This is how I remember my Las Vegas. Coming from LA on the only highway to Vegas, you know you are in Las Vegas when you see the Sands Hotel. Off course, being a new visitor in 1954, I head straight to downtown Las Vegas. Binions had it's 1 million dollars on display, dollar chips on the crap tables were silver dollars, free shows right off the casino floor and prime rib dinner at a ridiculous low price of which I forgot how much it was. Las Vegas was segregated back then. Even entertainers like Louis Armstrong have to stay at places outside of town.
Nice film. I left Vegas in 1954! My dad finally got a fellowship to study with Frank Lloyd Wright. So we were leaving. My dad was the architect for Mr. Siegel and supervised the building of The Flamingo Hotel and Casino. That is generally considered the first modern post war gaming establishment.
I’ve been watching a number of early Las Vegas videos on RU-vid. This one really stands out because of your narration. So many other videos just show footage with no context. It really is amazing to look across the street from the Dunes and see wide-open land! And to see how everyone dressed up to go out-so unlike today. And the trip to Disneyland was a real bonus!
Sadly, as I sat in my suite in the Encore a couple years ago, I watched the demolition of the Riv. I used to go there in the late 70's and early '80s as it was a classy place to go then... This is truly rare, classic footage, a piece of history. Thanks for posting.
Such a cool video, thanks for showing it to the world ! I didn't make it to Vegas until I was 50 in 2013.......been back several times since....would have loved to see it back then. One of my daughters is currently in Vegas. I'm thinking she will move there after she graduates from college. Thanks again....I'm sure your mother and father would be happy you shared this.
Ronnie, we also moved to town in 1955, I was 4, and we lived at 1600 Pacific down by the Showboat... these films are simply amazing.. I went to Crestwood then My mom and dad worked at the Fremont, and then dad went to the Riviera.. I am kinda surprised that we didn't know each other better. I played in a band first with Jim Alcivar, who went on to play with Ronnie Montrose. Later, I was in a band with Dennis Prell, Don Iodice, a few others came and went...we played at the Gold Room a bunch and I remember doing a battle of the bands at the Convention Center in the late '60's..we opened for Three Dog Night at the Armory lol..
I know this was a personal home video of ur family but with sincere regards thank you so much for a glimpse Into the past where someone with my skin color wouldn't be allowed to be around to see at such a time so thanks for that now fond memory I can share with you and others! 🤟
These home movies are absolutely fabulous..this of course was the time period when each of the Las Vegas Hotels/Casinos were built, run and operated by mobsters from the big cities back east...the film quality of the old 8mm camera is astoundingly good, and the sight and names of the legendary hotels which started the Strip, is like a historical time travel back to a much simpler and more innocent time...Congrats on posting this unique video....
Incredible video by the way brought back so many memories. My father was featured Pianist in the Minsky Burlesque Show at the Dunes in 1958 and he fell in love with the city. We moved there from Los Angeles St Patricks day 1971 just after the Sylmar quake. They were just finishing up the New Highway into town but we came into town on the old two Lane road and past the Welcome to Las Vegas sign my first memory of the casinos was the Silver Slipper sign with the giant Neon Pump lol....
Nice sentiments about your Father.Your Mother & Father made a lovely couple. You 2 kids were very fortunate as you pointed out; fine parents. Thank You. If you have any 50s/ 60s footage of any kind please share. Thank you for this historical home movie.
Me and my brother Mike were indeed lucky. Never once did we see our parents fight or have a bad argument. No drinking, no gambling, no drugs in our house, but plenty of home cooking, love and respect for one another.
I remember going to Las Vegas in the late 70's and early 80's we would have arrived in the early morning around 4am at the state line and my step dad would say there's Vegas !! me and my brothers would get excited because from the distance it looked like a huge carnival with all those lights blinking. ..and finally when we got on the strip first stop circus , circus playing the dime toss winning lots of drinking glasses and small sauces etc. and I would look down from to balcony looking for our mom and step dad playing the slots machines sometimes when I go to circus, circus today in the 2000 years I would go to the top balcony and look down at everyone playing the slots and it would remind me of those years when I was a kid doing this great memories we had. ...
Born and raised in Las Vegas since 1985 and I still love this city but wish I grew up in the 70’s my pops told me it was the golden era lol and boy does he have his stories....
Small correction Ronnie; across from the Dunes is where Bally's is today. The original MGM sold to Bally's in the 80's, then built the current MGM, in '94 on Tropicana! What you said about the signs on the strip was spot on. I moved to LV in spring of '61 when I was 9. We moved from Canoga Park & I remember arriving around mid-nite on the strip, seeing the Hacienda riding gaucho, the Dunes sultan & the Silver Slipper & thinking I was on a different planet! Talk about your 'Electric Koolaid!' After 60 yrs in Vegas & living stories that would make Serling & King listen up , I, a couple months ago, moved out of ' Dodge ,' to a small town, your dad's flicks gave me a super nostalgic rush ! Gracias mi hermano !
What a real treat to see and feel what was seen back when young,and allow the younger folks to feel a bit what we expierienced.Blessings,and good health for you and yours.
That was awesome video of LV.. I worked at the Riviera for a couple years. I always thought it was a Hole Katy's coffee shop, Khristopher's, Crazy girls, Neil Diamond impersonator Jay White. Which I have a Christmas gift from Jay White Starbucks coffee. And when it comes down to it I wish Las Vegas was still the old ways. But keeping an old hotel in Las Vegas is like keeping an old pair of shoes.
I actually attended the Grand Opening of the original MGM Grand Hotel and although I was only 7 or so I remember seeing some of the big stars from the Old Classics. My favorite childhood memory of L:as Vegas is going to see all the wonderful old movies with my pops screened in their Movie Theatre which had couches rather than seats and drinks could be ordered at the touch of a button admission Price $2.50
Thank you so much for taking us along. I think the El Rancho was the first Strip Hotel-casino. And, you mentioned Disneyland: a bunch of us college students worked there in 1965.
Aw, what a beautiful video of your family trip to Las Vegas and Disneyland! Thank you for sharing this amazing video of your magical time there!🥰😃😃👍✨💖✨
Nice video. I am glad to see the old vegas. It had more character then today. Your dad was smart to film vegas back in the 50s becasue people can see the better vegas.
Wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Your memories of that time are great. Enjoyed the clip of Disneyland. This is priceless. Wish I could give this 100 thumbs up. Thanks again for sharing.
What an amazing video and kudos to your dad for documenting early Las Vegas. I wonder if he realized the significance it would bring for generations to come. Although this is on RU-vid, you should consider donating a copy to the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society.
Very interesting old Vegas footage Your “ matter of fact “ insight / narration adds intrigue as well 3:20 your mom slipping into the casino in full evening wear and pearl earrings it looks like / wow a different time lol
I grew up in a house in east Vegas 70s,80s,in the 70s,there was barely anything all the way up to Sunrise Mountain.Just in the east alone,I can remember when so many places were dirt.Interesting video!!!
Being a native Las Vegan (b 1955), these home movies are priceless to me. The opening of the video, shows a three person family posing outside their motel room called the "Alaskan", that according to the narration by the then five year old boy, sat close to where the Stratosphere is today. They came from the illegal gaming mecca Newport Kentucky he says. The father in this picture at the beginning here is wearing his dealing apron for his employer, the Riviera, which as he says, was one of three major resorts to open in Las Vegas that year. One of my best friends, was born here in 1957, after his family also moved from Newport, Kentucky (1954), where his father was employed in gaming. (dealer) Thanks to Ron for the upload -I'm assuming he's the five yr old in the picture at the beginning of the video here.
Back in these days, the slot machines used real coins, and when you hit the sound was of coins dropping into the trays, and bells. Very noisy, but I think the sound was superior to the sounds slots make today.
Thank you so much for sharing this video. I love vintage home movies and Las Vegas. This video was the best of both worlds. Beautiful family. What ever happened to you parents?
Thanks for the nice comment. My dad was an Executive with Ceasars Palace and died of a heart attack/stroke at a fairly early age, mom lived to be 82 and died of a heart attack. Early Las Vegas was so much fun, I think about it a lot lately. Thanks again.
I get so excited about Vegas nostalgia trips like this until I remember that the most talented entertainer on the strip, Sammy Davis Jr, was't allowed to stay at the hotels he sang and danced in simply because he was, well, you see how nonsensical it is right?
A couple of billion dollars in Cars...Nice video...I think the Flamingo is considered the real start of Las Vegas fame..We went to Disneyland in 1955 and there was still a lot of construction going on . Ronald Reagan was the spokesperson. The mini cars were a hoot...Thanks for the video.
Thank you so much for sharing this, may your father be at peace, also, I’m curious how that hitchhiker life ended up being, truly a window to the past.
Funny to see all these young kids here who are now in their 60's. Filmed about 3 yrs before I was born. Lived in Vegas from 1986 to 2013, so I got to see some of these old casino's like the Dunes before they were made to disappear. I preferred that Vegas to the new one.
Nothing to Sunrise Mountain,I grew up that direction,my house wasn't built until 1964,across the street, houses started getting built in 1975,this is fascinating!
Desert burials were a myth. Vegas has expanded from mountain range to mountain range and construction crews have found no graves. There's a very good reason for this. Six inches below the hard pan soil of the valley, is a layer of caliche, a natural concrete which needs explosives or a jackhammer to breakup. Can't do it with a shovel and/or pick.
Hi Ronnie, I really enjoyed this video.... Did your dad work at the Yorkshire? I am in NKY myself and I'm a bit of a student of gaming lore both in NKY and in Vegas. Would love to hear more of the history of your family. Cheers... Drew
Fascinating! Unfortunate they weren't a bit more skillful and experienced with the movie camera. Our family finally made from Wisconsin to Disneyland in 1967. I was 19 and "got" Disney's concept and philosophy. The production values were spectacular and one could literally eat off the streets. What a perfect fantastic world! Did not disappoint after all those years of Mickey Mouse Club and Sunday evening Walt Disney World tv shows that generated such pent up interest for visiting his wonderful world amusement parks. Visited Las Vegas on the way to Disney's in 1967. To young to go into the casinos.
We stopped at most every roadside attraction on Route 66 from Kentucky to Las Vegas. Hamburgers that were different in each town! Motels shaped like Tee-Pee's, Indians selling jewelry and trinkets in Gallup NM, Orange groves in California .... My Mom & Dad took me everywhere and I still remember most all of it. Thanks Pete for your nice comment.
Fabulous film footage. Unfortunately Las Vegas is not like that today, it's just built up and the hospitality is not the same. The corporations took over. I look for the small places between Vegas and Pahrump. Much more pleasant. Thank you for your time and effort for posting.
Michael Davis Thanks Michael, we rode that Chevy from Newport Ky. To Las Vegas along Route 66 and we stoped at almost all the roadside attractions. I still think about what a lucky 6 year old I was!
Thank you so much for this video! I love seeing my hometown, it was great till all the liberals transplants started invading in the late 80s. Beautiful family and faboulus video, wish we could go back to this time.
