In the 1970s, Las Vegas was thriving with 24 hours gambling, showgirls, casinos, restaurants, and hotels illuminated with neon lights. There were high and low budget burlesque shows like Burlesque and Branded. Live music was the norm in every casino, with fantastic groups entertaining for free. Food was excellent, from gourmet dining to the 99 cent breakfasts and $5 steak special downtown. The Las Vegas city hall was finally completed and opened for the public in 1973. Here below are some fantastic vintage photos that give a glimpse of 1970s Las Vegas.
Be sure to check out, what Las Vegas looked like in the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s.
We had a cab driver who was on some kind of drug, telling us that back in the day Vegas had no speed limit and only one highway out of town. Since I’m from Canada, I found it pretty wild that you could just get into cabs with joints or beers. It’s quite literally sin city.
My parents used to take me to Las Vegas every year. Even my dad would stop along the way to place bets, and as long as we stayed “far enough away” – whatever that meant – we were fine. As a teen, I played enough poker or Blackjack in the casinos to run the table at home. Eventually, no one would even play with me anymore because I always won. I eventually stopped going with my parents as a teen since I had “learned the game”.
the Strip was the place to be. Imagine walking down the famous Las Vegas Boulevard, lined with iconic hotels and casinos like the Sands, the Stardust, and the Flamingo. These places were like magical kingdoms, with their grand entrances, marquee signs, and flashy neon lights illuminating the night sky. You couldn’t help but be drawn into their glitzy allure.
The Rat Pack, a group of entertainers led by Frank Sinatra, was a symbol of camaraderie and good times. They would perform together, hang out at the lounges, and party till dawn.