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Since 1999, providing a panoramic perspective of Las Vegas, including: history, food reviews, hiking, day trips, local information and photos of this great city.

On this Date January 11, 2006 the Old Showboat/Castaways Hotel was imploded

January 11, 2018
castaways-implosion

castaways-implosion

The Castaways Hotel and Casino (2000-2004), formerly the Showboat (1954–2000), was a hotel and casino located at the north end of the Boulder Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hotel consisted of a 19 story tower containing 445 rooms, a 80,000-square-foot casino and an adjacent RV park. After 50 years the hotel was closed on January 29, 2004 and the hotel town was later imploded on January 11, 2006.

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On this Date: January 10, 1957, The Dunes becomes the first hotel featuring a topless show

January 10, 2018

On January 10, 1957 the Dunes on the Las Vegas Strip becomes the first hotel/casino to offer a topless show called the Minsky’s Follies. Minsky’s inspiration was modeled on Parisian nightclub shows.  The state was not amused but the show was a big success and set a record of 16,000 in just one week.

Minsky's Follies

Minsky’s Follies at Dunes was the first topless show in Nevada

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On This Date: January 8, 1935, Elvis Presley Was Born

January 8, 2018
Viva Las Vegas Love in Las Vegas

“Viva Las Vegas” 1964 Movie Poster

Elvis Presley  was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as “the King of Rock and Roll”, or simply, “the King”

Here is a list of Elvis engagements in the Vegas heyday  1969 – 1976.

April 23 – May 9, 1956, Elvis made his first appearance in Las Vegas at the New Frontier Hotel in the spring of 1956. Audiences in Las Vegas gave Elvis a cool reception.

July, 1963, Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret are in Las Vegas filming what would be Presley’s 15th film, “Viva Las Vegas.” The movie was released in June of 1964.

July 31 – Aug. 28, 1969, The King is back, Elvis returns to Las Vegas. He is booked for a four-week, 57-show run at the newly built International Hotel (later the hotel name changed to the Hilton Hotel then to the Las Vegas Hotel). The show breaks all existing Las Vegas attendance records. Elvis’ first live album is recorded during the shows.

January – February, 1970, Elvis returns to Las Vegas for a month-long run at the International Hotel. Once again, Elvis breaks attendance records.

Aug. 10 – Sept. 7, 1970: A month-long appearance at the International Hotel. MGM films some of the rehearsals and stage performance for its documentary “Elvis – That’s the Way It Is.”

January – February, 1971, A month-long appearance at the International Hotel.

Aug. 9 – Sept. 6, 1971 Elvis returns to Las Vegas and appears at the International Hotel to record audiences. During his month-long appearance he is given the Lifetime Achievement Award presented each year during the Grammy Awards. Elvis was 36 years old.

1972 – 1975 Elvis performs a few months per year in Vegas for the over the next 3 years at the International.

August 18 – September. 5, 1975 Elvis opens at the Hilton (now called the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino), but ends his appearances on Aug. 20, 1975, when he is flown to Memphis and hospitalized due to illness.

December 2-15, 1975, Elvis returns to the Hilton to make up for shows that were cancelled because of his ill health.

December 2-12, 1976, Elvis appears at the Hilton for a two-week engagement. It turns out to be his final Las Vegas appearances.

August 16,1977, Elvis dies at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. In Las Vegas, fans and friends mourn the passage of an entertainment and Vegas legend.

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Top 5 Live Dealers Online Casinos

January 5, 2018

Croupier

Live games have always had a special place in the hearts of gamblers. This is probably why they love engaging in live sets in exclusive casinos. However, with the evolution of technology, online casinos have found a way to make the betting experience livelier and more interactive by providing the live casino option to gamers. This is made even more comfortable as you can play live dealer free slots with the opportunity to pay with PayPal once you decide to play the real money games. Take a look at the top 5 live dealer online casinos that you should consider wagering in the next time you want to enjoy a live deal.

Source: https://free-slots-no-download.com

  1. Genting Casino

Whether you are new to this casino or an established member, you are offered lucrative bonuses. A wide selection of sets is given to players. Members who choose to play with this casino can appreciate the unlimited options availed. The management renders a substantial number of games like:

  • Immersive Roulette
  • Caribbean Stud Poker
  • European Roulette
  • Dream Catcher
  • London Roulette, etc.

Also, VIP card games are part of the deal.

  1. LeoVegas Casino

This casino has made it to the list of top casinos due to its user-friendly nature. Players can access live sets either on their mobile gadgets or on PC machines. The Evolution Gaming software that supports this function operates on HD quality and is smooth. Any wager fanatic with a robust internet connection will enjoy the massive game varieties offered by LeoVegas online. A majority of the smartphone owners with supported operating systems can play on the go in this casino. The supported OS includes:

  • Android OS
  • Blackberry
  • iOS
  • Windows OS

In addition to that, members with tablets, PCs, Mac gadgets, as well as Windows powered devices have the privilege of playing live games here. On top of the classic table games, an extra two poker games are provided by the site. Sadly, you cannot play any free live games on this site. This leaves you a zero chance of testing the sets before you put stakes on them.

  1. 888 Live Casino

The playing experience at 888 Casino has numerously been termed as exceptional. Not only are the game varieties more, but you also get to play face-to-face with some of the best and most experienced dealers. As such, your betting experience becomes more exciting since the dealers keep you on toes constantly.

The live games section is loaded with impressive sets including, Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, 3 Card Poker, Texas Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Dream Catcher. There is also an Elite Lounge that hosts 5 elite Blackjack tables, and an elite Roulette table. This lounge operates 12 hours daily, and it provides members with exclusive rewards as well as high limits. Players from all over the globe can enjoy the live sets as there are several Roulette rooms with specialized dealers who can speak up to 6 languages including:

  • Spanish
  • German
  • Italian
  • French
  • Polish
  • British

In addition to this, the sets are available both for PC and mobile devices. A downloadable application is available in the app stores for those who want to play on their phones. For the ultimate experience, the Dragonara Casino is availed. Players get to visit the famous Dragonara Palace virtually and enjoy a high viewing quality.

  1. William Hill Live Casino

This casino is best known for its customer service. This has spilled over from the standard casino games to the live ones. Gamers have the chance to interact with highly trained and experienced live dealers. To top this up, the various withdrawal and deposit methods available make it convenient for gamers to make transactions.

For the VIP experience, players have within their reach exclusive dealers to play against. Welcome bonuses can be utilized well to make the wagering encounter even better.

  1. Ruby Casino

Microgaming is the company providing the software that supports the live games at Ruby Casino Online. The operator on the other side of the screen handing you cards to play with makes one feel as if they were in a real casino. The screen displays all the relevant gaming statistics, history, and current gaming options available for each player. As much as the platform is slower than playing in a land-based casino, it is entirely thrilling as it offers a more realistic encounter, as opposed to the automated systems option. In this casino, you can play card games like:

  • European Roulette
  • Blackjack
  • Baccarat

As an added advantage, gamers are awarded bonuses. Unlike the traditional ones that have strict rules, live game bonuses on this site have lesser wagering requirements. If you play the baccarat games, you will not be required to fulfill any wagering requirements for the prize money awarded. Just like the other players, new gamers at the casino will benefit from the welcome bonus as well as others offered by the online betting site.

If you are an avid player of card games, these five casinos will suit you perfectly. The service provided is of high quality, and the playing possibilities are more than enough. The safety parameters put in place to ensure every player receives a private experience are sufficient. Each of the gaming sites has to improve the quality of video streaming that it provides the online players with. New players who are out to try their luck should learn the card game rules of each of the respective sets before playing. In addition to that, all players should take caution when it comes to spending money on online gambling.

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Crazy Motorcycle Stunts in Las Vegas

December 31, 2017

December 31, 1967 – Caesar Palace
It all Started with Evel Knevel. On December 31, 1967, Daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump over the water fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Knievel’s jump was a 141 foot attempt and his longest to-date. When he hit the takeoff ramp, he felt the motorcycle unexpectedly decelerate. The sudden loss of power on the takeoff caused Knievel to come up short and land on the safety ramp which was supported by a van. This caused the handlebars to be ripped out of his hands as he tumbled over them onto the pavement where he skidded into the Dunes parking lot. As a result of the crash, Knievel suffered a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles and a concussion that kept him in the hospital for a month in a reported coma for 29 days.

September 15, 1980 – Caesar Palace
Gary Wells gained much media coverage, and much physical suffering, when he unsuccessfully tried to jump a motorcycle over the water fountains at the Caesars Palace. He sustained injuries to many different parts of his body.

August 9, 1988 – Binion’s Horshoe Parking 7th Floor to Mint Parking garage 6th Floor
Johnny Airtime teamed up with Joe Reed and they billed themselves as The Guardian and The Bandit. They launched themselves from a seven story parking structure and landed 120′ later on top of a six story building. No safety ramp or landing ramp was used! Upon landing, they had to crash into a net to keep themselves from falling off the landing structure. The jump was billed as “Super Jump II” and was on the Guinness Book of Records television program. The gap between the two buildings was 90′.

February 4, 1999 – Jockey Club Towers in Las Vegas
Robbie Knievel jumped the 130-foot gap between the two 13-story Jockey Club Towers in Las Vegas. To avoid falling off the second tower, Robbie intentionally crashed his motorcycle into hay bales.

May 4, 2006 – Caesars Place
Mike ‘The Godfather’ Metzger sets a Guinness World Record with a 125-foot long motorcycle jump that included a back flip over a fountain at Caesars Palace on May 4, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

December 31, 2007 – Rio Hotel
Australian stunt rider Robbie Maddison, jumps the distance of a football leaping a world-record 322 feet, seven inches in Las Vegas on New Years Eve obliterating the previous Guinness World Record of 277 feet by Trigger Gumm.


December 31, 2008 – Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas
Robbie Knievel was scheduled to jump the volcano at the Mirage Hotel. At the actual 200-foot jump, Knievel gave the appearance of jumping the volcano, but limited the stunt to a ramp-to-ramp jump in front of the volcano with fireworks behind him.

December 31, 2008 – Paris Las Vegas
Robbie Madison, live on ESPN in front of a world audience, Maddison successfully jumped 96 feet up onto the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas and then descended a 80-foot drop off the monument to return safely to ground level. Robbie said after the jump that he may have broken his hand and had a gash to the bone in the webbing of his left hand.

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On This Date: December 16, 2009 The Aria Opened in Las Vegas

December 16, 2017
Aria at City Center in Las Vegas

Aria at City Center in Las Vegas Opened on December 16, 2009

Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino, part of the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center and makes up 2 of the  seven buildings of CityCenter. The Harmon Hotel and Spa, the Crystals, Veer Towers and the Mandarin Oriental. Aria Resort and Casino opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World Development. At 4,000,000 sq ft, and 600 ft. in height, it is the largest and tallest structure at CityCenter.

The resort’s 61 and 51-story towers contain a AAA five diamond hotel with 4,004 guest rooms and suites, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and nightclubs, and a casino with 150,000 sq ft. of gaming space. It also has a 215,000 sq ft. pool area with 50 cabanas, an 80,000 sq ft. salon and spa, a 300,000 sq ft. convention center and a 1,800-seat theater.

Among the most notable aspects of Aria is its incorporation of technology in the exterior and interior design of the hotel, specifically for the reduction of energy consumption and in a desert that reaches over 110 degrees in the summer, this is quite a feat. It is the largest hotel in the world to have earned LEED Gold certification. On account of its smart rooms which automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves a room, Aria was described in Popular Mechanics as possibly “the most technologically advanced hotel ever built”.

Photo By: Wikipedia

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