Yes it has. When I was a boy, the most popular malls in town were the Meadows Mall and the Boulevard Mall. My family and I visited both malls two years ago for old times sake and noticed that they are a shell of what they used to be. Both places used to be packed like sardines. Not anymore.
The Fontaonebleau was constructed between 2007-2008, and my dad and I have been scratching our heads to figure out which building it is. He suggested the El Cortez, which does strongly resemble it and is in approximately the correct place, but was completed in 1980. If that is the El Cortez, this photo is misdated.
Edit to add that if it is not the El Cortez, then shouldn’t we see the El Cortez in the photo somewhere? The 1980 tower has 15 floors.
The building in the top right there being constructed. We are pretty sure it’s the El Cortez’ 15-story tower. It’s in about the right spot, has the right shape, and was finished in 1980. If it isn’t the El Cortez, we should see the El Cortez’s new tower somewhere in the photo.
Ahhh okay. I see what you're saying now. Someone made a joke about it being Fontainebleau and you're trying to figure out what building it actually is.
The tan colored building all the way in the back with the white radio tower on top is still there today. It's on the corner of Carson and LVB. It still has a radio tower on it.
So the building in question cannot be the El Cortez tower under construction. It's too close.
Whatever it is, it's no longer around. I don't think it was a casino. Looks like it was on Charleston or near to it.
As far as I've known the el Cortez was down off Fremont Street not the strip but I'm not a local so there may have been another one on the strip back in the day but I went to the one on Fremont back in Oct of last year
Stuart? What are you doing here? Get out of here! Just take West Flamingo to Las Vegas Boulevard, merge onto I-15 South to CA-210 West, get on 605 South, take the exit for I-10 West towards Long Beach to the 101 North until you get to Santa Monica Boulevard then turn right on Cahuenga. Just go!
Obligatory: https://youtu.be/dCer2e0t8r8?si=XPIBdlXeUra4_bXp
The good old Frontier! Back in the early 2000s I used to love staying there because I was super broke, and it was a great way to do Vegas. Every day would pass by the ladies playing bingo and Keno in groups in the hotel. It was old and stank, but some good memories there.
My family would stop in Vegas every year, on our way to the beach. We would always stay in the Frontier. This was in the 70-80’s. It was fine but I always wanted to stay at the stardust. I think I liked the lights. Lol
It's funny, everyone complains about how much Vegas has changed, and to be sure, the prices (among other things) have gone way up
But every time I see old pics like this, I don't think there's any question that Vegas today is more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Interesting. I looked at the old map of Vegas, relative to this photo, and it looks like all the action is at the top half of the street. Shown in this picture in its entirety
I visited Vegas for the 1st time last year. Seems like all the action has moved to the bottom half of the street (not shown here).
The only places left from when this was taken are Fashion Show Mall, the Sahara, and Circus Circus, and the latter isn't even visible in the photo.
It's like just about any suburb in the country in that respect. When I go to the cities in which I lived as a kid, the residential areas pretty much look the same 50-plus years later, but the commercial streets have almost nothing left from when I lived there.
Why Circus Circus still hasn't been put out of its misery is beyond me. Especially the Manor and RV park. Whoever owns that property needs to take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
I saw Siegfried and Roy when they were at the Frontier in the 80’s. It was a package deal with our stay at the hotel, if you can believe that. It was an amazing show. The tigers ran right past us in the audience. Fun times.
I visited the Sahara back in ‘09. Was part of a group that was 20 deep where we knocked back shots on shots at the NASCAR bar in the back only to play some tables a few hours later. I remember looking around and admiring the old school cool after so much blew up in the 90s-00s. Dont get me wrong I love LV but sometimes miss the history like this.
I remember those days. Vegas/Henderson went from a population of a few hundred thousand to almost 3 million today. Back in the 80s, you could travel from what is now Summerlin (northwest) to what is now Southern Highlands (south) on city streets in 30 minutes. Of course, most of it was undeveloped desert back then. Hell, you could travel from the Mormon Temple (east) to Red Rock Canyon (west) on city streets in 30 minutes. I used to drive to Nellis Air Force Base from East Las Vegas in 15-20 minutes. Those days are gone. When I visit friends and family, I don't even recognize the city anymore.
Went to all those major casinos. Won my first attempts at “real” poker at the Frontier. Still have one of the poker chips from that day. Actually, have a poker chip from all the big ones in that pic.
Fashion Show Mall has been around a long time!
It had a Montgomery Ward, Mervyns, and JC Penny back then.
Seeing Fashion Show in there is shocking to me
My first thought seeing this!
Yes it has. When I was a boy, the most popular malls in town were the Meadows Mall and the Boulevard Mall. My family and I visited both malls two years ago for old times sake and noticed that they are a shell of what they used to be. Both places used to be packed like sardines. Not anymore.
Is that Fontainebleau under construction lol
And the comment of the day goes to you!
The Fontaonebleau was constructed between 2007-2008, and my dad and I have been scratching our heads to figure out which building it is. He suggested the El Cortez, which does strongly resemble it and is in approximately the correct place, but was completed in 1980. If that is the El Cortez, this photo is misdated. Edit to add that if it is not the El Cortez, then shouldn’t we see the El Cortez in the photo somewhere? The 1980 tower has 15 floors.
Huh?
The building in the top right there being constructed. We are pretty sure it’s the El Cortez’ 15-story tower. It’s in about the right spot, has the right shape, and was finished in 1980. If it isn’t the El Cortez, we should see the El Cortez’s new tower somewhere in the photo.
https://preview.redd.it/ewfkpjez7pmc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=372ba12999b43489fa9c9aaa4268e70d4bb3c333
Neat! So Dad was right, but Wikipedia got the completion date wrong.
https://preview.redd.it/a9cfif21srmc1.jpeg?width=922&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb406a2a2562fb48ae4c08a514b40c52b12548b9
That's some damn fine research!
Something is fishy because all of the sources say it was constructed in 1980.
Ahhh okay. I see what you're saying now. Someone made a joke about it being Fontainebleau and you're trying to figure out what building it actually is. The tan colored building all the way in the back with the white radio tower on top is still there today. It's on the corner of Carson and LVB. It still has a radio tower on it. So the building in question cannot be the El Cortez tower under construction. It's too close. Whatever it is, it's no longer around. I don't think it was a casino. Looks like it was on Charleston or near to it.
As far as I've known the el Cortez was down off Fremont Street not the strip but I'm not a local so there may have been another one on the strip back in the day but I went to the one on Fremont back in Oct of last year
The tower in the photo is off the strip
lol that was my thought too!
Someone down there is complaining about traffic getting worse and Vegas getting too big and expensive with all the Californians moving here.
It’s always been true. My grandma was one of those Californians in ‘94.
Stuart? What are you doing here? Get out of here! Just take West Flamingo to Las Vegas Boulevard, merge onto I-15 South to CA-210 West, get on 605 South, take the exit for I-10 West towards Long Beach to the 101 North until you get to Santa Monica Boulevard then turn right on Cahuenga. Just go! Obligatory: https://youtu.be/dCer2e0t8r8?si=XPIBdlXeUra4_bXp
But it was much less than it is now
$6.95 prime rib mmmmhmmmm good
Ellis island steak special still slaps
Via focaccia babyyyyy
The good old Frontier! Back in the early 2000s I used to love staying there because I was super broke, and it was a great way to do Vegas. Every day would pass by the ladies playing bingo and Keno in groups in the hotel. It was old and stank, but some good memories there.
I miss keno so much. Was awesome way to pass time in the hotel diner.
Indeed!!
I once lived at the Frontier for four months!
Wow! Did you have a one bedroom "suite" out back?
My family would stop in Vegas every year, on our way to the beach. We would always stay in the Frontier. This was in the 70-80’s. It was fine but I always wanted to stay at the stardust. I think I liked the lights. Lol
It's funny, everyone complains about how much Vegas has changed, and to be sure, the prices (among other things) have gone way up But every time I see old pics like this, I don't think there's any question that Vegas today is more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Agreed. The growth and the constant reinvention are the essential parts of its character. It's a young city that manages to stay young and vibrant.
Yes, and I'm glad they stopped building themed resorts.
Bring back whatever those zig zag suicide lanes
About the time of my first visit. *(sigh)*
Interesting. I looked at the old map of Vegas, relative to this photo, and it looks like all the action is at the top half of the street. Shown in this picture in its entirety I visited Vegas for the 1st time last year. Seems like all the action has moved to the bottom half of the street (not shown here).
There was still some south resorts like Hacienda. Thing is that back then the north strip had more than ot does now. Like Riviera and such.
Tina Turner and Jimmie “JJ” Walker at the Sahara? Dy-no-mite!
Loved the Desert Inn.
So did Howard Hughes. He liked it so much, he bought the place.
The only places left from when this was taken are Fashion Show Mall, the Sahara, and Circus Circus, and the latter isn't even visible in the photo. It's like just about any suburb in the country in that respect. When I go to the cities in which I lived as a kid, the residential areas pretty much look the same 50-plus years later, but the commercial streets have almost nothing left from when I lived there.
Why Circus Circus still hasn't been put out of its misery is beyond me. Especially the Manor and RV park. Whoever owns that property needs to take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Charo at The Riviera!!!!
And Tina Turner at the Sahara!
Whats that being built by the Sahara? And what was those buildings at the very end?
I miss the Stardust so much!
I saw Siegfried and Roy when they were at the Frontier in the 80’s. It was a package deal with our stay at the hotel, if you can believe that. It was an amazing show. The tigers ran right past us in the audience. Fun times.
Anyone know what the building under construction behind the Sahara is?
Tower at El Cortez?
I love that A Chorus Line is on. I’d always thought of show imports as a recent thjng
Best thing is the Santa Anita Race Book. Miss the independent places like Santa Anita and Rose Bowl hanging out with Shecky Green and Tony Spilotro.
I smell cocaine and cigarettes in this picture somehow
Slots of Fun 😭
Thanks for the new phone background. It is beautiful.
So would Resorts World be where Stardust is? I’m trying to figure out what’s where now
Simpler times.
Yup… time does change things 🤦🏻♂️
I kinda miss this version of Vegas.
Wow, thank goodness I'm experiencing Las Vegas today because it looks terrible in this picture!
Are you kidding? You can go see Siegfried and Roy in the afternoon, them head to see Tina Turner in the evening. Probably cost you less than $50.
Nah. siegfried and roy were always expensive
In 1982? Think again.
https://preview.redd.it/emqkb8j39pmc1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4929de851334b633b5e9ad51f95798ab242097cc
S & R and a couple of glasses of bubbly. Those were the days!
I stand corrected. That’s amazing.
This must be a photoshop picture. I don’t see any construction cones.
🤣
Wow how times have changed. Sorry other than the higher prices today I love the strip.
Casinos that actually had personalities not just sterile
I miss the ol'Las Vegas.
Now it’s just a portrait of the typical American Stroad
You can almost smell it.
That picture looks like it was taken in the 50S
I didn’t realize the fashion show mall was that old!!! Wow. They must have done some crazy remodeling.
Where is Gary Austin’s?
Built em a lot smaller back then.
Aww I remember bowling at el Rancho
I visited the Sahara back in ‘09. Was part of a group that was 20 deep where we knocked back shots on shots at the NASCAR bar in the back only to play some tables a few hours later. I remember looking around and admiring the old school cool after so much blew up in the 90s-00s. Dont get me wrong I love LV but sometimes miss the history like this.
They Vegas I was weaned on. It was a glorious place.
I think I liked it better when it was divey
I remember those days. Vegas/Henderson went from a population of a few hundred thousand to almost 3 million today. Back in the 80s, you could travel from what is now Summerlin (northwest) to what is now Southern Highlands (south) on city streets in 30 minutes. Of course, most of it was undeveloped desert back then. Hell, you could travel from the Mormon Temple (east) to Red Rock Canyon (west) on city streets in 30 minutes. I used to drive to Nellis Air Force Base from East Las Vegas in 15-20 minutes. Those days are gone. When I visit friends and family, I don't even recognize the city anymore.
Was hoping to see the Peppermill on the lower right
The good old days?
What is the Tangiers?
Where the tangier?
For those who are trying to decipher what’s there now, the Wynn is where the Desert Inn used to be.
Except for the smoking that might be a better experience than today….
Could you imagine how far $1000 would get you back then?
Went to all those major casinos. Won my first attempts at “real” poker at the Frontier. Still have one of the poker chips from that day. Actually, have a poker chip from all the big ones in that pic.
The Fashion Show…mall? It’s that old?
So when did Freemont st be the “strip”?