Original Las Vegas

[happyfilmluvguy]

There aren't enough photos in here. Let's see more.

 

[Decobelle]

Ok h.f.l.g., ... here are a few

My great-grandfather worked for El Rancho Vegas from the time it opened in 1941 until 1960. We found some old negatives of his and had them developed... he had captured a rare event in Las Vegas - snow!
From my research on this storm, these would've been taken in January 1949.

El Rancho Vegas was the first hotel on the strip. The 1990s movie Bugsy depicts the Flamingo hotel under construction out there all by itself. But it didn't open until December 1946 - El Rancho Vegas was already there, as was the 2nd hotel on the strip, the Last Frontier ( opened 1942). My mom spent most of her summers here in the 50s. Great grandpa would walk them around when they'd first arrive, and point out all the gangsters by the pool...

Here are some of El Rancho's beautiful chorus girls playing cards in the snow! The city's motto at the time was "fun in the sun" - I see here some wag put up a sign crossing out the 'u" and adding an "ow" Not sure who that is dealing...

My grandparents spent their honeymoon at the El Rancho in '47, and on his first morning as a married man, my grandpa walked into the restaurant for breakfast and great-grandpa sent a bevy of these girls in to vamp him.

This is a shot of the hotel's famous neon windmill sign, a beacon for miles around at the time.

Here's one more, of my great-grandmother showing how the place looked without snow. I don't know when it was taken - I was guessing in late 1948.

I'd love to see more vintage Vegas!

 

[John in Covina]

THose were wonderful PIX! Snow in Vegas is pretty rare. Another rarity is the interesting flooding when it rains! I have seen snow in the mountains on the way over from California on the 15 in Winter.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

The first photo is funny. What a nice thing your great grandpa did for your grandpa. lol