For nostalgia buffs, there is scarcely anything
of note on the Strip anymore, except perhaps a few curiosities farther south like the Glass Pool and the old entrance to McCarran Field.
To see the best examples of old signage in Las Vegas, take Fremont Street east from the Union Plaza
near the old Sal Sagev Hotel (now the Golden Gate), past impressive neon edifices like Binion's and the
Fremont, beyond the El Cortez Hotel (one of the best-preserved Vegas establishments), and
continue southeast when Fremont turns into old Boulder Highway. Portions of this route are a bit seedy,
so pay attention, but don't be deterred. It is well worth the trip.
Click on any image to see a larger version...
And please allow me one moment to dispell a persisting myth: Bugsy Siegel did NOT 'invent' Las
Vegas, as Vegas had been flourishing since gambling was legalized in 1931, nor did he build the
first casino-resort on the Strip. His Flamingo opened in December, 1946,
years after the El Rancho Vegas debuted in April, 1941. In an era in which 'The Sopranos' garnishes
so much attention coupled with the fact that I grew up in the Midwest where Al Capone is accorded mythic status,
I don't think we need to feed the legend.
Copyright 2002 by Roadside66
