Download or read book Las Vegas Babylon written by Jeff Burbank and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2008 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What happens in Vegas doesn't necessarily stay in Vegas and the proof is in this lively and entertaining compilation of stories chronicling decades of decadence, celebrity shenanigans, and political corruption, as well as the glitz and glamour of the casinos that pass for everyday life in Las Vegas. Underneath the city's present success lies many infamous tales of excess and debauchery. Using new information from recently released FBI documents, Jeff Burbank brings to life the Vegas mob in its heyday, recounting never-before-heard tales of the mobsters who made Vegas what it is today. But mobsters aren't the only ones with skeletons in Las Vegas' closet. Over the years, Hollywood stars have had their share of the limelight. Burbank has uncovered the many fateful, and often amusing, incidents that have befallen the glamorous and here he recalls the details of the darkest moments in the lives of the famous and foolish: Marilyn Monroe's quickie divorce; boxer Sonny Liston's secret heroin deal just before his death; The Doors singer Jim Morrison's arrest for fighting on the Strip; and the hookers who trick-rolled comedian Tommy Smothers in his hotel room. With fast-paced and entertaining prose, Burbank captures the true stories from Las Vegas' seedy underbelly that have led to America's 100-year fascination with the aptly named Sin City.

Download or read book Early Las Vegas written by Linda Karen Miller and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the departure of the early Mormon settlers in 1857, early Las Vegas continued to be a watering stop for overland travelers on the Mormon Road/Old Spanish Trail. The area was mainly ranches and mines until railroad rivals eyed the Las Vegas Valley. Sen. William Clark of Montana bought the land and water rights to the former Mormon settlement from ranching pioneer Helen J. Stewart. The foundation for modern Las Vegas was laid in 1905, as auctioneers gaveled out the plans for the future of Las Vegas at Clark's town site. Today, those sights and sounds are recalled as the community comes together to recreate the past in Mormon settlement days and for the Helldorado Parade, marking the city's birth.

Download or read book We All Live in Vegas written by Francois Paolini and published by Stephens Press, LLC. This book was released on 2010 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Text in English & French. If Francois Paolini feels 'at home' in Las Vegas, it's because he has found here the possibility to create a world where man raises his eyes to the gods instead of keeping them fixed on the asphalt. Whether they depict a gold ingot, a dark pyramid that has dropped from a science-fiction sky, Legos for big kids or a concourse of giants, Paolini's photos are paintings of atmosphere that bring together in one image what the visitor has perceived without always analysing, as well as a concentration of astonishing dreams for those who were not there. Las Vegas as shown by Paolini is the last sacred ode to the outrageness that this modern, materialistic, down-to-earth world has forgotten. What a wonderful tribute paid to Las Vegas for its Centennial Celebration.

Download or read book Las Vegas written by Lynn Zook and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2009-03-02 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everyone thinks they know the story of Las Vegas: the showgirls, the gambling, the mob. But Las Vegas has always been much more. Families have lived here since its founding in 1905. After 1931, legalized gaming became the big tourist draw, and following World War II, the town began to market itself as Americas Playground. That is when the famed Las Vegas Strip came into its own and downtown was dubbed Glitter Gulch. These vintage postcards show how Las Vegas evolved from a dusty railroad town into the Entertainment Capital of the World, while remaining a city filled with families and pioneering souls.

Download or read book Nitt Witt Ridge written by Crash Gordon and published by Three Graces Press, LLC. This book was released on 2007-12 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philo has had a happy childhood, growing up along the Big Sur coastline in Pine Bluff, California. Life takes a turn for the perverse, however, when his hippie father, Harley, discovers the chemical compound for Blissful Living Love-Radiance of Infinite Divine Being. As self-experimenting Harley soon finds out, the new drug has some undesirable side effects: specifically, it turns people into roosters with an ungovernable lust for trees. When Harley escapes to the sensuous pleasures of the forest, vowing to never set foot on the ground again, Philo finds a surrogate father in Captain Nitt-Witt--the ancient, eccentric creator of the infamous folk art castle known as Nitt-Witt Ridge. During a summer apprenticeship with the Captain, Philo learns to practice Zen meditation and the manly art of trout fishing. But when a sanctimonious robo-rooster decides to wage a terrorist campaign against the citizens of Pine Bluff during the annual Helldorado Parade, it falls to Philo and the Captain to put an end to the violence by confronting the twisted family mystery that lurks behind the killer's chrome-plated beak."Crash Gordon delivers this unprecedented and extraordinary Zen koan-like novel with a voice as confident and alluring as the ancient Greek philosophers, but with much more humor.... Featuring an unpredictable cast of characters, this short but bittersweet psychedelic semi-autobiography is considerably more grassroots and elemental than anything by Richard Brautigan and is hipper, trippier, and trendier than Jakucho Setouchi. Listen... the flaming "crotch-o-lantern" is not the craziest thing you'll read about in this book, nor are the exploding canines, or the befeathered chrome-metallic serial-killer.... For all of these things and more I think you, yes you, should purchase a copy of Nitt-Witt Ridge today and devour it. In the process you'll become--something more than you were!"--The Alternative

Download or read book Billboard written by and published by . This book was released on 2005-03-05 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile entertainment issues and trends.

Download or read book Clark County written by Crystal R. Van Dee and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1902, Sen. William Clark purchased a large portion of the Las Vegas Ranch to create a rail stop for his latest business venture, the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. On May 15, 1905, a land auction was held, officially marking the birthday of Las Vegas. Situated in Lincoln County, Las Vegas was located over 200 miles from the county seat of Pioche, making it difficult to conduct official business from so far away. Politicians lobbied for the creation of a new county, and Clark County, named after Senator Clark, was established in 1909 with Las Vegas as the county seat. In the following century, the county developed again due to the construction of Hoover Dam, the growth of the gaming industry, and the later introduction of Basic Magnesium Industries in what would become Henderson. More than a tourist destination, Clark County is now the most populous county in Nevada and represents a diverse cross-section of the United States.

Download or read book Las Vegas written by Eugene P. Moehring and published by University of Nevada Press. This book was released on 2005-03-16 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The meteoric rise of Las Vegas from a remote Mormon outpost to an international entertainment center was never a sure thing. In its first decades, the town languished, but when Nevada legalized casino gambling in 1931, Las Vegas met its destiny. This act—combined with the growing popularity of the automobile, cheap land and electricity, and changing national attitudes toward gambling—led to the fantastic casinos and opulent resorts that became the trademark industry of the city and created the ambiance that has made Las Vegas an icon of pleasure. This volume celebrates the city’s unparalleled growth, examining both the development of its gaming industry and the creation of an urban complex that over two million people proudly call home. Here are the colorful characters who shaped the city as well as the political, business, and civic decisions that influenced its growth. The story extends chronologically from the first Paiute people to the construction of the latest megaresorts, and geographically far beyond the original township to include the several municipalities that make up today’s vast metropolitan Las Vegas area.

Download or read book Nevada Yesterdays written by Frank Wright and published by Stephens Press, LLC. This book was released on 2005 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For 18 years, Las Vegans have enjoyed small helpings of their own rich history, served up by public radio station KNPR. Hearing well-told tales of characters with names like "Whiskey Pete," and the comic-opera romance between a famous female evangelist and a boyfriend called "Whataman," many a listener has wished for a transcript. This book fulfills that wish, presenting more than 100 selected mostly by the program's original author, historian Frank Wright. Wright mined the pits and pockets of local lore for nuggets little-known to the public, misunderstood by most, or merely enough fun to be worth telling once more.

Download or read book West Las Vegas written by Patricia Hershwitzky and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2011-05-09 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Original Las Vegas faced stiff odds with fluctuating fortunes throughout the 20th century. Celebrated as the McWilliams Townsite in 1904, Las Vegass first commercial enterprise was quickly crushed by savvy developers owning most of the water rights on the southeast side of the railroad tracks. Deprived of resources and services, the tent-riddled ground soon earned the name Ragtown and was populated by the areas poorest, the majority being minorities. During the 1940s and 1950s, a soaring influx of blacks from small plantation towns in the South descended upon Las Vegas, seeking a promised land during the boom of wartime industry, but Jim Crow laws flew in with them. Ironically, segregation led to the emergence of the Westside as an enclave of successful businesses, services, entertainment and casino venues, dozens of churches, and middle-class housing. Although integration brought an exodus and decline, a bold new generation of West Las Vegans is once again revitalizing the original Westside community.

Download or read book Sun Sin Suburbia written by Geoff Schumacher and published by University of Nevada Press. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than forty million visitors per year travel to Sin City to visit the gambling mecca of the world. But gambling is only one part of the city’s story. In this carefully documented history, Geoff Schumacher tracks the rise of Las Vegas, including its vital role during World War II; the rise of the Strip in the 1950s; the explosive growth of the 1990s; and the colossal collapse triggered by the real estate bust and economic crisis of the mid-2000s. Schumacher surveys the history of the iconic casinos, debunking myths and highlighting key players such as Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian, and Steve Wynn. Schumacher’s history also profiles the Las Vegas where more than two million people live. He explores the neighborhoods sprawling beyond the Strip’s neon gleam and uncovers a diverse community offering much more than table games, lounge acts, and organized crime. Schumacher discusses contemporary Las Vegas, charting its course from the nation’s fastest-growing metropolis to one of the Great Recession’s most battered victims. Sun, Sin & Suburbia will appeal to tourists looking to understand more than the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas and to newcomers who want to learn about their new hometown. It will also be an essential addition to any longtime Nevadan’s library of local history. First published in 2012 by Stephens Press, this paperback edition is now available from the University of Nevada Press.

Download or read book Without a Trace written by Marion Collins and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2002-11-18 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The true story of Robert Durst, the dashing real estate scion suspected in the murder of an elderly man whose body washed ashore in Galveston, Texas, in 2001. Durst was also suspected in the murder of a prominent journalist, as well as in the disappearance of his wife 20 years earlier. Collins looks at how Durst went from a powerful New York City businessman into a fugitive wanted in a murder investigation. of photos. Original.

Download or read book Showgirls of Las Vegas written by Lisa Gioia-Acres and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Little girls all over the world may hope to grow up to become a princess, but few ever realize the dream. For those who grow up to become showgirls, they go far beyond, becoming goddess-like objects of men's desire and the epitome of feminine beauty, elegance, and class. As soon as resort casinos began to dot the dusty Las Vegas landscape, major stars, extravagant show productions, and beautiful women helped promote the city to become the ultimate adult playground. In the early 1950s, when women began to dance and parade on the stages of Las Vegas, the showgirl persona evolved from the seductive burlesque-style performance art to the elegant productions modeled after those staged in France, with women dripping in furs and feathers, or in nothing more than a G-string and rhinestones. The over-the-top Las Vegas productions may have faded into obscurity, leaving but one show, Bally's Jubilee, as the longest running showgirl show on the Las Vegas Strip, but the iconic showgirl will forever represent Las Vegas in all of its glitz and glory.

Download or read book Ragtown written by Kelly Stone Gamble and published by Red Adept Publishing, LLC. This book was released on 2023-09-12 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Helen Carter lives in the back seat of her father’s Model T in the harsh Nevada desert, surrounded by thousands of desperate souls trying to endure the hardships of the Great Depression. When her father dies while working on the Hoover Dam diversion tunnels, she finds herself alone. In this unforgiving landscape where marriage, prostitution, and starvation seem to be her only viable choices, Helen is determined to defy society's expectations of a young woman and create her own American dream. She relies on her resourcefulness to survive but soon realizes she can't go it alone. Ezra Deal, a young dam worker, brought his sister to Nevada in search of the father of her child, only to have the man reject her. Tragically, both his sister and the baby pass away during childbirth, leaving Ezra with a profound sense of guilt. Determined to distance himself from any further responsibilities, he focuses on his job and locating the man who callously denied his sister. But when he learns that his friend Helen is running from not only the law but also a Las Vegas gangster, he must decide between his independent lifestyle and helping her. As Helen and Ezra grow closer and become more invested in the diversion of the Colorado River from its course, their lives parallel this monumental change. Ezra can picture building a life with Helen, but she has other ideas. With the help of a thirteen-year-old runaway, a few prostitutes, a dead desperado, and Ezra, Helen embarks on a journey to live life on her terms. Incorporating actual dramatic events gleaned from the oral histories of the dam workers, Ragtown highlights a time in American history when ordinary men and women overcame the challenges of the Great Depression and thrived.

Download or read book Growing up Around Tombstone written by Charles Bernard Escapule and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2013-02-14 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growing up Around Tombstone is a family history of the Escapules. They are one of the oldest families still living in Tombstone, having emigrated from France during the early 1870s. The books tells how the Escapules mined and built ranches but mostly it tells of the familys life and struggles as recalled by one of the second generation Escapules born in Tombstone. There is a detailed account of family life, ranch work and horses, working and developing the mines, and making a living. The story takes the reader from the early days in Tombstone, through the war years, and up until the mid-1950s. The Escapules were a close, hard- working, and loving family. There is also a good depiction of life as it was lived by the townspeople. The book is rich in old family photographs and documents that help give a sense of the times and how people lived their day to day lives. There are also stories of many of the people living in Tombstone and the surrounding area. Ernest and Mildred Escapule and their family are the main characters. Tombstone, Arizona, became world famous for the rich silver and gold strike before the turn of the century, its lawless days, and the gun fight at the O K Corral.

Download or read book Icons of the American West 2 volumes written by Gordon Morris Bakken and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2008-06-30 with total page 636 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The American West is rich in lore, cultural roots, and iconic images. The subject of countless movies, books, and songs, in many ways it embodies the American spirit. This lively two-volume set presents the stories of some of the most influential and representative Western icons—those that have captured the nation's imagination since the early days of westward exploration and that continue to do so within the environmental and technological frontier that is the modern West. This accessible treatment of the untamed enterprise of the 'Old West'—including cowboys, wild west shows, and gun battles—and the continued entrepreneurial imagination of the paradisical 'New West'—including environmentalists and the incorporation of national parks—elevates the reader's understanding of oft-romanticized subjcts and the conflicts and cultural changes that made them icons. Narrative entries include: ; Chief Joseph ; George Armstrong Custer ; Gold Rush ; Winchester Model 1873 ; Frederic Remington ; John Muir ; Las Vegas ; Bill Gates ; Disneyland ; Yellowstone National Park ; Sierra Club With vibrant photos and descriptive sidebars, this comprehensive set is a must-have for students of American history and culture.

Download or read book Stars in My Eyes written by Max Bygraves and published by Franz Steiner Verlag. This book was released on 2003 with total page 620 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the 1920s to the present day, Max Bygraves, one of our best-loved entertainers, shares his personal memories of a glittering life in show business, and the greats he has worked with along the way. These include Jack Benny, Judy Garland, Frankie Howerd, Eric Sykes, Danny La Rue, Shirley Bassey, The Goons, Gracie Burns, Laurence Olivier and Peter Sellers, who have all brightened a very full life, and Max has marvellous stories, both hilarious and poignant, to tell about them all. Stars in My Eyes celebrates a dazzling milestone in Bygraves' theatre, television, film and recording career.