Las Vegas: The Beginning

A colorful coffee table book that follows the transformation of a sleepy wild west town to a neon highway. From wagon wheels and ten-gallon hats to the incredible social experiment that became part of the American dream. With striking photos and detailed stories, historian Bradley Lewis takes us from the vintage gambling outposts through the mob’s spectacular Flamingo – the era of the Rat Pack. Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen, Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Billy Wilkerson were all there at the inception, as well as Dragna, Roselli, Fratianno, Hill, Greenbaum, and Sedway. Frank, Sammy, & Dean, Pearl Bailey, Joe E. Lewis, Chico Marx, Betty Grable, Harry James, and Sophie Tucker are just a few of the early headliners. Learn the evolution from a sleepy railroad stop to the vice capital of the country. Gangsters and politicians were there at the start and helped deliver the El Rancho, Last Frontier, Flamingo, Sahara, Sands, and Dunes. This lively coffee table book is a must for any fan of Las Vegas history. Read more