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Las Vegas: 1966
Vimeo user Jeff Altman did a great digitizing some old school 16mm Kodachrome for the above video about Las Vegas. The muted colors, wonky film speeds and vintage architecture make a great throwback to the simpler days of unabashed, Vegas fun, before the current era of crowd engineering, headlining shows and unbridled excess. Mix in a cooling, modern soundtrack and the product is three and a half minutes of grade A nostalgia. Nice work Jeff.
Filed under: North America, United States, Video
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mantucket Oct 21st 2011 5:52PM
Great footage... would have been more realistic with some original music...
Nancy Oct 21st 2011 9:42PM
I agree - some period music would have been awesome but I know copyright infringement might be the reason he didn't.
Brenda B Oct 22nd 2011 4:04AM
There is plenty of music from this era that is now public domain. It's easy enough to find and post something much more adhesive to the footage. I don't know who the vocalist is, but..... Let's just say, she needs to stick to her "other job."
Ron Oct 21st 2011 7:35PM
Its sad its changed so much, to bad they ever kicked the mob out.Its all about money now, The dealer's are no longer friendly, tne machines are set up to take your moneyas fast as youcan put it in. It takes an act of god to get comped anything,and its even harder to get a drink even if your gambling.You used to be able to get a great meal for a buck not anymore. Im glad I quit going here. The film was nice to watch,I remamber my great uncle lived on the strip in an airstreem trailer when I was a kid he went their to work on the dam he was a dynamiter and stayed there when it was done, glad he was dead before all the changes.
Elaine Oct 24th 2011 9:34AM
Old Vega was just perfect. Should never have changed. When you went to a Casino you were treated like an important person, they got to know you, treated you well and waited untilyou came back again. Now it's just commercial, nothing very personal, much too child friendly - not a place to take children, but its done all the time.
I personally loved Old Vegas, dressing like a lady, having your man wear a suit and tie, you looked great, felt great and had truly a wonderful time. Food was cheap, babysitters or nanny's were available for the kids at night - just pefect.
Was in Vegas this past June, will not go back again -it's just so overcrowded and everything is extremely expensive. We used to head there 3/4 times a year, now I never think about heading there at all.
Brenda B Oct 22nd 2011 4:01AM
I appreciate very much the footage. As a professional performer, get rid of the music and present something more realistic that embraces the era. I would share this for you if the music "made it." Sorry...it doesn't.
Maggie Oct 22nd 2011 5:42AM
Ditch the music, the video is fantastic. I watched again with the sound turned off and played a Dean Martin CD.
Bob Oct 22nd 2011 9:02AM
1972 I was inducted into the Army, I was living in Las Vegas at the time, but knew nobody. I parked my 1963 chevy in front of Cezars Palace, took a taxie to the airport. I returned 4 months later, the car was still there. I drove it back to Fort Ord CA.
Mark Oct 22nd 2011 7:42PM
Open another window and go to youtube. Find the music you want to hear and play it. Then come back to this video and turn down the volume. Now you can have what ever music you want. I do it all the time and add whatever music I want.
bent Oct 24th 2011 7:32AM
odd i wanted to know who it was singing because i would like to buy that song
BILL Oct 26th 2011 1:48PM
GREAT VIDEO,
SHOOT THE SINGER!!!!!
JW Oct 24th 2011 9:17AM
went to veges in2007 stayed down town 4 queens lightshows were awsum freemont st.
Jim Kennedy Oct 24th 2011 10:35AM
I sure enjoyed the film, the music was not great, but, was not mind bending. I also will not ever plan to go back to Vegas. On my last trip there, I felt like a vegetable or fruit just waiting to be picked.
Jim Oct 24th 2011 11:12AM
Wow. Vegas in it's hey-day. Champagne flight from LA $15.00. Cab fare from little McCarron field the Sahara Hotel $1.60 for foour people. Right next door you had Foxy's restaurant for the best corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on the planet. Louie Prima with Sam Butera and the witnesses in the lounge seemed to play all day and night. NO CHARGE. Signs all along the strip "Casino site for sale" Going to Vegas was something special. Jacket and Tie for dinner or you didn't get in. Dinner show to see Sinatra $50.00 a couple, included a bottle of Chevas Regal on the table. There was a horse riding stable right on the strip. I could go on forever. It was just something special.
Anita Oct 24th 2011 11:23AM
I first went to Las Vegas in1959, and it was even more rudimentary then than is depicted in this video. My mom and aunt and I (aged 12) drove there from Denver in some big American car (I guess it was our car, but I don't remember the make) with no air conditioning, no speed limits once we hit Nevada, and we raced a train all the way in to town. We pulled up to the first motel we saw, as it had a pool, and I dove right in to cool off, while my mom and aunt collapsed in the air conditioned room. We were on the Strip, which had just a few casinos and a lot of motels and trailers. We had a great time! This video captures some of the feel of the times, but I found it too fast and jerky and too packed full of images to take in. It would have been a bit better in black and white. The music is absolutely terrible!!
BigTGiacalone Oct 24th 2011 12:54PM
Yep!! thats when Vegas was run by the MOB!, and it was a HELL of alot better than it is today. You didn't have the Hooker's and Pimps on the street conners like you do today,you didn't have the punks running around robbing people or killing them, yea that was a better VEGAS!, yeah you felt Safer, (well unless you crossed the mob!!!) it was also a cleaner town than it is today too!
Dean Hunt Oct 24th 2011 12:11PM
I remember installing the brick work on the 2nd floor of the Holiday Inn. I think it was in 1961 and it was the gratest time in the world. Las Vegas was the most frriendly city I had ever known. I also watched when Evil Knievel jumped his great jump. And it is true, the mob knew how to put on a show.
Don Oct 24th 2011 12:30PM
Just reading the comments above, I think we all, for the most part, agree that Vegas has made some drastic changes in recent times. Sorry to say, the changes have not been for the better. Wonder if the hot shots directing the Vegas scene will bother to read these comments and do something about the cold
reception being experienced by folks. It may very well be the case of why Vegas
is pleading for more visitors/customers. Years past were great. Nice people that
couldn't do enough to make you welcomed. You wanted to stay longer and spend more time and money. My last visit, couldn't get out of there fast enough. No more Vagas for this old man. It just isn't the friendly place that I use to look forward to visiting.
Kim Oct 25th 2011 3:49PM
Las Vegas has changed a lot!! I live in Las Vegas. I got here in 1993,and from then till now, it's like a new city. I never go on the strip any more due to overpopulation. Besides, off strip, I'm still treated great, drinks when I want them, comps all the time, and people are great. Off strip is where the "locals" are, and you'll be treated better.
basglas Oct 24th 2011 2:04PM
Wish they had pictures of Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn. I was 11 and my mom took me to dinner and a show there. The show was Pearl Bailey. We had to sit on the corner of the stage because it was packed. Pearl Bailey came over and sand a love song to me, the little kid in the corner. Never forget that!