[English Dave]

I'll continue! What fascinating stories. I wish someone with an interest in this would
interview on film people from old Las Vegas and their stories. There is so little left from
the old days which saddens me. Was Benny Binion ever interviewed on film? I looked at
his statue, and thought what a interesting character he must have been. Las Vegas seems
to have always been moving on to the next big thing, leaving so much history behind unloved and forgotte

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by English Dave

I'll continue! What fascinating stories. I wish someone with an interest in this would
interview on film people from old Las Vegas and their stories. There is so little left from
the old days which saddens me. Was Benny Binion ever interviewed on film? I looked at
his statue, and thought what a interesting character he must have been. Las Vegas seems
to have always been moving on to the next big thing, leaving so much history behind unloved and forgotte

Bennie was the subject of a LIFE magazine story, back when LIFE was THER magazine....

a TRUE Bennie story....and there is a transcript in Carson city to back it up....

A very close friend, at one time was the chairman of the NV Gaming Control board.

And this is in their records....

Bennies drug addict daughter was applying ro a license for the joint across the street behind the Shoe...

She had purchased the property with "Savings from her allowance..." 12 Million Dollars worth and she wanted a license to operate a Casino [she was afterall 21 years old]

The NVGCB called Bennie to testify because they had a sneaky suspicion that Bennie was REALLY going to run the joint.

My Friend, who shall remain unmaed even tho he is dead now...asks,

Mr Binion is it true that you have killed 13 men in your lifetime>

Bennie.....Naw that's a goddamned lie.

Chairman...Mr Binion I have a list here. and he proceeds to read off each name n the list....and after each name Bennie say , Yeh...he needed Killin....Yeh....somitch owed me money...Yeh... so on and so forth....

Until he gets to the VERY last name....name #13....and Bennie says "AW JEZUZ....I didn't know you was gonna count N#$$#%s.......


My friend the Chairman SWORE that this is in the transcripts of the NVGCB hearings........

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

What year was it? What's your uncle's name? How old were the old guys? Might help jog somebody's memory. Barbary Coast didn't open until 1979.

I think they stopped testing above ground in 1962. I got here in '64 so didn't see any. But I've heard all those stories from people who grew up here. Jim Rogers' the owner of Ch-3, told me he got to watch them from a hill on the Test Site, because his father was an executive out there. His father, Frank Rogers, who the Atomic Testing Museum is named for, was in charge of construction out there, and said he built the Test Site.

My wife has been there during below ground testing as an employee of EG&G, and I think once as a Ch-3 News reporter.

If you haven't seen it, rent "Desert Bloom". It's a movie about a dsyfunctional family in Las Vegas in the 1950's, with the background of the Korean War and the Atomic Testing. Desert Bloom (1986) - IMDb

I would have said right away, the year was 1978. But since the BC opened in 79, I guess it had to be 79. My first real trip to Vegas(over 21) was in 78 so this must have happened on my second trip. My uncle's name was Carl Underhill. The Irish tenors were the latenight entertainment at the BC and I also remember they were somewhat famous. I had heard of them before.

Remember now, to the 21 yo mind, anyone over 30 is old but I would have said the old guys were in their 70s. I'll never forget the scotch and milk thing. I've never since seen anyone drink that.

I was lucky to go to the testing museum with a man who worked and retired from there. It was fascinating to see the exhibits and hear his stories. It would have been an amazing thing to see.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by Vegaschips

My first foray through the Silver State was in '71. I joined the Navy at 17 in '69 (pa was army, said navy had better chow according to his dad) and somehow agreed to extend for two after four for an electronics school (long one) at Mare Island. I was on my second $50 car ('54 New Yorker) and this thing had a 351 Hemi in it with a rear end geared for "touring". Once it built up a head of steam...anyway, I was headed for Hammett, Idaho to visit a Mormon gal I'd met in HS. Time was tight but figured good time could be made in Nevada on I80, between Reno and Winnemucca. Going and coming. "Reasonable and Proper" is what I recall the speed limit being. I mean, I'd come up on a UPS box truck doing every bit of 90! But we all stayed in our lanes, signaled our intentions, going like the hammers of h---. The one trooper I saw the entire trip popped into my rearview mirror around noon, waaay back, at first saw only hi-beams. Seems we all left our lites on back then. I still do. And not because the "Generator'll cause the battery to explode!". I scanned my instruments (still do), all good, speedo buried. The next glance in the rearview now showed a bubblegum lit along with those hi-beams and it was closing fast. Now, the Smokies where I spent my formative years (NM) would have written several tickets; failure to use due care, exhibition of speed and speeding, of course. Probably the "see the judge today" kind. That familiar lump swelled in my throat and I could only think, "don't look obvious". No brakes of course, instant tip-off. All I could do was let off the throttle and maybe...he passed me like I was standing still. I looked down and I'd slowed to somewhere north of 125. I told this tale to my pa and he said there were only three state troopers for Nevada, and he probably had a REAL emergency, no time to shake down the locals OR touri! He was wheeling a jet black Fury III, I believe. I've attached a snapshot of the New Yorker.

I pulled into vegas in '76 in a '51 Chevy P/U...

I tried to post and answer dynimagelv in another thread but I was way slow and it closed by the time I got back to it. I've gotta go finish hanging a door and replace a wax seal...quietly! To be continued...

Great story. Can't rep you agin for a while, so. REPS to ya, VC.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by English Dave

I'll continue! What fascinating stories. I wish someone with an interest in this would
interview on film people from old Las Vegas and their stories. There is so little left from
the old days which saddens me. Was Benny Binion ever interviewed on film? I looked at
his statue, and thought what a interesting character he must have been. Las Vegas seems
to have always been moving on to the next big thing, leaving so much history behind unloved and forgotten

Nevada State Museum when it opens in its new location at the Springs Preserve will have a lot of hysterical info in its gift shop. Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas

I think the old museum at Lorenzi Park is closed and the move is under way.
The Story of Classic Las Vegas is available on DVD as a two part documentary. We got ours from the museum gift shop.The Story of Classic Las Vegas

Y'all might enjoy this blog too. Classic Las Vegas History Blog - Blog

I hope they get back to the monthly historical presentations given by old timers. We've been to some where people who grew up here in the very early days were on the panel. I love their stories.

But as far as interviewing anyone who may have committed crimes; not likely they'd admit anything.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

But as far as interviewing anyone who may have committed crimes; not likely they'd admit anything.

Or would anyone whose only indiscretion was Knowing someone who may or may not have commited some ALLEGED crime.






I refuse to testify on the grounds.......................

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

Bennie was the subject of a LIFE magazine story, back when LIFE was THER magazine....

a TRUE Bennie story....and there is a transcript in Carson city to back it up....

A very close friend, at one time was the chairman of the NV Gaming Control board.

And this is in their records....

Bennies drug addict daughter was applying ro a license for the joint across the street behind the Shoe...

She had purchased the property with "Savings from her allowance..." 12 Million Dollars worth and she wanted a license to operate a Casino [she was afterall 21 years old]

The NVGCB called Bennie to testify because they had a sneaky suspicion that Bennie was REALLY going to run the joint.

My Friend, who shall remain unmaed even tho he is dead now...asks,

Mr Binion is it true that you have killed 13 men in your lifetime>

Bennie.....Naw that's a goddamned lie.

Chairman...Mr Binion I have a list here. and he proceeds to read off each name n the list....and after each name Bennie say , Yeh...he needed Killin....Yeh....somitch owed me money...Yeh... so on and so forth....

Until he gets to the VERY last name....name #13....and Bennie says "AW JEZUZ....I didn't know you was gonna count N#$$#%s.......


My friend the Chairman SWORE that this is in the transcripts of the NVGCB hearings........

Gotta spread the love before I can rep you, but great story, Dyn.

[dynimagelv]

and my Friend the Chairman SWORE to me that it was true.....


I remember, from the LIFE magazine story, Bennie saying how he'd NEVER Hire a ranchhand that wasnt a God fearing man, and he'd FIRE the first somich that wanted to take a day off to go to church.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

Or would anyone whose only indiscretion was Knowing someone who may or may not have committed some ALLEGED crime.






I refuse to testify on the grounds.......................

I wish I had a DVD of the guy who spoke at the LV Media lunch last month. He told the real story of HH in Nevada.

I've heard some of the publicists tell some hair raising stories. Most of the players are dead now. But then you get a guy like Lefty Rosenthal, a walking egomaniac, who spills his guts, but it may or may not be true. Lots of "Made Men" in Wit-Sec too.

[dynimagelv]

I used to work with a lady who had been Bob Mayhew's personal secretary and the only person that HH would permit to take dictation.....She had some interesting tales to tell....mainly that she would take dictation oover the phone but was NEVER allowed to see "the man"