Chronicles Of Old Las Vegas

Discover one of !--?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /--America's most fascinating cities through 30 dramatic true stories spanning Las Vegas's 150-year history. James Roman takes readers on a tour through the glamorous and sometimes sordid history of Las Vegas and explains how a railroad town transformed itself into "the Entertainment Capital of the World." Essays explore the major historic events from the founding of Sin City and the building of the Hoover Dam to the rise of the Rat Pack at the Sands and the establishment of the Mafia-controlled casinos. Also included are intriguing tales of Vegas celebrities from Frank Sinatra and Liberace to Siegfried and Roy, as well as numerous historical photos and full-color maps.

"The Las Vegas Chronicles" assembles the true stories of the city's most conniving mobsters and how they ran Sin City during its heyday. Pairing McLean's personal experience working in Las Vegas with his vivid investigative style of writing, this beautifully illustrated book gives you a unique look into the history of this extraordinary city. Uncover the Hollywood myth behind Bugsy Siegel and his wacko schemes for the Flamingo Hotel, and witness the real evolution of the fabulous Strip. In addition to exploring the annals of Mob activity in Vegas, you get a handy, fact-based Timeline of Special Events that took place in Las Vegas from 1829 to present day. Enjoy spell-binding sagas about the city's forefathers, today's casino operators and celebrity performers on the stages of Las Vegas showrooms-Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis, Siegfried & Roy, and Wayne Newton. REVIEW Vegas is where fortunes are created and fortunes are lost. "The Las Vegas Chronicles" tells the history of the people who made Las Vegas, and what has become of them over the centuries, from eccentrics who tossed millions at getting the city's legend gang, stories of gangsters, politics, and the modern atmosphere of keeping the games in favor of the Casino. With plenty of stories, "The Las Vegas Chronicles" is a choice collection for anyone who wants to understand the many twists and turns of Las Vegas's long history. -- "Midwest Book Review" "The Las Vegas Chronicles" by Andrew McLean is a truly remarkable read. After doing extensive research for my Las Vegas police and Mob books, I figured I knew most everything worth knowing about Sin City. At least that's what I thought until I read this book. In "The Las Vegas Chronicles" Mr. McLean accurately tells his readers the history of the city, who the key players were-both good and bad, the celebrities, the gaming, trivia, it's all there. I highly recommend this book to all readers. And if you're a history buff, a Las Vegas fan, or a bit of both, "The Las Vegas Chronicles" is a must read. -- Denny Griffin, author "Policing Las Vegas," "The Battle for Las Vegas," "CULLOTTA" "Although I lived and worked in Las Vegas, Andrew J. McLean's, The Las Vegas Chronicles is a highly educational and enjoyable read. It seems that with so many subjects, the facts are hard to come by. Factual history is really the core of civilization. We also tend to fictionalize so much of what is our history and Andrew McLean seems to have done his homework of what really happened and has now shared his findings with the rest of the world. The subject of Las Vegas has always captured the imagination and being that it's history is so unique, I couldn't put this book down. I witnessed much of what The Las Vegas Chronicles described although until now I never knew how or why so many events happened. The book is laid out in a very organized way so that the reader can fully see the transitions and metamorphous of Las Vegas in chronological order. I sometimes ask myself if I am going to miss something by not reading a particular book The historical information makes this book a great addition to one's library." -- Jay Rankin, author of "Under the Neon Sky...A Las Vegas Doorman's Story" "A wonderfully lucid and fascinating book of the Las Vegas scene during the mobster days and the transition to corporate ownership of the casinos. A fascinating book of stories, facts, and illustrations of one of the most interesting cities in the world. Andy's personality shows though in his fluid writing style. A most enjoyable must-read book." -- "BR" Bob L. Riley, Aerospace Engineer retired "Very enjoyable and interesting read. Anyone with a gambling/Vegas background will be interested in this book." -- Al Rainosek, Ph.D.

There's more to Los Angeles than lights, camera, action! From the city's early, devilish days populated by missionaries, robber barons, oil wells and orange groves, Chronicles of Old Los Angeles explains how the Wild West became the Left Coast. Learn how Alta California became the 31st state, and how ethnic waves built Los Angeles—from Native Americans to Spaniards, Latinos and Asians, followed by gangsters, surfers, architects and the Hollywood pioneers who brought fame to the City of the Angels. Then, discover the city yourself with six guided walking/driving tours of LA's historic neighborhoods, profusely illustrated with color photographs and period maps.

Did you know that Central Park was built on Seneca Village, a community of modest farms, also known as a safe haven for runaway slaves? Did you know Washington Square Park used to be a potter's field? Author James Roman, a native New Yorker, brings to this guide an intimate knowledge and love of New York's neighborhoods and the quirks of history that have helped shape the city. Discover 400 years of innovation through the true stories of the visionaries, risk-takers, dreamers, and schemers such as John Jacob Astor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Stanford White, Gertrude Whitney and more with historical photographs and period maps. This second edition includes a new Broadway chapter and completely updated walking tours. A Must Read for anyone who loves New York City.

Imagine what it must have been like to be in Las Vegas during its most glamorous and eventful years: the 1950s, the 1960s, and the 1970s.Back then, "the boys" ran the town, dinner shows were a dollar, and vacant lots on what is now the Strip sold for $5 an acre. Tallulah played baccarat, Shecky shot dice, and Frank dealt blackjack.Fly on the Wall chronicles those times, as well as the men and women who shaped them.As a reporter for two of the city's most respected newspapers and a publicist for two of the city's most infamous casinos, Dick Odessky was in the thick of itthe proverbial fly on the wall. His recollections of Las Vegas' good old bad old days put you in the thick of it, too.

From 1940 to 1989, nearly every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip employed a full-time band or orchestra. After the late 1980s, when control of the casinos changed hands from independent owners to corporations, almost all of these musicians found themselves unemployed. Played Out on the Strip traces this major shift in the music industry through extensive interviews with former musicians. In 1989, these soon-to-be unemployed musicians went on strike. Janis McKay charts the factors behind this strike, which was precipitated by several corporate hotel owners moving to replace live musicians with synthesizers and taped music, a strategic decision made in order to save money. The results of this transitional period in Las Vegas history were both long-lasting and far-reaching for the entertainment industry. With its numerous oral history interviews and personal perspectives from the era, this book will appeal to readers interested in Las Vegas history, music history, and labor issues.

From the 1970s through the mid-1980s, the Chicago Outfit dominated organized crime in Las Vegas. To ensure the smooth flow of cash, the gangsters installed a front man with no criminal background, Allen R. Glick, as the casino owner of record, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal as the real boss of casino operations, and Tony Spilotro as the ultimate enforcer, who’d do whatever it took to protect their interests. It wasn’t long before Spilotro, also in charge of Vegas street crime, was known as the “King of the Strip.” Federal and local law enforcement, recognizing the need to rid the casinos of the mob and shut down Spilotro’s rackets, declared war on organized crime. The Battle for Las Vegas relates the story of the fight between the tough guys on both sides, told in large part by the agents and detectives who knew they had to win.

Written by local expert Sumiko Kajiyama, Cool Japan explores the heart of Japanese culture and must-see places from a uniquely Japanese perspective. First, visit Kyoto, where you will discover 1,000 years of history, from the ancient love story the Tale of Genji to the traditional tea ceremony. Then head to Tokyo to experience Japan's cutting-edge capital, where the 21st-century kawaii culture collides with landmarks like the Kabuki-za Theater and the Imperial Palace. For a different perspective, venture outside the city to the serene towns of Tohoku, the region largely affected by the 2011 tsunami disaster. Informative, entertaining, and useful, this book is an ideal introduction for any traveler looking for a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, past and present.