Lee Ann,
No autograph, I just remember being treated real well. I remember this big pool and I was the only kid. Beleive me it had it's advantages!
When my daughter was 12, we took her & her best friend to Las Vegas after a trip to Disneyland. Of course we stayed at the Sands. You know what, they gave us a 2 floor suite with outdoor private jacuzzi. Those two girls were treated so well, and even though the Sands never really touted it self as a place to bring the kids, they couldn't have been treated better. Although I think the pool shrunk, because it didn't seem near as big as I rememberd it from my trip at 12yrs old.
as for gambling at the airport, I still don't equate that as a winning place. I don't drop a dime there.
Lee-PA

Remember my first time to Vegas? How could I forget. It was that fateful day I married my darling husband. (G) September 29, 1979. Hard to believe almost 20 years ago. We didn't tell one person what we were doing, but sent 5 or 6 postcards that would arrive on that day, like to parents, good friends, etc. telling them that when they received this card, we would be on our way to Vegas to get married. It was so much fun, no one had a clue. No, we weren't married by Elvis in one of the Chapels, but instead opted for a very simple ceremony by a minister in some sort of church office that had a small chapel. I think if it was today, my husband would choose the Elvis look alike!! (G) Vegas was really different then. Not very much traffic, airport was a lot smaller, all the old hotels were still there. The Hacienda seemed like it was out in the country. I remember we went on TWA and our tickets were $200 each R/T. Funny, I just bought tickets for $207 a couple weeks ago, and it's 20 years later. Not bad. We only stayed for three nights. My husband had been there several times before with "the boys" so he knew his way around, but I was amazed by the place. Well, we've been back at least once a year since 1979, and lately twice a year. In fact, we'll be spending our 20th anniversary there in a couple months. So I guess you could say we're hooked on the place.

Susan in Ohio

Hi Susan, enjoyed reading about your first time. I think my youngerst daughter is going to go for the Elvis wedding<G>
Where in Ohio are you. I'm in Canton/ Massillon. This is Pro Football Hall of Fame week here. It's one big party for the next week. If you ever get a chance to visit this area during Hall of Fame week, do so. Especially if you are a football fan and like barbeque ribs.

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

John:
We live about 10 miles west of Lima. Elida is actually the closest small town to us. I'm not actually a big football fan, but my husband is. He's a Brown's fan, and has been waiting for this season. I do, however, like to go to the Hiney Gate parties down at OSU before and after the games. (G) Does that count??
Susan

Susan,
Glad to have another Buckeye fan here.

jm (Columbus)

Susan,
Welcome to Talk Vegas! Thanks so much for stopping by. What special memories that first trip must hold for you. Hope you have a great and memorable anniversary trip next month. Be sure to post on Talk Vegas and tell us all about your trip!
Lee Ann

Susan, you bet Hiney Gate parties count. I have 2 daughters at OSU. I love to go to OSU football games. I even drag Jeff with me to them when I can. I'm a Browns fan also and a week from tonight here in Canton they are back on the field in the Hall of Fame game against the Dallas Convicts er I mean Cowboys<G>

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John
Moderator-Dining Forum

Susan,

You ought to look for John at the next OSU game. He'll be the one in the Indians t-shirt with a big mustard stain .

jm

Jeff:
If I get down to any of the OSU games this year, I'll be sure to look for a guy in an Indians T-shirt with a big mustard stain, I'll know it's John. Glad to hear you guys enjoy those Hiney Gate Parties. You two don't happen to get up on stage with the Danger Brothers, do you? (g)
Susan

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited August 02, 1999).]

Ah,
Loretta's and my first trip, we were highrollers then, and played only nickels. We walked to every casino on the strip and played 2 rolls in each. Caesars had only a dozen people in the casino and didn't even want to sell us nickels. The Tropicana had only a few nickel machines DOWNSTAIRS. But funny thing we won enough that trip, to pay for that trip (air, hotel, food, etc), and the next trip, where we moved up to quarters. <G>

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net


[This message has been edited by Larry Sowinski (edited August 04, 1999).]

I will write about my first trip when I have more time, just wanted to see if old timers here remember the great deals on meals? Westward Ho eh? Do you remeber the .99 cent shrimp cocktails? They were the size of your thumb! Now they pass on the little salad shrimps! How about the plates of ribs for a buck? I use to gorge myself with the ribs and shrimps while playing...

Larry,
Thanks for sharing your memories of your first Las Vegas trip. Wow, you must have had great luck with the nickle machines! I think the thing that we all remember most about our first Las Vegas trip is that no matter what we did, we had a great time.
Look forward to seeing you and Loretta soon.
Lee Ann

Kevin,
Thanks for posting. Look forward to hearing even more about your first trip to Las Vegas. You know, Michael and I were so busy running around trying to see as much as possible on our first trip, that I can't remember any of the places that we ate at. Now I know I will never see it all, so I don't even try anymore. Plus, that gives me an excuse to go back to Las Vegas again and again and again. <vbg>
Lee Ann

Ah memories....the year was 1977 and I was 16. Got carded and tossed from Mr. Sy's casino (I guess I had the last laugh since I'm still going to LV and they've long since joined casino heaven). We stayed at Circus Circus, which at the time had just the one small tower (seemed big to me at the time). I remember their ads in the LA Times comic section for their cheap rooms (something like $12 or so). My findest memory of that trip? When we made the left turn from LV Blvd onto Fremont Street and saw the lights....it was the middle of the night but it was bright as day. IMO, nothing like it (which is why I hated the canopy).



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Bill in Santa Monica, CA

This is a great topic!

My memories of that first visit are vivid and a blur all at the same time. It was 1993, and I had wanted to go to Las Vegas for as long as I could remember. I had been visiting the casinos in A.C. for some time, but I KNEW Vegas would be different.

I signed-up for one of those "free (after rebates)" deals, staying at the Riviera. After playing 4 hours of BJ a day, at $10/hand, they'd comp your room, breakfast buffets, and give you $200 in match-play chips (if I recall correctly).

Well, I was hooked, and I just about never left the North end of the Strip!! I remember, so clearly, sipping a .99 margarita at the Westward Ho, while watching a husband and wife lounge act singing John Denver's "Country Roads" -- "and (as Maxwell Smart would say) loving it."

Of course, on my many subsequent visits, I've found better places to spend my time and money in Las Vegas. But, I have to say, I almost regret the fact that I never seem to have time to make it back to the grungy North end anymore. Maybe next time. . .

-- Mark in NJ

Mark,
IMHO, by not going to the north end of the strip, your not missing a whole heck of a lot.
Every trip, it seems that end gets diceyer (more of a risk) then it's worth.


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Lee-PA
Moderator, What's New Forum
lee@talkvegas.com

Bill,
Thanks for sharing your memories of your first Las Vegas trip. Where was Mr Sy's casino? Was it in the area of Circus Circus?
Lee Ann

Mark L.
Thanks for sharing your memories. It's hard to believe all of the building that has occured in Las Vegas in the last ten years. I guess that's why we all keep going back again and again. <vbg>
This topic is starting to get a little slow loading, so I am going to lock it up and start a new one. Please everyone, continue to respond. We have many members who still have not shared their memories.
Lee Ann