.  Fortunately, it was
successful.

Mandalay Bay is exquisite without being pretentious, high-end without being snobby.  It is simultaneously the culmination and, inadvertently, the downfall of circus circus enterprises, but we’ll save details about that for Vintage Vegas.  Like the Mirage before it, MGM took it over and also
like the Mirage, they’ve taken good care of it.

Vegas Mate Rating – 4/5 chips

Mark, Keren & Alastair – 4/5 chips

360 Vegas Review: Flamingo Hotel & Casino Spring 2014

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The Flamingo. The property that changed everything.  The 3rd hotel/casino built on highway 91 introduced luxury to it.  It created one of the cities most famous, all be it the most inaccurate, story of
a mobsters involvement in a casino and made Bugsy Segal the cities unofficial father of the strip.  

The Flamingo has grown and expanded to the point that its original exterior design is unrecognizable in its current incarnation. It's said that virtually nothing remains from the original construction however stories of found hidden underground tunnels and bullet proof rooms live on in order to keep the legend of Bugsy alive.  While it is true that the Flamingo has fallen all the way to the low end of the market, it has outlived many properties that came after it including icons like the Sands, the Dunes & the Desert Inn. 

Standing as proof that location, along with a well run property that adapts to its environment and evolves to cater to it, is truly how you survive in the implosion era. When you consider the table limits, the low room rates and having one of the best pools in Vegas, the Flamingo is the best option in the market for the thrifty visitor. 

Vegas Mate Rating – 3/5 chips

Mark, Keren & Alastair – 3/5 chips