Chronicles of Old Las Vegas: Exposing Sin City's High-Stakes History Rating :
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Lots of Great Stories plus Photos and Maps
By Donnie The B
A collection of very interesting stories of Las Vegas history. Also has some nice photos - old and new. The maps are well detailed and add to the overall picture. I was particularly pleased to get the entire Flamingo Hotel story, I had never even heard of Billy Wilkerson who really started the resort so far out of town. Also had not heard of Tony Cornero, another important figure in gambling history.
You'll enjoy this book, especially if you visited or lived in Vegas in the 1950's - 1990's.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.Rolling Sevens
By A Connecticut Yankee
More entertaining than a trip to Las Vegas, and way more informative, Chronicles of Old Las Vegas brings to life the characters and places that built and became today's Sin City. This wacky, improbable place almost makes sense now. Hats off to James Roman for his lively, insightful writing, for the eye-opening anecdotes, and for revealing the soul of a city that I wasn't sure actually had one. While a weekend in Vegas is all about what's on the surface and what's happening front-stage. James Roman's book digs below the surface and goes backstage where - surprise - it's more fun and more fascinating than the glitzy stuff on top.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.Sin City history 101
By Michigan Reviewer
Roman does a fantastic job of tracing the history of Las Vegas all the way back to the Paiutes in the 19th century. The miraculous part of this is that he does it so succinctly and in such an interesting way! Nothing text book here. It is a fun read that moves along very nicely. Faster than the line for a 99 cent shrimp cocktail. The interested reader learns about all of the historical events that transpire in an almost unbelievable fashion that have made Vegas what it is today. The Rat Pack, Howard Hughes, Liberace, Jimmy Hoffa, Meyer Lansky, Wilbur Clark, Moe Dalitz, the skim, "Mississippi of the West" and the atomic cocktail. Even the Mormons have their moment of glory. If history light and the evolution of Clark County, NV, are in your quality world this book is a must read for you! Quick, informative, easy reading and a whole lot of fun. Roman beats the house on this one! Some great photos, too!
Product Description
Discover one of America s most fascinating cities through 30 dramatic true stories spanning Las Vegas s 150-year history. James Roman takes readers on a tour through the glamorous and sometimes sordid history of Las Vegas, and explains how a railroad town transformed itself into The Entertainment Capital of the World. Essays explore the major historic events from the founding of Sin City to the building of the Hoover Dam and the rise of the Rat Pack at the Sands to Bugsy Siegel s Flamingo and establishment of the Mafia-controlled casinos.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #852520 in Books
- Published on: 2011-10-18
- Released on: 2011-10-18
- Original language:English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 7.87" h x5.12" w x.71" l,.70 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 240 pages
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