Bob Stupak, the owner of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, had quite a few famous friends. Here he can be seen with the comedian George Burns, one of the few entertainers who had a career that spanned all the way from vaudeville to television, during a visit in the 1980s. Burns even won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1975 film The Sunshine Boys. Courtesy of Steve Miller.
Wow! This baby has a lot of confidence in mama and auntie! Circa 1960 in backyard near Vegas Dr. and Decatur Blvd. Photo by Frank Valeri.
Changing the subject, we’d like to thank Innova Technologies Inc. (local structural engineering firm headed by Carlos and Adriana Banchik) for becoming founding patrons today. We appreciate it very much!
66-year-old Xavier Cugat and 15-year-old flamenco guitarist precocious protege Charo take a rehearsal break at the Flamingo pool. Charo claimed this was a marriage to help her gain U.S. citizenship, which she did in 1977 and they were divorced in 1978. Charo became a Vegas headliner by 1971.
This photo from Jordan Williams helps clarify the answer. The Doric columns and gladiators sure made these tourists feel like they were in Rome back in 1971. The Sands can be seen towering in the background, and the colorful Flamingo Capri between the legs of the gladiator at the right.
We’re excited to announce a panel discussion with leading Las Vegas Ladies Thalia Dondero, Helen Mortenson, and Lois Tarkanian at 7pm on Friday, March 7, at 1114 S. Main St. Ste 120. How to score a ticket? Simply be one of the first 25 to upload your pre-2010 Las Vegas historic photo (of you doing something in Las Vegas, of Evel Kneivel jumping a fountain, etc.), for which you own the rights, to http://lasvegashistoricalsociety.org/submit-photos . And, the best photo, as selected by our staff (we’ll weed out the top 50) and our visitors (they’ll vote) will select the best photo, and for that, the winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Artistic Iron Works. Here’s the idea of a fun historic photo: 
Woodrow Wilson (City Council), Ron Lurie (Future Mayor of Las Vegas), Manny Cortez (Chair, Clark County Commission), Judge Myron Leavitt, Thalia Dondero (Clark County Commission…first female…20-year member and later chair), and Judge Del Guy represent the region as the ‘People’s Choice’ team.