|
||
|
|
|
|
The Beginning of Las Vegas's Rat Pack Era
Scarce western themed pictorial map of the Las Vegas area, published by Ferris H. Scott in Santa Ana, California.
Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip include the Sahara (built in 1952), Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn (1950), Bugsy's Siegel's Flamingo Hotel (1946-47), Thunderbird Hotel (1948) and the El Rancho Vegas, one of the first of the "modern" Las Vegas hotels (1941), which began a casino that offered four table games: two blackjack tables, one roulette table, and one craps table—and seventy slot machines. The resort had 65 rooms, which included kitchen facilities.
The Frontier is still called the Last Frontier, pre-dating its re-opening in 1955 under the new name. Missing from the map is the Showboat Casino (built in 1954) and the Riviera (1955).
By 1954, Las Vegas had become a popular destination, attracting over 8 million visitors annually and generating $200 million for its casinos. Beyond gambling, the city offered entertainment by renowned figures from film and music, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Liberace, Bing Crosby, Carol Channing, and others, performing in intimate venues. The Last Frontier held a two weeks show by Ronald Reagan in April-May 1954.
Ferris H. Scott seems to have been active as an illustrator and published in the 1950s and 1960s, including tourist themed maps, postcards and books, covering regions including Las Vegas and Death Valley.
![[Aloha - Christmas Post Card]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/67516.jpg)
