Casino gambling was initially only considered a very exclusive form of entertainment until its rise as an industry in the 19th century.
Lido de Paris at Stardust set a precedent for extravagant productions; Folies Bergere, Nouvelle Eve and Donn Arden’s Jubilee! would follow.
The First Casinos in Las Vegas
At Las Vegas’ core lie a few key developments that shaped its current form: Hoover Dam’s construction in 1931 brought thousands of workers and Nevada legalizing gambling so casinos could open.
In 1941, El Rancho Vegas opened in Las Vegas – its name evocative of Old West themes and situated at what later became the Strip.
Mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel took notice of this new economic development and opened The Flamingo, a lavish casino that attracted visitors from far and wide. Attracting top talent such as Liberace and Frank Sinatra as well as lounges that invited patrons back for more games was no small feat; gambling can be highly addictive; this is why casinos use various techniques such as using bright lights or sounds to attract players back in.
The First Hotel Casinos in Las Vegas
Gambling first arrived to Las Vegas through pioneers and seekers during the late 1800s and early 1900s, although not until 1931 was its first hotel casino opened downtown Las Vegas – that year also marked the commencement of Hoover Dam construction, drawing thousands of workers into town.
People’s arrival prompted casinos to add entertainment shows. One such show, known as Red Rooster, lasted only 100 days but marked an important step on a path that led eventually to massive resort casinos we see today.
In 1941, El Rancho Vegas Resort made its debut along a section of highway known as “the Strip”. Other hotels followed with regional themes. However, in 1946 mobster Bugsy Siegel, with backing from Meyer Lansky’s Mexican drug money and inspired by Hollywood rather than Deadwood aesthetics opened the Flamingo. Due to its success – as well as entertainers such as Xavier Cugat’s band – other casino owners realized entertainment as a means of drawing in wealthy gamblers.
The First Spectacular Productions in Las Vegas
Liberace helped Las Vegas shed its image as a dusty Western town by the late 1940s; his presence, along with that of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop’s Rat Pack stars, attracted huge crowds to casinos that showcased the luxurious lifestyles of wealthy people.
As a result, resorts began offering elaborate revues with showgirls. Lido de Paris premiered at Stardust Hotel in 1958, delighting audiences with its lavish sets and costumed performers. Harold Minsky’s Minsky’s Follies quickly followed suit and other shows vied to outshone it.
Cirque du Soleil’s Mystere premiered at Treasure Island in 1992 and immediately set the standard for future shows, impressing audiences with its extravagant tassels, towering headdresses and rainbow feather boas. This French-Canadian troupe’s groundbreaking circus tradition found new depths when extended collaboration occurred between Las Vegas and its French-Canadian troupe members.
The Last Spectacular Productions in Las Vegas
Las Vegas spectacles of recent decades have witnessed an upsurge in immersive theater and state-of-the-art staging, such as Mystere at Treasure Island which used modern magic techniques to reimagine circus tradition daily; shows such as O at Bellagio, Ka at Mandalay Bay, Michael Jackson One at MGM Grand and Cirque du Soleil’s new Awakening at Encore Las Vegas all push beyond existing boundaries of what art can achieve.
Megashows helped end decades of institutional racism that earned Las Vegas its moniker “the Mississippi of the West”. Marlene Dietrich made an impression by linking arms with Lena Horne at Sahara Hotel and Casino while Frank Sinatra pulled out due to management not allowing him to perform with Sammy Davis Jr. at The Sands Hotel and Casino.