All Night Long: Did the “Old Las Vegas” Really Have Comedians and Music Until Sunrise?

 

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE “OLD LAS VEGAS”

Recently, I came across this old photo. Click and enlarge to get a better view.

Take a closer look at the sign. It’s undated, but based on some quick research, I believe it’s from 1967 on the Las Vegas Strip. [see footnote below]

There are some remarkable revelations here. Even I –as an admittedly amateur Las Vegas historian– didn’t know much about what I’m about to share, and ask. So, perhaps others reading this can provide some answers.

First, were there really comedy shows in Las Vegas casinos at 2:30 am? That’s the START time, which means the show was probably still going way past 3 am. Also, were there three comedy shows a night on weekends? I can’t even imagine going to a show that late.

Second, and this to me is the most incredible thing — were there performers at 4:15 and 5:30 am??? Note again……AM.

That seems insane.

I looked up the name of the performers on the sign (something called “The Characters Mad Mod World” and then “is the nudist,” whatever that means). Mad Mod World was a band, apparently. Someone can correct me if that’s wrong. Still, what gets me is — what band plays shows at 4:15 and then again at 5:30 am?

BTW, the sign is real. It’s not auto-generated or some misnomer. All of these performers were real, and the show times are up there.

Finally, what’s perhaps most funny is the welcome at the top: “American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.” Yeah, those CPAs must have been heckling the hell out of Don Rickles and rockin’ the showrooms at 5:30 am. Look out, Las Vegas—-the CPAs are coming!

What a bizarre sign. Any Las Vegas old timers out there care to explain?

Join the discussion on Facebook HERE. Lots of interesting comments, so far.

 

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Footnote: Sorry I can’t credit the photo properly. It might be from UNLV Digital Collections or the LVCVA archives.