Viva Las Vintage!
Before the mega-resorts, EDM festivals, and influencer pool parties, Las Vegas had something different—soul. In the 60s and 70s, the city was gritty, glamorous, and gloriously over the top. It was the era of Elvis, neon, mobsters, and $1 shrimp cocktails—when people came for a good time, not a selfie. Here’s why old-school Vegas was truly one of a kind.
The Mob Still Ran the Show (and Kept It Classy)
In the 70s, Vegas was still a mob town. Guys like Frank Rosenthal and Anthony Spilotro (the real-life inspirations for Casino) made sure the city ran smoothly—if a little violently. Sure, it wasn’t exactly legal, but it meant the city was run tight. Dealers were sharp, shows started on time, and cheaters didn’t get second chances (okay, so maybe for cheaters it wasn’t better in the 70s).
Bettmann, Getty image
The Rat Pack Owned the Town
In the 60s, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. turned the Sands’ Copa Room into their playground. Their shows were unpredictable—songs, jokes, and martinis all flying at once. Half the audience was famous, the other half pretended to be, and everyone left feeling cooler than when they walked in.
Getty Images, Getty Images
Casinos Had Personality—Not Corporate Logos
Every casino had a theme and a soul. The Sands oozed Rat Pack sophistication, the Stardust shimmered with space-age flair, and the Dunes leaned into desert fantasy. Each had its quirks—some elegant, some tacky, all memorable. Now, every resort feels like it was designed by the same marketing team…