This card image shows the parking lot and flamboyant decoration of the Thunderbird Hotel as it was shortly after its construction. It was another of the early Strip hotel/casinos, and like the others had a very active existence, being remodeled, expanded, renamed and ultimately abandoned and imploded to make way for the Fontainebleau, currently in bankruptcy.
The description states:
One of the luxury resort hotels that had made Las Vegas, Nevada, the hub of the scenic Southwest for the vacationeer, tourist and casual traveller.
–This description uses the older term vacationeer rather than vacationer, and politely leaves out the gambler as one of the groups frequenting the city. The cars shown in the lot clearly date this image to the 1950s.
Author: desteede
Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn at Night, Las Vegas, Nevada
Another image of the Desert Inn, this time from the pool side on the other side of the main building from the parking lot shown before.
The description states:
WILBUR CLARK’S DESERT INN
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
An evening view across the quiet waters of the Swimming Pool looking toward the glees-enclosed Skyroom Cocktail Lounge, the Painted Desert Room Supper Club, ‘Round the Clock Casino and Lady Luck Bar.
–The Skyroom is easy to identify, being elevated above the rest of the building, much like an airport control tower. The rest of the rooms named are not distinctive enough in this rendition, but the presence of tables to the left strongly suggests this is the location of the Supper Club and the right side windows are the Casino.
This card like the others in this series, dates from the 1950s
Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada
Following on after the Sands is Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn. It also served as a location for the filming of Ocean’s 11, as it was adjacent to the Sands at the time.
The description states:
The Green Vista of
WILBUR CLARK’S DESERT INN
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The sweeping grandeur of the main building at this magnificent resort introduces the guest to the luxurious livery offered by the newest and largest Las Vegas hotel.
–The hotel, like most others on the strip from the earlier days, was expanded many times, and finally demolished in favor of another development, in this case the Wynn resort.
The automobiles pictured here indicate the card dates from the 1950s.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
This folio collection of images and illustrations from Tulsa, Oklahoma have several examples of views that bear a striking resemblance to recent graphic representations in such computer games as the Sim City series. The images appear to be primarily artist’s renditions, with a few colored photos included.
While Tulsa continues to style itself the Oil Capital of the World, the many decades of changes in oil production world wide and even recently via tar sand development likely have made the claim moot.
This folio can be best dated by the illustrations which show automobiles consistent with the 1940s.
Sands Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
The final Las Vegas location of this week continues the arid theme common for the era. The Sands Hotel was a modest start, just a few hundred rooms along with the casino, but it hosted the filming of Ocean’s 11, which is considered the birth of the Rat Pack. They performed at the legendary Copa Room stage at the Sands, among many other stars of the era.
The description states:
THE SANDS
A Place in the Sun
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The newest luxury hotel in Las Vegas, world renowned for its head line entertainment, luxurious living accommodations and complete shopping and amusement facilities.
–The statement above noting that the Sands was the newest at the time of the photo points to the photo dating from 1953. In the end, even though it was expanded with a landmark circular tower, the Sands was demolished and replaced with the Venetian on the same site.
Hotel Flamingo, Las Vegas, Nevada
The Hotel Flamingo was the first luxury resort on the strip, and it’s early history is deeply entwined with the influence of the mob, including such famous figures as Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky.
The description states:
THE SHOWPLACE OF THE NATION
FLAMINGO HOTEL, LAS VEGAS NEVADA
This is a view of the grounds of the Famous Flamingo Hotel, showing in the center of its beautiful landscaped gardens.
–The resort still exists, but has been extensively reconstructed several times since this image, so there is literally nothing left of what you can see here. The image is from the 1950s.
Hotel Sahara, Las Vegas, Nevada
We move away from Fremont St. to the early developments along the strip. The Hotel Sahara anchored the north end of the early Strip, and was the last of the pre-1969 hotels to be demolished. It hosted many famous performers, not least of which were the Rat Pack, a group of entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.
The description states:
HOTEL SAHARA
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The last word in modern luxury hotel construction. Famous stars appearing nightly to entertain. Renowned for fine food and luxurious living.
–The hotel expanded many times over the years, but was finally closed in 2011, and will be replaced with a mega-resort on the same site. This image is of the hotel just shortly after its initial completion, and dates from the 1950s.
Horseshoe Club, Fremont St., Las Vegas Nevada
Proceeding down Fremont Street in Las Vegas, we finally come to the Horseshoe Club. Looking at the previous postcard, you can see the same Hotel Apache sign in the far background on the left, as is shown on top of the club building in this picture. The Hotel Apache and Eldorado Club were purchased by Benny Binion and restyled the Horseshoe Club.
The description states:
THE HORSESHOE CLUB
FREMONT STREET — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The new Horseshoe Club is another notable showplace of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Tourists, visitors, and Las Vegans, have found here the perfect combination of restful atmosphere and all the modern conveniences for relaxation. There is a restaurant serving de luxe meals at low prices, one of the largest bars in Nevada, nearby parking, and all games of chance for which Nevada is famous.
–Now it is called Binion’s Horseshoe, and anchors one end of the Fremont Street experience. Since the description indicates the club is new, it is possible to date this card to the 1950s.
Fremont St. and South Main St., Las Vegas, Nevada
From the train station we walk quickly through Union Plaza and emerge at Main Street and the head end of Fremont Street, shown in the image today. On the right is the Sal Sagev Hotel (Las Vegas spelled backwards), which has been reconstructed,restored and renamed the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino. Across the street is the Overland Hotel, now the Las Vegas Club. The sky is no longer visible on Fremont, as the street has been covered with an arching screen that serves as a backdrop to a nighttime light and image show.
The description on the card states:
Day or night, it’s always time for fun and relaxation on Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada
— In this time, before the development of the Strip, Fremont Street and surrounding area was the center of Las Vegas tourism and gambling. With the arrival of the first wave of resort hotel/casinos, the tourist traffic began its move to the south, which was accelerated by the construction of the mega-resort/casinos. Fremont Street merchants had to make extensive changes to attract tourists and money back to the area, and they called the result the Fremont Street Experience.
This card dates from the 1950s.
Union Pacific Station, Las Vegas, Nevada
We are in Las Vegas, Nevada at the arrival of the Desert Wind in this postcard image. The station no longer exists in this form, having been demolished and a new station built, incorporated into the Plaza Hotel & Casino on the same site.
The description states:
The new passenger depot of the Union Pacific in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the world’s first streamlined, completely air conditioned railroad passenger station. Typically modernistic western in motif, the structure has been described by architects as one of the most beautiful in design and superlatively complete in appointments, in the United States.
–The architectural style is called Streamline Moderne, and was intended to complement the streamlined train designs of the era. The Desert Wind train that served this station was discontinued, but there is an ongoing effort to restore passenger train service from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
This card dates from the 1950s.