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If you could go back in time...

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by Dutch34, Feb 14, 2014.

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  1. Dutch34

    Dutch34 High-Roller

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    If you could go back and gamble at any casino no longer in existence in Las Vegas, which one would it be, and why?

    For me, it would have to be either the Sands or Sahara just based on how my Dad used to talk up the Rat Pack. I love the the thought of those guys hanging there in a different era and how that would never happen today. I like the idea of the old style Vegas- gaming, great steak dinners and old cafes, and a great headliner to pull you in.
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    It's still there, but I would have loved to have been at the Mirage when it first opened. It was such a radical departure form everything that preceded it
     
    The plans have changed
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  3. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    I loved the Sands and the Desert Inn. The Sands for the history and the DI was just a cool place.
     
  4. RPMCanes

    RPMCanes VIP Whale

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    Caesars Palace early 80's. Dinner at the Palace Court, Rodney Dangerfield in the Circus Maximus showroom, then craps all night in the Olympic Casino.
     
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Definitely the Sands. We always had rooms surrounding the pool area. What could be better than walking out of your room than palm trees and a pool.

    The Desert Inn was a little too stuffy for me, a kid in his 20s.
     
  6. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    DI some time in the '90s. I don't really need that golden era nostalgia stuff, and I think that resort peaked about that time for my interests.

    I'd also like to have seen MSS when it wasn't a dirty hole. :evillaugh
     
  7. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Stardust!

    Next question please. :)
     
  8. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Sorry, just NO! We tired of the employee attitudes and moved downtown before they imploded it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2014
  9. stiles525

    stiles525 Low-Roller

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    Stardust :rolleyes2:
     
  10. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    Binions when Benny was running it.
     
  11. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    The original MGM Grand. I've seen ONE photo of the interior on the Internet and it just looks grand.
     
  12. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    Flamingo when it first opened would be interesting to me.

    Binions early on I think would also be interesting.


    I have no knowledge of places like the Sands so I can't say a specific one. I would just like to be able to walk the strip right around the time Mirage opened. All of those that got imploded would still be up.
     
  13. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    I loved the Dunes hotel. You could park your car steps from the hotel/casino and just steps away from the golf course. They had two pools and the one closest to the motel rooms (not the tower) was literally just steps from Flamingo Blvd and anyone could just walk in.
    I also loved the Oasis Casino and the neon jungle which at nighttime was one of the best on the Strip.
    Finally, i stayed at Bally's when the infamous yell from Steve Wynn commenced the firing of the cannons from Treasure Island to demolish the Dunes (a sad but ultimately a fine day).
    Sadly, there were no camera phones in 1993 and i didn't bring my "real" camera (a big mistake), but i remember that night/early morning like it was yesterday.
    The wind carried the smoke across the street towards the parking lot at Bally's (where i and thousands of others were standing), and we all had to rush back in to Bally's to continue breathing and even then, the smoke billowed into the casino.
    And, just as i expected, with hundreds of people rushing into the casino to escape the smoke.........BJ players were playing their hands like nothing was even happening.
    THAT'S Vegas baby!!
     
  14. ruralhipster

    ruralhipster High-Roller

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    Too many to choose

    In no particular order

    Stardust circa Aku Aku and Lido de Paris
    Circus Circus early 70's (LSD optional)
    Desert Inn after the 90's remodel
    Binions after they acquired the Mint but before Becky ruined the place

    If I could only pick one year to go back to then it would be 1999, a lot of the old casinos were still around and about a half dozen new ones were recently opened.
     
  15. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    I liked Harold's Club in Reno when the Pappy Smith ran the joint... it was one fun casino!

    In Vegas, I don't really pine for the old days, but did love me some Desert Inn!
     
  16. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

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    Speaking of Rat Pack days,I would have liked to have seen the Moulin Rouge or the Trop in the 60's..Have chips from both places in my collection..
    My last trip to AC I was playing bartop VP with an elderly lady and we started talking about LV and what a great conversation it turned into as she started telling some stories about 50-60-70's.She mentioned going out there with a girlfriend a lot and seeing some big names,tables up at the stage with celebs,that sort of thing...I actually stopped playing and just listened..it was pretty cool but at the same time I was hoping my 84 year-old friend from FL was there to introduce them..This guy has lived the life from Liverpool to Havana on the ships and NYC/NJ in the restaurant biz and retired down here.Friends with sports greats from Marciano to Munson to Bobby Riggs,I've seen pix of w/him.
    Sorry about the ramble,but I'm sure all of us have met some nice people with some great LV stories.
     
  17. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Ditto Vic. I'd also throw in The Stardust for purely sentimental reasons.

    IMHO, The Desert Inn was the classiest place to ever grace The Strip.

    :peace: :beer:
     
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  18. Dutch34

    Dutch34 High-Roller

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    You all make me pine for the days of Desert Inn...wish I could have seen the place. I do think (???) my first trip out in 2000 or maybe early 2001 I walked past it as it was fenced off ready for implosion (Might have been Feb 2001?), as I walked from TI to Sahara to see a Rat Pack show. Was it located on the Wynn / Encore side of the strip, around that approx. location?
     
  19. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    Hmm... if its a place that is closed I would pick last year to Bill's Gambling Hall and Saloon. For gambling I'd buy a bunch of sports futures tickets and mail them to myself back home and then go have a drink at the bar.
     
  20. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    The Silver Slipper was a great place for blackjack. Loads of fun, plus they were serving ice-cold long-necks at the tables back when most casinos were still bringing you semi-cool, crappy draft beer in a small cocktail glass.

    The Barbary Coast - before CET ruined it - was an incredibly fun place to play. All two-deck pitch games, decent penetration, DAS & S17...at $5 & $10 minimums.

    The old MGM (Bally's now) - really great poker room, and this was back when 7-stud was the game of choice and was always available, starting at $1-$3.

    The Stardust was my 'home-casino' for many, many years. I have very fond memories of the place. Great blackjack, great customer-service for their "invited guests", great sports book and decent, comfortable rooms. Toucan Harry's was the classic Vegas coffee-shop. Food & cigarette comps at even the $5 tables were easy to get.
     
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