Zula Beauty Shop  1931, 202 N. 7th Street

Early days of playing slots

"Where's Charley?" is playing at the Fremont Theater on Fremont Street

Vegas Village Ad

Dome of the Sea and the Dunes Hotel

The old Train Depot

The Royal Nevada and Atomic Soldiers

The National Weather Service which issued a Heat Warning to Clark County earlier this week is extending that warning through Monday, August 29th.

Temps in Las Vegas are expected to reach 110 with even higher temps expected at Lake Mead.  Down on the River, the temp is expected to reach 116.

Las Vegas set three record highs earlier this week.

If you are visiting or if you live there, stay hydrated, don't over indulge and stay cool.

McCarran Airport officials and the Las Vegas Review-Journal are warning there could be flight delays over the weekend due to Hurricane Irene.

If you're heading to the East Coast this weekend, check the status of your flight before you head to the airport.

A spokesman for McCarran International Airport said Hurricane Irene could cause some flights to be delayed or canceled, but would not elaborate on how deeply the storm could effect travel plans since it has not hit the States yet. As of Friday afternoon, no routes had been disrupted due to the potential storm.

"I don't want to speak in generalities," spokesman Chris Jones said. "Even if hundreds of flights are delayed or canceled, all anyone cares about is their one flight."

He said changes in travel plans due to weather is an airline problem, not an airport issue so there's not much McCarran can do in preparing for the hurricane that is expected to be Category 2 or 3 when it hits the East this weekend.

Many of us, of a certain age-of course- remember when it was the International Hotel and home to Elvis, Liberace, Ike and Tina and Hair!

But for the last forty years (or so), it has been known as the Las Vegas Hilton.  Word comes today, that the one-time top tier hotel (and one that had a co-starring role in the wonderful, Diamonds Are Forever) may be shedding the name Hilton (and possibly a lot more).

From our pals at LA Biz Observed:

Hilton's contract to manage the famous property is running out, and the company has informed the hotel's owner, Santa Monica-based Colony Capital, that it will pull its brand by January 2012 (Hilton doesn't own most of the hotels it manages). The financial picture is a mess: The Vegas Hilton has been missing payments on a $252 million loan, with the hotel-casino losing almost $9 million in the second quarter. (The Review-Journal has the particulars.)

For more visit LA Biz Observed!

Our friend (and FCLV member) Dr. Linda Miller is profiled in this video on Las Vegas pioneer, Helen Stewart.

Helen Stewart is often called the "First Lady of Las Vegas".  She and her husband, Archibald, pioneered the old Las Vegas Ranch, which also served as as waystation for travelers.  The Ranch had water, which in a desert enviroment, was an essential.  After Archibald was killed at the old Kiel Ranch, the owner sent a note telling Helen that her husband was dead and she could come get his body.

She hitched up a buckboard, retrieved Archie's body and gave him a decent burial.  With her children, she stayed on at the Ranch.  When Sen. William Clark came looking for land and water rights for his railroad that would change Las Vegas forever, Helen J. Stewart was the woman he sought out.

She sold her ranch to Clark but maintained the property where Archie was buried.  She bought more acreage and continued to live in Las Vegas.  She became a good friend to the Paiute Indians and traded with them.  Her collection of Indian baskets are now part of the collection at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas.

For more information on Helen J. Stewart and her place in Las Vegas history:

http://www.1st100.com/part1/stewart.html