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Out there among
the millions of bettors and those who are fascinated with the history
of Las Vegas and what made it the unique city it is, are people
fascinated with how it all began and who those visionaries and their
contributions.
Here are some suggested books for those of you who want to know
how these unique, talented, perhaps even lucky individuals got their
ideas and
implemented them:
Running Scared
by John Smith (376 pages, paperbound, $15). Published in 2001 it
soon became the most controversial biography ever about any big-name
casino owner when a major lawsuit was filed against the publisher
by Steve Wynn, about whom the book was about. Traces his earliest
days to modern times, on how he parlayed a small parcel of land
into a casino empire, with a lot of help along the way. Indexed
and illustrated, it became the Gamblers Book Shop’s hottest
seller in three decades.
The First
100 - Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas by
A.D. Hopkins and K.J. Evans (361 pages, paperbound, $19.95). Thousands
of hours of research went into this one-of-a-kind compendium highlighting
the gamblers, entrepreneurs, characters, builders and explorers
who made Las Vegas what it is today. Includes Bugsy Siegel, Howard
Hughes, Bob Martin, Mo Dalitz, Frank Sinatra, Jay Sarno, Bob Stupak,
Steve Wynn, Tony Cornero and Don Laughlin. Illustrated, indexed.
Hughes
- The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters by Richard Hack (444 pages,
paperbound, $18.95). About 100 pages of this 2001 book focus on
the late billionaire’s escapes and maneuvers in Las Vegas,
starting in 1966, when he makes a decision to leave the East for
the Wild West and goes on a buying spree for hotels and land when
forever changed the course of the city’s history and future
hotel owners. Indexed and illustrated it has dozens of reference
sources for anyone planning to research the man in any direction.
Every Light
Was On - Bill Harrah and His Clubs Remembered (compiled from
oral interviews by Wayne Kling) (454 pages, hardbound, $24.95).
Harrah’s is one of the world’s largest hotel and casino
chains. Bill Harrah is the founder. How he got started, how he innovated
and expanded his concepts and operations; his philosophies about
entertainment, gambling and people are outlined in this collection
of interviews of a wide spectrum of people, including an ex-wife
(he was married seven times); former employees and executives. They
talk about cheaters, dealers, the games, casino promotion, management
training, what worked and what didn’t and why. Excellent for
management, marketing and promotionally-oriented people who don’t
yet grasp what the public wants and why in regard to gambling and
customer service.
No Limit
- The Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas’ Stratosphere
Tower by John Smith (299 pages, hardbound, $21.95). One of Las Vegas’
most controversial millionaires and how he parlayed a small slot
joint into a $100 million a year gambling operation and how he manipulated
the media with outrageous stunts and promotions. Indexed, illustrated,
it goes back to his earliest days in Pittsburgh, PA., where his
father Chester tutored him about gambling at the Lotus Club - and
from there he was off and running, a legend in the industry.
Books mentioned
are available from Gambler’s Book Shop, 630 South 11th St.,
Las Vegas, NV 89101. Order from their toll-free line at 1-800-522-1777
from 9 to 5 Pacific time, Monday through Saturday or via their web
site at www.gamblersbook.com
anytime. There are 1,000 other books on the site in 30 different
areas of gambling. You may also receive an 80-page catalog by mail
if you request a copy. The store is in its 38th year of operation
and is located a mile from downtown and two miles from where The
Strip begins, a block west of Maryland Parkway and just off Charleston
Boulevard.
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