Everyone thinks they know the history of the Las Vegas Strip. But the real story is both fascinating and not well known. What was there before the Bellagio, the Wynn, the Venetian, or those empty plots of land that look out of place? Why is the Flamingo one of the oldest and most surviving hotels on the boulevard? From conception to implosion, you get the detailed histories of the hotels built during those formative years, including the El Rancho Vegas, Hotel Last Frontier, Flamingo, Thunderbird, Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn, Sahara, Sands, Royal Nevada, Riviera, and the Dunes. Included in these histories are architectural designs, the neon signage, and how each of the hotels evolved. This book also includes rarely seen, historic imagery. The dreamers, who saw the future like few others and who built these hotels, helped turn a five-mile stretch of blacktop highway into the Entertainment Capital of the World. This is the story of the first twenty-five years of the Classic Las Vegas Strip--how it began, and how it grew.

In this lively and probing book, award-winning author Pete Earley traces the extraordinary evolution of Las Vegas -- from the gaudy Mecca of the Rat Pack era to one of the country's top family vacation spots. He revisits the city's checkered history of moguls, mobsters, and entertainers, reveals the real stories of well-known power brokers like Steve Wynn and legends like Howard Hughes and Bugsy Siegel, and offers a fascinating portrait of the life, death, and fantastic rebirth of the Las Vegas Strip. Earley also documents the gripping tale of the entrepreneurs behind the rise and fall and rise again of one of the largest gaming corporations in the nation, Circus Circus -- to which he was given unique access. In his trademark you-are-there style, he takes us behind the scenes to meet the blackjack dealers and hookers, the heavy hitters and bit players, the security officers, cabbies, and showgirls who are caught up in the mercurial pace that pulses at the heart of this astounding city.

The last thing I expect is to wake up, married to my teammate's little sister. Not only do I have to worry about facing the wrath of my best friend, I'm beginning to think staying married might be the best idea I've ever had. MORE DETAILS COMING SOON

Text in English & French. If Francois Paolini feels 'at home' in Las Vegas, it's because he has found here the possibility to create a world where man raises his eyes to the gods instead of keeping them fixed on the asphalt. Whether they depict a gold ingot, a dark pyramid that has dropped from a science-fiction sky, Legos for big kids or a concourse of giants, Paolini's photos are paintings of atmosphere that bring together in one image what the visitor has perceived without always analysing, as well as a concentration of astonishing dreams for those who were not there. Las Vegas as shown by Paolini is the last sacred ode to the outrageness that this modern, materialistic, down-to-earth world has forgotten. What a wonderful tribute paid to Las Vegas for its Centennial Celebration.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas ... including the ghosts, unexplained phenomenon, and other spooky happenings. The strip is much more than bright lights, gambling, wild shows, and quick marriage ceremonies. Haunted Las Vegas reveals the true mysteries of Sin City and brings the old legends to life in a chilling way. The Flamingo: Listed as one of the ten most haunted sites in America by the Wall Street Journal, the Flamingo Hotel is home to the ghost of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. A known gangster, Bugsy is often called the man who invented Las Vegas. Even though he was killed in Hollywood, his ghost reportedly remains at the Flamingo. The Demon Swing: In the dead of night, many people reportedly see smoke or mist surrounding Fox Ridge Park, home of the boy ghost on the demon swing. It is unknown how the ghost ended up in the park, but beware of this unfriendly boy--he is known to push people off the swings. [reading line] Eerie Tales and Spine-Tingling Stories From America's Sin City

In the mega-selling tradition of The Dreamer’s Dictionary comes a comprehensive, contemporary guide to understanding dreams and the unconscious mind. With over 3,500 symbols and a 7-step guide to applying their definitions to one’s life, this is the ultimate guide for today’s dreamer. It's a double-caf low-fat Frappuccino-kind of world, and all that bustle doesn't stop just because it's time for bed. While you sleep, your mind is busy going over everything you've experienced during the day. Now, with the only dream book that interprets both classic and new twenty-first century symbols - everything from speed dating and Botox to text messages and iPods - you can tap into your unconscious with the turn of a page. Discover the messages hidden in your dreams, your hopes, your fears, your unrealized strengths and potential. You'll learn how to recognize life-altering opportunities and become the person you've always dreamed of being.