On This Date: May 22, 1943 Little Church of the West’s First Wedding

May 22, 2017

Little Church of the WestOn This date was May 22, 1943, this first wedding at the Little Church of the West took place.

Captain George N. Calvert of the fourth armored division of the United States army and Miss Helen Gates of Hollywood, California came to Las Vegas for a quiet wedding. Because of gasoline rationing and restrictions on other travel, their friends and family were unable to make the trip here for their ceremony. The Last Frontier Hotel, site of the Little Church Of The West, made all of the arrangements for this landmark wedding, including the guests. There were 100 guests in western and pioneer costumes attending the ceremony. Roy Rogers and radio star Chester Lauck were the ushers.

The Little Church of the West opened its doors in 1942 on what would become The Strip. The chapel was originally built as part of the Hotel Last Frontier complex on the Las Vegas Strip. The chapel was moved from the north side of the hotel to the south side in 1954. In 1979, to make way for the Fashion Show Mall, the chapel was moved onto the grounds of the Hacienda. In 1996, when the Hacienda was closed and demolished, the chapel moved again to its current location on the east side of the strip south of the Mandalay Bay.

The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 1992.

Photo By: Larry D. Moore

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On This Date: May 21, 2010, The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Opened

May 21, 2017
Lou Ruvo

Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health – Designed by Frank Gehry

The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, officially the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, opened on May 21, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada that is operated by the Cleveland Clinic and was designed by world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry of Gehry Partners in Santa Monica, California.

The Lou Ruvo Center sits on the corner of  West Bonneville and South Grand Central Parkway in Downtown Las Vegas.

Photo By: lasvegas360.com

 

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On This Date: May 20, 1964 Viva Las Vegas Was Released

May 20, 2017
Viva Las Vegas Love in Las Vegas

MGM’s ‘Viva Las Vegas’ 1964 Movie Poster

On this Date, May 20, 1964, the movie ‘Viva Las Vegas’ was released, starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. Viva Las Vegas, also known as ‘Love in Las Vegas’, is a 1964 American romantic musical movie starring music icon Elvis Presley and actress Ann-Margret.

The film is regarded by fans and by film critics as one of Presley’s best movies, and it is noted for the on-screen chemistry between Presley and Ann-Margret.

Location filming took place in Las Vegas area locations including: the parking lot of the Sahara Hotel, Lake Mead Marina, a drag strip in the suburb of Henderson, at the old frontier hotel on the Las Vegas strip, a skeet shooting range at the Tropicana Hotel, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas gymnasium, McCarran Airport and the swimming pool at the Flamingo Hotel.

 

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On this Date: May 18, 2016 IKEA opens in Las Vegas

May 18, 2017
IKEA opens in Las Vegas on May 18, 2016

IKEA opens in Las Vegas on May 18, 2016

The Swedish base home furnishing store opened in Las Vegas on May 18, 2016.
The chain first announced plans in 2014 for a location along Durango Drive and Sunset Road just north of the 215 Beltway. Construction followed soon after.

Last month, IKEA began hiring 300 workers to man the business.

The store boast 351,000 square feet of shopping space 2,300 parking spaces, 300 employees and 3620 rooftop solar panels. The store to features three model home interiors, 43 room-settings, a supervised children’s play area and a 450-seat restaurant, which serves IKEA’s popular menu of Swedish meatballs and lingonberries.

The current closest locations to Las Vegas are in Arizona, Utah and Southern California, according to IKEA.

The Las Vegas store is the 42nd IKEA to open in the United States.

Photo by: IKEA

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On This Date: May 18, 1985, Wet ‘n Wild opened on the Las Vegas Strip

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Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

On this Date, May 18, 1985 Wet ‘n Wild opened at the North end of the Las Vegas Strip at 2601 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas Strip Wet ‘n Wild was a 27-acre water park located on the Las Vegas Strip next to the Sahara Hotel. If featured water rides: Willy Willy, Der Stuka / Bomb Bay / Blue Niagra, Royal Flush, Suntan Lagoon, Lazy River, Dragon’s Den (former Banzai Banzai), Surf Lagoon, Kids Park, Raging Rapids, Plaza Pool (former Bubble Up), Black Hole & Whitewater Slideways and Beach Club.

The park closed in September 2004 to make way for the now defunct and never completed Fontainebleau Resort.

Editor’s Note: From personal history, my roommate was a lead lifeguard from the opening date, problems that occurred included: the Lazy River had too many pumps running causing the river to flow too fast. The water slides had ran too fast, which lead to some patrons flying over the sides and landing on the ground below. additionalprotective sides had to be added to extend the height. The concrete walkways had to be acid washed every night, due the falls on the slick surface. I spent the opening summer there hanging out with lots of staff during and after work.

Wet 'n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990's

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

Wet-n-Wild-waterpark-Las-Vegas-1990-2

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

Wet-n-Wild-waterpark-Las-Vegas-1990-3

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

Wet-n-Wild-waterpark-Las-Vegas-1990-4

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s (Der Stuka)

 

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