The history of the Flamingo Las Vegas is fuzzy but fascinating. Every effort was made to only go with information that was true but there was a lot of information that was murky and conflicting between different sources. I tried to only go with original sourcing, documents, newspapers or first hand accounts.
An acquaintance of mine, who was connected, told me about walking through there in the ‘70s that some of the ceilings were very low with weird step downs and overall “quick and dirty” low budget construction.
@@mojomar7 That is very interesting, I just discovered that there was a small casino that was built before the Flamingo by Margaret Folsom so maybe that was part of the low budget construction.
@@VegasVisual As I recall it was a Dell Webb project for Mr. Siegel, et. al. So they may have been doing the best they could not to spend their associates money. To no avail for the “Boss”.
@brianredmond4919 I bought a mini replica of that neon "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. It's electric, and it works. It's quite the conversation piece over my bar at my house.
The flamingo is one of the only hotels from that era that is still around. I cannot wait to show my daughter Las Vegas this summer, she is insistent that we stay at the flamingo because of how it looks and because of the live flamingos 😂 thank you for the history lesson it makes me want to stay even more
The story of the flamingo is super fascinating. Well done research with the visuals and detailed detailed history. I learned a lot from this video and have a new appreciation for this old original resort.
Thanks! Very cool, you are very lucky to have seen the original structure. The reason why some people like Fremont Street is because some of the hotels have kept a portion of the original structures.
I just wanna say i enjoy very much of these videos, especially DI parts. I encourage you to do more videos, especially of the old, glamorous, mob owned casinos like Stardust and Binions Horseshoe.
Thank you, I hope to do history videos on some of the old casinos. I am slowly collecting information and content on all sorts of Vegas history but I am tackling topics now that I have enough information and content.
Dug this video. Very informative on the history. Great video. It added lots I didn't realize and they didn't put in the movie "Bugsy". Every time I see the ending of the movie "Bugsy" it gives me chills. Probably the #1 Vegas movie end that truly defines Vegas. The capture at the very end of that movie that shows the past to the present is the part that gives me the chills.
"Bugsy" is a great film but like Hollywood they didn't stick to the facts when it came to what Bugsy did or didn't do. Because of the film "Bugsy" Billy Wilkerson's son wrote his book to correct the inaccuracies of the film.
The history of the Flamingo is a bit fuzzy but fascinating and the Flamingo might have the best history of any strip hotel. This will mostly be about the beginning of the resort.
@@VegasVisual yeah these videos are great. Even doing some of the history on the casinos from the 80s & 90s would be interesting. It might not be as well known but The Santa Fe Station has a pretty cool story attached to it. The old ice rink and so many changes at that place. And even Main Street Station especially has a long history that would be cool to show as a future video. Anyways, good stuff. Love these videos.
@@WrestlingErnestHemingway I have about 5 or 6 history projects lined up about Vegas hotels or Vegas people and I plan to do more. Each history project will probably take 1 to 2 months to complete, plus I am still doing the Monday weekly show and other vlogs so I have at least one or two years worth of projects lined up.
Thank you, Thunderbird is not on the immediate horizon but some day (year) down the road I might do yhe northern strip resort. There are a few other strip and Fremont resorts I want to do first.
@@TacoLover1 I'm working on two more hotel histories. I did a history on Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas, which was built by Steve Wynn. The course is considered the 5th best public course in the U.S. and it is one of the most expensive in the world ($600 a round). And only 8 people from the public are allowed to play the course per day. Shadow Creek GC: ua-cam.com/video/IZjE2JPXWL8/v-deo.html I'm not sure if I will do a Steve Wynn history or do his hotels individually.
I lived in Las Vegas for 17 years. People who lived in Vegas all or most of their lives said Vegas was safer and customer service was way better when the mob ran the town. They said the mob killed their own and degenerate gamblers (86ed means buried in the desert 8 miles out, 6 feet deep). There were no street gangs. They said they felt safe not locking their front doors. People could get a steak dinner, see a show and be treated like royalty for very little money. Then drugs and greed ruined the mob control (watch Casino). Slot machines used to hit way more before corporations moved in. Parking and resort fees are a slap in the face to anyone who goes to Las Vegas. Bring back the 1940's mob (minus the sexism and racism). Meyer Lansky knew how to run a business. Side note: if you visit Las Vegas the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum are awesome
Great job on this, I've always found "The Flaming O" interesting especially for its history. Flamingo also has "Bugsy's Bar" Which is their center bar pretty much and there's video poker on the bar tops.
This was awesome buddy well done and I used to always stay at “The Dirty Bird” 😂 and always found it fascinating nevertheless the history and stories behind it always makes me just love the history of the different properties and people that ran them back then 👏 Please do more of these Mr Watcher this wade AWESOME 🤙
Here are the "firsts" on the Strip (Highway 91): 1931, Red Rooster (The Mirage site) is believed to have the first casino (first gaming license) on the Strip, opening days after the gambling ban was repealed. 1941, El Rancho Vegas is the first resort casino on the Strip. 1946, Flamingo is the first luxury resort casino on the Strip. You didn't mention the Strip so: The first resort casino in the Las Vegas Valley was the Meadows built in 1931 by Charleston Blvd. and Mojave Blvd. Also, El Cortez is considered the first luxury resort casino in Las Vegas having been built in 1941 on Fremont Street. The current El Cortez owner, Kenny Epstein, was also born in 1941.
The ENTIRE ORIGINAL "Flamingo" has been torn down, the last of it in (1993). It sat directly NEXT TO the "Flamingo" of TODAY. So that 'Bugsy's bar'--is a FRAUD. It was NEVER there.
Yes, I mentioned that the last original structure from 1946/1947 was torn down in 1993. But the original Flamingo sat on the same land as the current Flamingo.
@@VegasVisual I met his son and have his book. Bugsy is too inaccurate. Warren Beatty is a brilliant film maker (Reds is amazing) but he could have gotten more facts right. Love the video.
Billy Wilkerson's son and his friends said he was a degenerate gambler, some said he was seriously addicted to gambling. Billy's gambling problem was likely the biggest impediment from him being able to build and own the Flamingo himself.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The history of the Flamingo Las Vegas is fuzzy but fascinating. Every effort was made to only go with information that was true but there was a lot of information that was murky and conflicting between different sources. I tried to only go with original sourcing, documents, newspapers or first hand accounts.
An acquaintance of mine, who was connected, told me about walking through there in the ‘70s that some of the ceilings were very low with weird step downs and overall “quick and dirty” low budget construction.
@@mojomar7 That is very interesting, I just discovered that there was a small casino that was built before the Flamingo by Margaret Folsom so maybe that was part of the low budget construction.
@@VegasVisual As I recall it was a Dell Webb project for Mr. Siegel, et. al. So they may have been doing the best they could not to spend their associates money. To no avail for the “Boss”.
Big credit for whoever designed and built that fabulous neon sign.
@brianredmond4919 I bought a mini replica of that neon "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. It's electric, and it works. It's quite the conversation piece over my bar at my house.
Excelent video thnx👍
Thank you!
The flamingo is one of the only hotels from that era that is still around. I cannot wait to show my daughter Las Vegas this summer, she is insistent that we stay at the flamingo because of how it looks and because of the live flamingos 😂 thank you for the history lesson it makes me want to stay even more
Las Vegas and Flamingo has a very interesting history. The sad part is that none of the original buildings remain at the Flamingo.
Very interesting! I love vintage Vegas!
The Flamingo history is fascinating!
This is the Vegas content we crave…Superb.
Thank you!
Great vlog. Trying to catch up. You the man.
Thank you Steve, it was great meeting you and Chrissy.
The story of the flamingo is super fascinating. Well done research with the visuals and detailed detailed history. I learned a lot from this video and have a new appreciation for this old original resort.
Thank you! I didn't realize how much I didn't know about the Flamingo history.
Great job Vegas Visual VIsual
Thank you Stef for all your support!
Once I saw this come up, I got excited to see it. Flamingo is one of my Favorite places to stay in Vegas
Hi Lance!
@@TacoLover1 Hey Taco Lover
I only wish there was something about the current Flamingo that was original.
Thanks for the history lesson @vegas visual 😊
You are welcome Neil, I learned a lot too!
@@VegasVisual 😊😊
Great job explanation
Thank you
Excellent info, great research my friend!
Thank you, now a need a neon vacation!
Excellent Historical Piece! I remember staying there just before the demo of the original structure. Got the pics to prove it.
Thanks! Very cool, you are very lucky to have seen the original structure.
The reason why some people like Fremont Street is because some of the hotels have kept a portion of the original structures.
I just wanna say i enjoy very much of these videos, especially DI parts. I encourage you to do more videos, especially of the old, glamorous, mob owned casinos like Stardust and Binions Horseshoe.
Thank you, I hope to do history videos on some of the old casinos. I am slowly collecting information and content on all sorts of Vegas history but I am tackling topics now that I have enough information and content.
I don’t know how I missed watching this earlier. Thanks Vegas Visual. 😀
Thanks for watching and the support
Great job! Very interesting 🥤😃🍿
Thank you Ted!
Dug this video. Very informative on the history. Great video. It added lots I didn't realize and they didn't put in the movie "Bugsy". Every time I see the ending of the movie "Bugsy" it gives me chills. Probably the #1 Vegas movie end that truly defines Vegas. The capture at the very end of that movie that shows the past to the present is the part that gives me the chills.
"Bugsy" is a great film but like Hollywood they didn't stick to the facts when it came to what Bugsy did or didn't do. Because of the film "Bugsy" Billy Wilkerson's son wrote his book to correct the inaccuracies of the film.
False
Beautiful
Well done video my man! The research and effort that went into this is clear and appreciated
Thank you Ace! I did this in part just to learn the history of the Flamingo, most of it I didn't know.
Cheers to that
@@VegasVisual Very cool
Looking forward to this live or on the replay Vegas Visual!👍🏻One of my favorite hotels, esp their GO Strip view rooms.
The history of the Flamingo is a bit fuzzy but fascinating and the Flamingo might have the best history of any strip hotel.
This will mostly be about the beginning of the resort.
Hi Pal!
@@VegasVisual so interesting. I’ll appreciate it more the next time I stay there. Had no idea the Palms were from Barstow. Thanks VV!
@@TacoLover1 Taco Lover! A collab between you and Vegas Visual would be epic. Two pros✅
@@pal1216 Thank you, Brother! This video was really good!
Great Job. Im not a Vegas historian, so I learned alot-Ty
Thanks! I'm not a Vegas historian either, so I learned a lot too.
5 Star
Thumbs UP
5 Thanks!
Well done history lesson👏👏👏 The mob ties to Vegas is fascinating.
Thank you, I learned a lot just from researching the Flamingo history.
Great video love to see more of these
I am working on two other hotel histories that are also interesting, hopefully there will be one a month if I can complete them.
@@VegasVisual yeah these videos are great. Even doing some of the history on the casinos from the 80s & 90s would be interesting. It might not be as well known but The Santa Fe Station has a pretty cool story attached to it. The old ice rink and so many changes at that place. And even Main Street Station especially has a long history that would be cool to show as a future video. Anyways, good stuff. Love these videos.
@@WrestlingErnestHemingway I have about 5 or 6 history projects lined up about Vegas hotels or Vegas people and I plan to do more. Each history project will probably take 1 to 2 months to complete, plus I am still doing the Monday weekly show and other vlogs so I have at least one or two years worth of projects lined up.
Make more of these! Loved it
Thank you! I am working on two other Vegas hotels that also have interesting histories.
Very Cool stuff you do, would love a video on the Thunderbird!
Thank you, Thunderbird is not on the immediate horizon but some day (year) down the road I might do yhe northern strip resort. There are a few other strip and Fremont resorts I want to do first.
Great video. Right in the center of the casino there is a bar titled Bugsy's bar
Thank you, I forgot about the center bar!
Perfect michael 👌 Miller respect
Thank you.
Great video VV!
Thank you SVS!
This video rules man!
Thank you!
Nice job!
Thank you!
@@VegasVisual Very informative, I really thought it was great. I didn't know about the history of the Flamingo. Please do Steve Wynn next.
@@TacoLover1 I'm working on two more hotel histories.
I did a history on Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas, which was built by Steve Wynn. The course is considered the 5th best public course in the U.S. and it is one of the most expensive in the world ($600 a round). And only 8 people from the public are allowed to play the course per day.
Shadow Creek GC:
ua-cam.com/video/IZjE2JPXWL8/v-deo.html
I'm not sure if I will do a Steve Wynn history or do his hotels individually.
I lived in Las Vegas for 17 years. People who lived in Vegas all or most of their lives said Vegas was safer and customer service was way better when the mob ran the town. They said the mob killed their own and degenerate gamblers (86ed means buried in the desert 8 miles out, 6 feet deep). There were no street gangs. They said they felt safe not locking their front doors. People could get a steak dinner, see a show and be treated like royalty for very little money. Then drugs and greed ruined the mob control (watch Casino). Slot machines used to hit way more before corporations moved in. Parking and resort fees are a slap in the face to anyone who goes to Las Vegas. Bring back the 1940's mob (minus the sexism and racism). Meyer Lansky knew how to run a business. Side note: if you visit Las Vegas the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum are awesome
The true spirit of Las Vegas has been fading away for many years, the Corporate Gaming Act of 1969 changed many things.
@@VegasVisual I will look that up. Thanks
The mob was generous to average folks.
Vegas was better when the Mob ran Vegas. For example, every muffin had the exact same number of blueberries.
@@djquinn11 You got that right😄
Great job on this, I've always found "The Flaming O" interesting especially for its history. Flamingo also has "Bugsy's Bar" Which is their center bar pretty much and there's video poker on the bar tops.
Thanks Michael! I forgot about the bar.
This was awesome buddy well done and I used to always stay at “The Dirty Bird” 😂 and always found it fascinating nevertheless the history and stories behind it always makes me just love the history of the different properties and people that ran them back then 👏 Please do more of these Mr Watcher this wade AWESOME 🤙
Thank you! Two more hotel histories are currently in the works.
Wasn't El Rancho the first to make a resort style Casino complex?
Here are the "firsts" on the Strip (Highway 91):
1931, Red Rooster (The Mirage site) is believed to have the first casino (first gaming license) on the Strip, opening days after the gambling ban was repealed.
1941, El Rancho Vegas is the first resort casino on the Strip.
1946, Flamingo is the first luxury resort casino on the Strip.
You didn't mention the Strip so:
The first resort casino in the Las Vegas Valley was the Meadows built in 1931 by Charleston Blvd. and Mojave Blvd.
Also, El Cortez is considered the first luxury resort casino in Las Vegas having been built in 1941 on Fremont Street. The current El Cortez owner, Kenny Epstein, was also born in 1941.
The ENTIRE ORIGINAL "Flamingo" has been torn down, the last of it in (1993). It sat directly NEXT TO the "Flamingo" of TODAY. So that 'Bugsy's bar'--is a FRAUD. It was NEVER there.
Yes, I mentioned that the last original structure from 1946/1947 was torn down in 1993. But the original Flamingo sat on the same land as the current Flamingo.
@@VegasVisual NOPE! It was directly NEXT TO IT.
@@RansomHollywood The Oregon building, the last building to be removed in 1993, is where the pool complex is today.
Bugsy!
Thanks for watching!
I'm staying there in 2 weeks maybe I'll bring some ghost hunting equipment 👻
There is a lot of history at the Flamingo for sure.
A 3D printed casino, with a wild sown nature reserve, that's what I'd build. An eco powered casino, maybe even the first fusion powered casino. ;)
Im gonna go get the papers get the papers
Came here after watching Bugsy
Well produced film but too much inaccurate information. Billy Wilkerson's son wrote his book about his father, in part, because of the film "Bugsy".
@@VegasVisual I met his son and have his book. Bugsy is too inaccurate. Warren Beatty is a brilliant film maker (Reds is amazing) but he could have gotten more facts right. Love the video.
A degenerate gambler or an inveterate gambler? I hope he called himself the degenerate gambler. That would’ve been actually very witty.
Billy Wilkerson's son and his friends said he was a degenerate gambler, some said he was seriously addicted to gambling. Billy's gambling problem was likely the biggest impediment from him being able to build and own the Flamingo himself.
@@VegasVisual that’s fascinating. I wonder if they were making a joke since that means something very different.
@@michaelweaver9040 probably not but who knows!