Viva Las Vegas!!! Part Two

When left you last, I was having the time of my life in Las Vegas. It is a city that has shown me a whole lot of patriotism with the huge flags draped over and flying at every casino and large building. Billboards in front of the multi-million-dollar resorts shouted out to every visitor, "God Bless America."

Saturday, we had left from Detroit and stayed on the California - Nevada Border at Whiskey Pete's. Teri, my daughter, wanted to ride the Desperado, billed as the biggest.... meanest.... wildest ride in the world. Of course, she had her hands in the air as it reached an apex far over the desert below and burst forward with speeds faster then I would have ever dared to go.

Sunday was kind of laid back as we returned to Las Vegas, did some shopping at Sheplers Western Store, and began to pick up our tickets for the shows we were to attend during the week. On Monday, we visited the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, New York, New York, MGM Grand, Tropicana and the Excalibur. We also took in the grandeur of Monte Carlo and the Bellagio before going to see Siegfried & Roy at the Mirage that night.

On Tuesday, we went through the Red Rock Canyon, with its majestic mountains, and Pahrump going to Beatty. Not many people are aware of the fact that the world's largest Packard dealer is in Beatty. Herman Washington's garage in the south end of Beatty repairs and sells vintage Studebaker and Packard cars, a claim that no other place in the continental United States can lay claim to.

We then visited Rhyolite Ghost Town and then toured the museum in Beatty on our way to Scotty's Castle in Death Valley, California.

Wednesday, we started the day by going to Caesars Palace, Bally's, Venetian, Paris, Aladdin, the Harley Davidson Café, and the M&M store, with four floors of exhibits, including a NASCAR vehicle. As the afternoon approached, we returned to the Silverton to ready ourselves for the evening. We had front row tickets to see Wayne Newton.

I highly recommend that, if you ever get to Las Vegas, take in Wayne's show. He will leave you with many memories and a smile on your face. One of the high points of his show was to honor our veterans that had given of their life to defend the flag of the United States. Wayne is a consummate performer that brings his entire cast into the show. Each of them has their own unique part of the program. May they all continue to be blessed with the talents they have to dazzle audiences for many years to come.

Thursday morning, I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Bob Orton Sr., who lives in Las Vegas. We spent a couple of hours talking about his son, Bob Orton Jr., and Bob's grandson, Randy, who is in Louisville getting ready to come into the WWF. I am sure that he will make the same kind of impact that Bob Sr. and Jr. made in the WWF. We also went over some programs from the old Kansas City territory which I had made copies of for Bob. A great fan, Tom Krewson of Kansas City, who has been in contact with me, sent them to me. I also owe him a great debt of gratitude for his friendship and generosity in sending me those programs.

After leaving Bob, we went to downtown and Fremont Street to visit Binion's Horseshoe, the Mint, Golden Nugget, Lady Luck, and a few other older casinos. We went back to the strip and visited a few other casinos like Treasure Island, Flamingo, and the Imperial Palace.

We returned to the Silverton to get ready for the Rick Thomas Show at the Tropicana. Rick is another of the many magicians that work in Las Vegas. His style leaves you wanting more, and he also involves the audience in some portions of his act. After leaving the show, we went to the seafood buffet and then back to the pool at the Silverton.

Friday was a catch up day that started with a quiet breakfast and a trip to see Wayne Newton's estate just behind the McCarran Airport. We then went to the Stratosphere Tower to spend part of the day. Passing by the Desert Inn that is being demolished for a new Steve Wynn extravaganza, I thought to myself how must it feel to see a part of history being torn apart by huge machines. It was the site of the largest Mega Buck Jackpots ($34 Million) so far. It was home to Howard Hughes. It housed many stars of entertainment that visited and worked in Las Vegas. Like any other part of life, time marches on to bigger and better things.

We visited the Sahara and then returned to the Stratosphere, where we were whisked to over 1000 feet up in the tower. You have never experienced a sight like this in your life, to see Las Vegas spread out for many miles below you. We even went to the observation deck, which is open air, and walked around seemingly in the clouds. What a sight and what memories it will leave me.

The afternoon show at the Stratosphere is called Viva Las Vegas and has run for over 11 years continuously. It is another highly recommended show if you plan to visit Las Vegas. We returned back to the Silverton to start packing for the return flight on Saturday.

We arrived at McCarran Airport at 10 a.m. for our flight at 12:30 to Detroit. After waiting nearly three hours, we were off to Detroit on a jet that was bound for Amsterdam. Arriving home around 7:30, we got our bags and then drove the 60 miles to Ohio.

Visiting Las Vegas is fun. Playing the slots and some of the table games are great also. Getting to see old friends like Orton was a pleasure. Dining in the buffets was superb. Meeting friends that you had been in contact with on the Internet was also a great experience. Going to all the casinos was an experience that I totally enjoyed.

Most of all, I loved having my family with me on this getaway. Until next time...

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers