Las Vegas Then and Now [Paperback]

Su Kim Chung (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2007

Once upon a time, ‘Sin City’ attracted a different sort of visitor. Spanish explorers were the first to come to this desert oasis to enjoy its natural hot springs and named the spot Las Vegas, or ‘the meadows.’ Now just a century after it was founded in 1905, Las Vegas is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the US. See just how much has changed in Las Vegas Then & Now.

• Fascinating then-and-now photographs capture the city’s evolution from desert railroad outpost to the gambling and entertainment capital of the world.
  
• Las Vegas remained a quiet, small town until 1931 when two events forever changed its course: the building of Hoover Dam and the legalization of gambling.
  
• Photos from the 1940s illustrate the most dramatic development in the city with resort-style hotels and casinos popping up on the strip, including Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo.
  
• Fans of neon will enjoy views of “Glitter Gulch” — Fremont Street’s famed stretch — as it was in the glory years of the 50s and as it is today.
  
• Includes ‘now’ photos taken in September 2006 and the most up-to-date information about casino closures and new projects slated for 2006/2007.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Su Kim Chung is a native of Fresno, California. She studied European history at California State University, Fresno and obtained her MA in 1995. After earning her MLIS from the University of California she moved to Las Vegas to work as the Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her primary duty is the identification, selection, and acquisition of archival collections that document the history and culture of Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada region.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press (June 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592237347
• ISBN-13: 978-1592237340
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.5 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book! December 16, 2004

By Lori Penn

Format:Hardcover

I was finally able to visit Las Vegas last year and bought several Vegas books as souvenirs. Unfortunately, most of the books only provided information on present-day Las Vegas. Also wanted were pictures of the Las Vegas I had seen on TV as a kid. After all, that is what gave it its magic & attraction to me.

This book provides that. Pictures of the old & new are featured on opposite pages for easy comparison. The pictures are large, sharp, & clear, & are of excellent quality to this layman's eye. They are also accompanied by short paragraphs of essential facts such as build dates & owners, along with information peculiar to the specific buildings.

I highly recommend this book to the nostalgist.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Trip Down Memory Lane December 8, 2004

By S. Antico

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book is a fascinating look at Vegas in the past and present. For each subject there's the "then" and the "now". It captures the amazing evolution of defines Las Vegas. With each picture is a paragraph about the scene. It's a nice coffee table book but also a cool reference book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent entry in the Then and Now series April 30, 2006

By Jean

Format:Hardcover

I drove through Las Vegas in 1975 and was so unimpressed I didn't even stop and get out of the car. I wanted to see if this book had any photos from that era and was pleased to find out my memory wasn't faulty. I was also there in the mid '60s and the late '90s and the book didn't let me down on those memories, either.