The late 1960s were definitely a strange time for many movie studios. The traditional mode of making and marketing movies were in their death throes and the men who ran those studios were desperate to appeal to young people, anything to get them into the theaters.

Which may explain why a strange little movie like They Came to Rob Las Vegas got made.  Starring Gary Lockwood (maybe they were trying to cash in on whatever success Lockwood had in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Elke Sommer, Lee J. Cobb and Jack Palance.  It's a caper film with some very bad writing, bad acting and really bad dubbing.

The good news, the desert scenes shot in Spain are beautiful though they don't look much like the desert betwen southern California and Las Vegas and the on location footage of San Francisco and especially Las Vegas circa 1967 are worth enduring all of the above.

If you love Las Vegas of the late 1960s, you should check this film out.  Scenes of Glitter Glutch, the old County Court House makes a cameo with a large tripod wedding chapel sign in the background.  At one point, dealer Lockwood drives away from the Flamingo at golden hour (dusk) and there in all it's beauty is the Flamingo, Caesars, neon signs and empty space, lots of empty space so you could appreciate the architecture, the signage and the scenery.  There's even a shot of the old Mr. Porterhouse sign.  The way the Strip used to look and now only exists in our memories.

Though Elke, no doubt, does make a good sidekick:

There's a double cross, a triple cross maybe even a four way cross, it's hard to keep up.  But the footage of Las Vegas, daytime and night, looks sensational.

Palance's character is introduced as "James Bond of the Alstar Insurance Company" which made me think of that other great caper film shot on location in Las Vegas, Diamonds Are Forever.

The film shows up on Turner Classic Movies from time to time and while I don't recommend the plot or much else of the movie, it is worth watching for the location footage.  That's all it really has going for it, especially with its over two hour running time.  I recommend just fast forwarding to the location scenes, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Here's short clip from the opening:

Helldorado 2013 is coming!

Saturday, May 19th

2012 Helldorado Days Event Schedule

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

Helldorado Trail Ride

Helldorado Trail Ride Registration Form
Bonnie Springs Ranch

MONDAY, APRIL 30 to SUNDAY, MAY 6

Art Show and Auction
Las Vegas Elks Lodge
4100 W. Charleston

Artist information sheet

FRIDAY, MAY 4 and SATURDAY, MAY 5

Helldorado Shootout Charity Golf Tournament
Highland Falls
10201 Sun City Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89134

Friday - Banquet
Saturday - Golf Tournament

Helldorado Shootout Charity Golf Tournament Registration Form

HELLDORADO DAYS RODEO WEEK
THURSDAY, MAY 17 - SUNDAY, MAY 20

THURSDAY, MAY 17
COWBOYS FOR A CURE – WEAR PINK NIGHT
Breast Cancer Awareness for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Southern Nevada
Gates open 5 p.m. to Midnight
Downtown Rodeo Grounds
Carnival, Exhibits & Food Vendors
Helldorado Rodeo 8 p.m.

Ticket order form available here.

For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Southern Nevada, click here.

FRIDAY, MAY 18
PRCA Professional Rodeo

Gates open 5 p.m. to Midnight
Downtown Rodeo Grounds
Carnival, Exhibits & Food Vendors
Whiskerino Contest, 6 p.m. at Bar Tent on Rodeo Grounds, registration form available here.

PRCA Pro Rodeo - 8 p.m.

Ticket order form available here.

SATURDAY, MAY 19
Helldorado Days Evening Parade

Fourth Street from Gass Avenue to Ogden Avenue 5 p.m.

Parade Registration Form

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Armed Forces Day
Operation Free Ride, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Operation Free Ride is a Horses4Heroes program. More information about Horses4Heroes is available here.

PRCA Professional Rodeo

Gates open 3 p.m. to Midnight
Downtown Rodeo Grounds
Carnival, Exhibits & Food Vendors
PRCA Pro Rodeo 8 p.m.

Ticket order form available here.

SUNDAY, MAY 20 - Final Night
PRCA Professional Rodeo

Gates open 5 p.m. to Midnight
Downtown Rodeo Grounds
Carnival, Exhibits, Food Vendors

Our good friend Greg Neimann has written a terrific book on Las Vegas and we asked him to tell us about it:

           “Las Vegas”?

          “Yes, Las Vegas,” my publisher said. “We’ve had people asking us to do a book, and you can do it – just like you did with Baja Legends and Palm Springs Legends, which by the way are two of our most popular books.”

          I looked at Diana Lindsay, the owner of Sunbelt Publications and told her I’d think about it.

          Later I thought, “Wow, a publisher is asking me to write a book for them. I’m honored, but what do I know about Las Vegas.” I didn’t think I could, or should, write a book about an unfamiliar place, but Las Vegas – well maybe.

          As a life-long southern Californian I’d been going to Las Vegas since the 1940s, so I was quite familiar with the city. I had driven up enough times I knew the route intimately. I’d flown up on casino junkets, and had attended casino openings only to see the same ones imploded years later.  

          My sister lived in Eldorado Canyon for 20 years, part of that time as curator of the Techatticup Mine. I romped all over that area, and when we went to town, it meant driving straight down Boulder Highway until it became Fremont Street and downtown. I also spent time with friends and other former family members who lived in Las Vegas.

          Not a resident, I still had a second row seat to observe the meteoric rise of Las Vegas as it morphed into the largest U. S. city spawned in the 20^th century.

          Before I told Sunbelt that I would do it, I did a lot of background research. The more I got into the city’s history, the more I was intrigued. The early days of the Mormons, the feuding first ranchers, and the drama of the competing railroads were the beginnings of a fascinating story to be told.

          I agreed to write the book and my subsequent trips to Vegas became so much more enriching. The blackjack tables took a back seat to sources of information and the people who were willing to talk to me. The captivating story of Las Vegas was continuing to evolve and enthrall, and still is.      

          As Dr. Eugene Moering of UNLV, who was kind enough to proof the book, wrote, “Las Vegas Legends is more than a book about legends. It is a highly informative history that sweeps across Las Vegas’ past from earliest times to the present. General readers will enjoy this engaging saga of America’s gaming capital.” 

          I am happy with the result, and I hope you will be too.       

You can order a copy by going directly to his website:  www.gregniemann.com  

Las Vegas Convention Center

It had an outer ring of green neon that glowed in the night

In keeping up with the times, the Convention Center got a new sign in 1969

Anyone remember the Jaycee County Fair (the first year had a terrific roller coaster)

Did anyone see the Dead?

Helldorado Parade float in front of the Lucky Motel in 1955

C. H. Baker Shoes Ad

Lawless Center with a sputnik sign designed by Brian "Buzz" Leming

Dean Martin marquee at the Sands Hotel

Great news for all who believe in the revitalization of Fremont Street.  Tony Hsieh, the head of Zappos and the Downtown Project, has bought the old 7-11 building at Fremont and Las Vegas Blvd.

Hsieh saved the Zick and Sharp designed City Hall from the wrecking ball when city officials decided to build and move into new digs located on Fourth Street.  Zappos taking over the old building saved the building from falling victim to another strip mall or worse.

Now word comes that Hsieh's Downtown Project has plans for the old 7-11.  In the 1930s the corner housed a Dollar store (yes, they were popular seventy years ago with Depression-era shoppers as they are today) run by an Asian family.

When I was growing up, it housed a Sheriff's sub-station.  When the substation closed, 7-11 took over.  It was popular with tourists and locals.  Unfortunately, it was popular with a rougher crowd as well.

For too many years, it has been empty.  The economic meltdown seemed to be the final nail in the hopes of reviving the building.  Over the years, there were hopes for nightclub, restaurant and bakery.  Those hopes were all dashed.

But now, that hope re-emerges.  The Downtown Project, working with Michael Cornthwaite, owner of the Downtown Cocktail Lounge located next door the empty building, hopes to revitalize the building and turn it into a gathering place for community groups.

There's a lot of history on Fremont Street.  It was once lined with homes and non-casino businesses.  It was the first street paved back in the day and the first traffic light was on the corner where the 7-11 stands today.

We welcome Tony Hsieh, Zappos and the Downtown Project to Fremont Street and we look forward to the future!

Thanks to Mary-Margaret Stratton for use of the photo.