I was born in 2001, so still too young to experience Las Vegas at its fullest , but i find myself looking at old videos from the 90s and 80s and oh how i wish i couldve been alive back then. Everything and everyone looked so full of life, no electronics like we had today, and everyone was just having a good time. All i can do now is experience the memories of someone else, which honestly is enough for me. Thank you for this video !
I was born in 1980, so I was just old enough to experience the tail end of the old Vegas. Let me tell you it is a complete different experience now. Back then basically every casino treated you well even if you sat at the $5 table. It was not uncommon for the pit boss to offer you free show, meal or even room after a few hours of play. Nowadays, everything is rated through their corporate system so you might get mailers offering $10 free play if you fly back on your own dime. Ironically enough they're getting rid of theme casinos and building super resorts, but the experience is more like a theme park and less like casino these days. Perhaps, some people like it better, but for me I wish they would have made minor improvements instead of changing the town as they did.
Jay..u are way ahead of ur peers.. My first time in Vegas was1980. The city has changed so much since then. Old Vegas was much more alive and fun. Don't get me wrong..I still love Vegas but it's not the same.
Man I wish I was a young guy in the 70s and 80s! I was born in 1990 and only went to Vegas for the first time in 2007. In general I can imagine Life in these simpler times where there were no stupid smartphones. Nowadays I can't escape work as I need to be ready at any time to make calls, send emails, messages etc through my phone. Please someone build a time machine so we can escape this 2019 madness!
It was better. I promise. I come to these videos exactly for that reason. To remember some of the best times of my life. Now i live in Vegas and barely even go to the strip. These days its tough to enjoy Vegas unless you are rich.
I got there in 1970 for my first time. The hotels on the strip were like drive in theaters plenty of free parking. I remember Mama Cass performing at one of the casinos a week later she was dead the news said she choked on a ham sandwich. Now we know that was BS
Las Vegas keeps monetizing everything. Charging parking on the strip less than a year raising fees. Treasure Island doing away with a free show in front of the Hotel. They keep taking and don't give back.
I use to live and work in Las Vegas before the heavy gentrification that took place after I left on May 29, 2010. Las Vegas is not the same as Vegas of the 1980's or the 1990's. Everything is overpriced including the buffets that were cheap back then and if you were a gambler it was comped. Same issue here on South Beach Miami heavy gentrification took place here over the last 25 years. Thanks for the video. I wish you all the best.
The Boardwalk had all kinds of deals when it was a tiny casino.The MGM that caught on fire was where Bally's is now,later re-opened where that lion was!
Nice vid! My first trip wasn't until 2008 so by the time I made it out the corporations had already taken over, did all the themes, then started de-theming. I think I just missed the Excalibur dragon show and it seems every trip since, there was something else taken away. I imagine it's only a matter of time before MGM decides the Bellagio lake is better served as more development :(
I actually saw a Wizard of Oz show there. Behind/inside that Emerald City set up was a small theater. Probably would be a fire hazard today with how small and enclosed it was.
Oh my goodness, so did I! I believe it was somewhere around winter 1992, I came with my high school Thespian group and saw the first showing with a black Dorothy! It was fantastic!
I stayed there back in 99 I think it was for about a week when my family used to travel allot. Was a pretty cool hotell/casino. My family went to see Cher when she performed at the MGM back then. Was too young to gambel at the time so I spent most of my time there in the arcade area below or walking the strip checking out the inside of other casinos.
Worked out of Las Vegas Carpenters union during this time, worked at the MGM and eventually with a contractor that took the lions head down. The rumor was Asian high rollers thought it was bad luck to walk into the mouth of a lion so they were avoiding the place...lol. Anyway, that was the rumor.. personally, I never liked the looks of the lions head to cartoonish for my taste.Don't live in Vegas anymore, but think of it often. I have really good memories of the place, but preferred the "old Vegas" of the late 80's when I first moved there.
Boardwalk was pretty much next door to the Bellagio. I worked on the Bellagio construction and used to go over to the Boardwalk for lunch. Not there anymore, can't think of what took it's place at the moment.
My favorite part is truly all those old cars captured frozen in time. Thank you for posting. Great video
I was born in 2001, so still too young to experience Las Vegas at its fullest , but i find myself looking at old videos from the 90s and 80s and oh how i wish i couldve been alive back then. Everything and everyone looked so full of life, no electronics like we had today, and everyone was just having a good time. All i can do now is experience the memories of someone else, which honestly is enough for me. Thank you for this video !
I was born in 1980, so I was just old enough to experience the tail end of the old Vegas. Let me tell you it is a complete different experience now. Back then basically every casino treated you well even if you sat at the $5 table. It was not uncommon for the pit boss to offer you free show, meal or even room after a few hours of play. Nowadays, everything is rated through their corporate system so you might get mailers offering $10 free play if you fly back on your own dime. Ironically enough they're getting rid of theme casinos and building super resorts, but the experience is more like a theme park and less like casino these days. Perhaps, some people like it better, but for me I wish they would have made minor improvements instead of changing the town as they did.
Jay..u are way ahead of ur peers.. My first time in Vegas was1980. The city has changed so much since then. Old Vegas was much more alive and fun. Don't get me wrong..I still love Vegas but it's not the same.
Man I wish I was a young guy in the 70s and 80s! I was born in 1990 and only went to Vegas for the first time in 2007. In general I can imagine Life in these simpler times where there were no stupid smartphones. Nowadays I can't escape work as I need to be ready at any time to make calls, send emails, messages etc through my phone. Please someone build a time machine so we can escape this 2019 madness!
It was better. I promise. I come to these videos exactly for that reason. To remember some of the best times of my life. Now i live in Vegas and barely even go to the strip. These days its tough to enjoy Vegas unless you are rich.
2001 that's when everything started to go downhill in terms of culture
This was my first year I moved to Vegas 1993! A glorious time.
I got there in 1970 for my first time. The hotels on the strip were like drive in theaters plenty of free parking. I remember Mama Cass performing at one of the casinos a week later she was dead the news said she choked on a ham sandwich. Now we know that was BS
I wish they kept the old Treasure Island sign.
Las Vegas keeps monetizing everything. Charging parking on the strip less than a year raising fees. Treasure Island doing away with a free show in front of the Hotel. They keep taking and don't give back.
A lot of the old themed vegas is being destroyed. Year after year the Luxor loses more Pyramid themed stuff.
I use to live and work in Las Vegas before the heavy gentrification that took place after I left on May 29, 2010. Las Vegas is not the same as Vegas of the 1980's or the 1990's. Everything is overpriced including the buffets that were cheap back then and if you were a gambler it was comped. Same issue here on South Beach Miami heavy gentrification took place here over the last 25 years. Thanks for the video. I wish you all the best.
Nice video and commentary! FYI they removed the old MGM lion head entrance because Asian people consider it bad luck to walk through the lion's belly!
Thank you so much for taking us along and providing good narration.
what a nostalgia trip....
I am so thankful for this video!
I hauled a lot of steel from PA. TO Vegas for the MGM Grand hotel in 1991 1992. I remember it well..
Awesome freaking vid man! Love this era.
Very cool ! Thanks for sharing !
Loved this. You did great with it
very cool and informational video, thank you!
The Boardwalk had all kinds of deals when it was a tiny casino.The MGM that caught on fire was where Bally's is now,later re-opened where that lion was!
Nice vid! My first trip wasn't until 2008 so by the time I made it out the corporations had already taken over, did all the themes, then started de-theming. I think I just missed the Excalibur dragon show and it seems every trip since, there was something else taken away. I imagine it's only a matter of time before MGM decides the Bellagio lake is better served as more development :(
I actually saw a Wizard of Oz show there. Behind/inside that Emerald City set up was a small theater. Probably would be a fire hazard today with how small and enclosed it was.
Oh my goodness, so did I! I believe it was somewhere around winter 1992, I came with my high school Thespian group and saw the first showing with a black Dorothy! It was fantastic!
Visited from the UK in 1991, 1994 and 1999. Maybe mother nature will revert life and society back to how it once was hey? :(
I have been to Las Vegas in 1970 and frequently there after it is changed a lot and not for the better
Nice video.
I miss the old MGM. Great place back then.
I stayed there back in 99 I think it was for about a week when my family used to travel allot. Was a pretty cool hotell/casino. My family went to see Cher when she performed at the MGM back then. Was too young to gambel at the time so I spent most of my time there in the arcade area below or walking the strip checking out the inside of other casinos.
Worked out of Las Vegas Carpenters union during this time, worked at the MGM and eventually with a contractor that took the lions head down. The rumor was Asian high rollers thought it was bad luck to walk into the mouth of a lion so they were avoiding the place...lol. Anyway, that was the rumor.. personally, I never liked the looks of the lions head to cartoonish for my taste.Don't live in Vegas anymore, but think of it often. I have really good memories of the place, but preferred the "old Vegas" of the late 80's when I first moved there.
The end of true vegas
Those were the days...
I remember Vegas in 1970 and those were the days
I remember Marina,mid 80s,got complimentary bus ride to airport. Remember looking for Marina 1993 wondering wtf?0
Great work my friend! ✅ 😁 👌👀 😁 🍀👌☀😁 🌷😀 Ciao LIKE#187👍 ✅ 😀🔵 ✅
The year i was born
I don’t recall The Boardwalk.
Boardwalk was pretty much next door to the Bellagio. I worked on the Bellagio construction and used to go over to the Boardwalk for lunch. Not there anymore, can't think of what took it's place at the moment.
Man you sound like Ron Swanson.