Jimmy Hoffa and his party at the opening of Caesar’s Palace in 1966. Caesars founder Jay Sarno relied heavily on Hoffa’s Teamsters’ pension fund to make it happen. Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections.
Shirley MacLaine and Dean Martin on the sound stage filming Ocean’s 11 at Sahara Hotel. Courtesy of Frank Valeri
After helping President Kennedy get elected in 1960, Governor Grant Sawyer was taken aback when he learned from Nevada Attorney General Roger Foley that US Attorney General Bobby Kennedy/FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover planned to conduct raids on Vegas casinos looking for Mob connections. Sawyer also wanted to rid the state of Mob influence, but didn’t want to break the law with such a lacking-of-probably-cause dragnet. After serving two terms, Sawyer went on to be a founding partner with Las Vegas law firm Lionel Sawyer Collins.
The Lockheed booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center in the early 1960s. The rep holds a camera which allows a video transmission onto the adjoining black and white television.
Sending a postcard of your home is unusual, but Cary James, Liberace’s last lover, sent this post card to Anna Nateece, as he was being evicted from Liberace’s Palm Spring’s home. Cary most likely contracted HIV from Liberace, and Liberace wanted to support Cary after Liberace died in 1987. According to Anna, The Liberace Foundation’s trustee was changed just prior to Liberace’s death, and didn’t honor Liberace’s wishes to take care of Cary long term. Anna stayed very close to Terry until his death in 1996. Courtesy of Anna Nateece.
Designer Michael Travis (extreme left), designer Anna Nateece, Cary James (Liberace’s lover), Liberace (seated, and informally dressed, after returning from the dentist), and Terry Clarkston (Liberace’s chauffeur and protege), circa 1985, inside the Dunes Hotel. Courtesy of Anna/Michael Nateece.
Indy sprint cars raced on the Joe W. Brown dirt track where the International Hotel (later Hilton and now the LVH) was built in the 60s. The same track also served as Las Vegas Park for horse racing, but the sport never met the town’s (or project financier’s) expectations. Courtesy of Bo Boisvert
This is the front of Fashion Show Mall on February 15, 1981 (one day after its grand opening). If these people were walking here today, they’d be under the 479′ x 160′ Cloud canopy and projection screen. The Sands can be seen in the background. Courtesy of
Frank Valeri
Who’s cooler than these two? Bridget Bardot and Gunter Sachs, shortly after marrying here on July 14, 1966. Courtesy of Bo Boisvert
Jackie Gaughan passed away today at 93 year of age. His leadership helped form our town. Mid-career, he, Sam Boyd, Frank Scott, and Howard Cannon built the Union Plaza at the location of the Union Pacific Railway Station in 1971, the epicenter of Vegas at the time. Thanks Jackie! Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collectoins
