360 Vegas

September 2024  

Random Vegas  The temperature in Las Vegas reached 100 degrees six times in Oct 2024.  Between 1937 and 2023, It hit 100 degrees in October a TOTAL of 6 times. (LasVegasLocally)  TwitPic of the week  A unique perspective of a unique lady in Vegas history. The Tropicana was called “the Tiffany of the strip”.  The nickname is said to come from the property’s shape as a necklace. That POV was capture...

Random Vegas Most people know the story about Sands boss Carl Cohen knocking two of Frank Sinatra’s teeth out after one of his legendary temper tantrums.  But did you know that a similar situation happened at Caesars Palace?  Sinatra wanted credit to play $16k a hand at baccarat but the casino limit was $2k and he was already being allowed to play at $8k a hand.  When he was told no, Frank of cour...

Random Vegas Clark County paid $4k for the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in 1959.  In 2008 they paid $400k to build the first 12 parking spaces. (@Vegas_Visual) TwitPic of the week It may not be as glorious as the original, but Fremont St is still stunning as shown by @FSELV .  Even the Fremont St Experience canopy stretching 4 city blocks is beautiful in its own way.  Arial views of Vegas gi...

Random Vegas Over $40,000 per year is collected and donated to charity from coins tossed into the Venetian canals and fountains (VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week This week’s winner by @Bluestorm2000  perfectly sums up the appeal of Vegas, sometimes things just line up and despite the odds and the house edge, sometimes you just win.  That’s why we gamble, for those moments.  Here we have a picture o...

Surly dragon, sexy showgirl, and cute puppies. If I told you the best magic show in Vegas right now is starring a short, unkempt, surly Englishman in a poorly-fitting sequined dragon costume, you would probably question my opinion.  But Piff the Magic Dragon is hands-down the most entertaining magic show I’ve seen in Vegas, and that includes all the celeb-magicians. Caesars Entertainment snatched...

Random Vegas If you’re dealt a winning hand in video poker and accidentally fail to hold some or all of the cards before hitting “deal/draw”, some casinos, upon request, can review the last hand played and pay you what you would have one. (@VitalVegas) TwitPic of the week It’s the best view I’ve ever seen of the mistake in the desert, shared by @VitalVegas .  The giant MGM lion entrance formerly o...

Random Vegas Another reason the Strip began to outpace Fremont St was theming.  By the 50s the western motif was outdated and abandon by new properties opening on the strip.  This is why a more sophisticated client was attracted to the area. While on Fremont, the western motif was alive, well and expanding.  (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon) TwitPic of the week History in the making, lit...

Random Vegas The Sphere has been averaging over $1 million in ticket sales per day.  It generated nearly half a billion dollars in revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30th. (LasVegasLocally) TwitPic of the week Talk about things changing but staying the same.  This perspective shows us the strip south of the curve in Las Vegas Blvd. Featured prominently is the Mirage marquee.  Then, because it...

Random Vegas  Super successful restaurants make $20-25 million a year.  STK at Cosmopolitan makes almost $50 million a year and Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace generates more than $60 million a year. (Vital Vegas)  TwitPic of the week  Dunes, Caesars Palace, Flamingo and Aladdin.  Those that still remain look radically different from how they looked in 1980.  This photo shared by @summacorp  show...

What is it with Cirque du Soleil and Vegas? Ever since Steve Wynn invited Mystere to set up shop at Treasure Island in 1993, the French-Canadian circus brand that has made absurdity its trademark has become an inextricable part of Vegas entertainment. As of this writing, there are 5 Cirque du Soleil shows that call Vegas home (6, if you count the Cirque-owned, but not Cirque-developed, Blue Man Gr...

Random Vegas  Frederick W. Smith, the founder and CEO of FedEx saved his company by gambling in Las Vegas.  When FedEx had a hard time paying their $24,000 fuel bill, Smith took the company’s last $5,000 to gamble and managed to win $27,000 on blackjack and kept the business afloat.  TwitPic of the week  The year is 1985 and featured in this picture is the Dunes in all her glory including the sate...

Random Vegas  Open containers are legal if you are using a limo or party bus.  Not legal in a rideshare or taxi. (Las Vegas Trivia Tidbits Book)  TwitPic of the week  It’s something we take for granted for in Vegas, not knowing what time of day or night it is.  But viewing an atomic explosion has got to be an experience like no other.  Here we see downtown Las Vegas in the midst of just such an oc...

Random Vegas  Hilton, at one time, had the tallest sign in Vegas at 362 feet tall, taller than the Landmark Hotel itself and only a few feet shy of the Hilton itself.  On July 18, 1994, it was blown down by 70-80 mph high winds.  Fortunately, no one was injured.  The sign was rebuilt in 1997 but not nearly as tall at only 279 feet tall. This is the sign Westgate has to this day. @summacorp   TwitP...

Random Vegas  There were 137 employees that worked all 34 years and 8 months at the Mirage.  All current employees get $2k per year worked and first dibs on Hard Rock jobs in 2027 (@Vegas_Visual)  TwitPic of the week  It’s the best picture I’ve ever seen that really shows off the scope and grandeur of a live performance at the Sphere, shared by @meltzvegas .  The 18k images dwarf the performers wh...

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Random Vegas  YESCO replaced more than six miles of neon lighting with RGB LED strips on Mandalay Bay and Delano  (Vital Vegas).  TwitPic of the week  I was never a fan of the property, but damn did they have a nice marquee.  The Frontier marquee, born in 1966 and shared by @_GrandPaD  with an assist from @summacorp, was designed by Ad Art. It was at one time the tallest super pylon in the world a...

Random Vegas Vegas has the 3 largest video screens in the world. Sphere @Venetian at 580,000 square feet (515 long by 367 width), Resorts World at 161,636 square feet (475 long by 340 width), Viva Vision Screen at the Fremont St Experience at 130,000 square feet (1,500 long by 90 width). TwitPic of the trip Technically this was before 360VV14 started but according to the rules I’ve made up in my h...

Random Vegas Ever wonder why they call them tokes instead of tips?  The reason is many years ago dealers tried to convince the IRS that the cash they received from players was not a tip and therefore did not have to be reported as taxable income. The logic behind this dodge was that a tip was defined by the IRS as a payment in return for special treatment. Since it is illegal for a dealer to provi...

Random Vegas  Justin Timberlake was paid $6 million dollars to perform at Fontainebleau opening night.  That night, he stayed at Wynn. (VitalVegas)  TwitPic of the week  You’ve heard me talk about it before, the Stardust.  Here we got a picture from @_GrandPaD  showing off the entire property, including the old Royal Nevada that they rebranded the Stardust Auditorium.  It also shows the properties...

Random Vegas The five biggest jackpots ever won in Las Vegas history ( @VegasIssues ) 1.     $39.7 million – Excalibur, Mar 2003 2.     $35 million – Desert Inn, Jan 2000 3.     $27.6 million – Palace Station, Nov 1998 4.     $22.6 million – Bally’s, May 2002 5.     $21.3 million – Caesars Palace, June 1999 TwitPic of the week I don’t know if its common knowledge but Bellagio has a hell of an ass...

Random Vegas The largest American flag every flown was displayed over the Hoover Dam on May 1st, 1996.  Each star on the flag was 17 feet high. ( @LasVegaslocally ) TwitPic of the week My growing affection for this property rivals only Keren’s dislike for it.  The world famous, Caesars Palace, here showcased in 1974 by @summacorp .  Here we can see the properties 3rd hotel tower under construction...

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Random Vegas It’s been stated that the Mirage changed everything.  Specifically, in the 10 years that followed its opening the city of Las Vegas doubled visitor volume from $17 million to $35 million, room inventory from 61k to 124k, air passengers increased from $16 million to $36 million and gaming revenue from $3 billion of $7.6 billion.  ( @OllyLovate ) TwitPic of the week Simply put, it’s a p...