More Thoughts on CNN’s Las Vegas History Documentary Series
VEGAS: THE STORY OF SIN CITY (EP 3)
Episode 3 of the quasi-History of Las Vegas documentary aired last night on CNN.
As with the first two segments, there were many revelations and even a few surprises. I tend to be cynical about these dumbed-down, spoon-feeders for the masses. However, this CNN production has done a terrific job (so far) in capturing the evolution of Las Vegas — melding the worlds of gambling, entertainment, social evolution, crime, business, and politics.
The series is generally segmented by decades. The first show (one hour long, debuting each Sunday night–with repeats) focused on the early history up through the 1950s. The second episode featured the 1960s, often called the glory years of Las Vegas. Last night showcased the 1970s, which was an awkward era for the city and casino industry. Admittedly, I was more fascinated by this era given that it delved into the growing pains (my words and interpretation) of mass success. Moreover, Las Vegas (and casinos) faces many of these same issues today — including an identity crisis. In short, it’s tough to rise to the top, but it’s even tougher to stay there. Early on, Las Vegas was an easy bet as a gambling and entertainment mecca. But letting that bet on Las Vegas ride was a risk.
Las Vegas was at a crossroads in the 1970s. The building boom was over. The Rat Pack generation was aging. The national economy struggled. Even the town didn’t look the same anymore. Gamblers used to dress up—now they were wearing shorts and flip-flops. Comps used to be awarded with a nod or wave of the hand—now were monitored by bean counters. The evil corporations invaded, but organized crime staked its final territorial claim, and predictably lost (See the movie “Casino,” which perfectly captures this era). The house always wins.
A few takeaways from Episode 3:
— Elvis gets the most airplay in this segment. Rightfully so. But it’s remarkable (and tragic) to witness his downward trajectory, which may have mirrored that of Las Vegas. Elvis at the International in 1970 was THE event. By 1977, his act was an embarrassment. My parents saw him perform and told me stories about it (I never saw him). I loved hearing about how exciting he was, where the entire city changed when Elvis was in town. When Elvis died, Wayne Newton became the city’s most popular attraction.
— I don’t like Wayne Newton, but he does (or used to) give a great show, which I’ve seen three times. So, the following statement should be a real compliment. Newton comes across masterfully as the ultimate Las Vegas ambassador in this series. His interviews on every subject are spot on. Kudos to Newton for doing his homework and being prepared to offer unique behind-the-scenes perspectives of the entire history of Las Vegas (and he’s known everyone associated with this city).
— The program did a poor job on Howard Hughes and his influence on the city and gambling culture. Starting in 1966, Hughes became the city’s most powerful force. Unfortunately, the stories and narratives don’t do justice to this fascinating period. A rare miss here in my opinion.
— Personal bias here, but the show’s producers could have focused on the World Series of Poker (which began in 1970) and the emergence of sports gambling, which really became popular nationwide and began using “the Las Vegas line” on all bets. Not a mention of the WSOP or sports betting. This is a preposterous omission given how popular these things are today and also given their origins were largely rooted in the 1970s.
[Mini Rant: More people now bet on sports and play poker today than EVER visited Las Vegas in the entire decade of the 1970s. How about a documentary on the history of sports betting? Someone please bankroll this, contact me, and hire me to direct it—yes, I’m serious]
— The previous episode (1960s) focused partially on civil rights and the access and opportunities for Blacks in Las Vegas (which was very slow to adapt to changes). This episode focused on gays as a casino market, which was a major revelation (to me). I remember “Boylesque” (I think that’s the name of the show) which was the first open drag show and became very popular with mainstream audiences. This was a really interesting story (how Las Vegas was in some ways ahead of the times), and probably deserves more exposure.
— One final thought for now: Readers know how much I despise “VEGAS” in all its forms. I always used “Las Vegas” in all my writings. That said, this series really should be called THE STORY OF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP. That’s a relatively small zone of a much larger region. There’s NOTHING on the actual city of LAS VEGAS. I understand that would not interest many viewers, but let’s also acknowledge that this series only perpetuates he MYTH that the entire city revolves around one boulevard and a bunch of hotels. Yes, the Strip is the epicenter. But it’s NOT LAS VEGAS.
Not sure why more people (including many of my gambler friends here) aren’t watching this series. There’s a shitload of junk out there, but this is one of the better histories of Las Vegas and gambling culture.
