The First 100: Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas [Paperback]

A. D. Hopkins (Author), K. J. Evans (Author), K.J. Evans (Author)

Book Description

Series: Local History | Publication Date: December 10, 2000

Meet the explorers, builders, outlaws, gamblers, entrepreneurs, and 14-karat characters who transformed Las Vegas from a desert watering hole into the extraordinary city it is today. A.D. Hopkins and K.J. Evans of the Las Vegas Review Journal have compiled 100 in-depth profiles of the remarkable men and women who ushered Las Vegas to the forefront of popular culture. This far-reaching roundup of notable Southern Nevadans includes explorer John C. Fremont, pioneers O.D. Gass and Helen J. Stewart, mob boss Bugsy Siegel, cowboy gambler Benny Binion, millionaire eccentric Howard Hughes, Rat Pack crooner Frank Sinatra, and flamboyant showman Liberace, as well as contemporary movers and shakers E. Parry Thomas, Kirk Kerkorian, Irwin Molasky, Jerry Tarkanian, Bob Stupak, and Steve Wynn. Illustrated with hundreds of black and white photographs culled from the private collections of dozens of individuals, the files of state and city agencies, and the vast archives of the Las Vegas Review Journal, this classic collection of condensed biographies brings the history of Las Vegas alive in a way no other book has before.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a fine resource...It's for anyone who wants to know more about Las Vegas, for those who plan to work here, relocate here, or understand the roots of big-time casino gambling from the 1930's to present day. --Howard Schwartz

The balance of entries examines lesser-knowns while telling the unlikely tale of how a mixture of Mormons, mobsters, and multimillionaires built a premier vice-tourism destination from raw desert. --Dave Walker of the Arizona Republic

About the Author

A. D. Hopkins is a 30-year resident of Las Vegas and for 12 Years edited Nevadan, the Sunday magazine formerly published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. As special projects editor for the Review-Journal, Hopkins directed the newspaper's original First 100 project, which was the forerunner of this book. Kenneth J. Evans was a lifelong Nevadan who made his career as a reporter and editor for several Nevada newspapers, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, before being appointed media relations manager for the Nevada Commission on Tourism in 1992. He returned to the Review-Journal in 1998 to work on The First 100 project.

Product Details

• Paperback: 370 pages
• Publisher: Huntington Press (December 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929712676
• ISBN-13: 978-0929712673
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,590,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars History of "Sin City", June 9, 2000

By 

Norman H. Kresge - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First 100: Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas (Hardcover)

The history of Las Vegas, that wonderful city that has come to be known as Sin City, is chronicled here through the stories of the first 100 people to make an impact on the Valley. Starting with people like John C. Freemont and continuing to current day notables like Kirk Kerkorian, this book is a superb background to how this city came about. If you are a Las Vegas "nut", this is a must have book! If you want a good reading history book, this is also a good choice.

These are very well written accounts of the First 100 who helped make Las Vegas, "The Meadows", the city of shopping, gambling, and entertainment. Get this book, sit back, and enjoy!