October 19, 2015

The first time I went to Las Vegas was in 1966.  I was in college and in the Air Force ROTC program.  They used to take some of us on what they called ‘base visitations’ so we could see what life in the Air Force was like.  I got to go to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas on that first trip.

I had a grand total of $35 with me and somehow managed to make that amount last for the two days I was there.  I was broke when the trip was over, but I had become addicted to the city out there in the desert.  Over the years, I have returned many times, at least 100. Sometimes I repeated my first time and left broke. Sometimes I left with more money that I came with.  Over all those years, I suppose I have come pretty close to breaking even moneywise, but I have had a blast.

So now I am back again. After spending several nights sleeping in my car, I decided to splurge and get a nice room at the Circus Circus Hotel. It cost a pretty penny, but it was worth it.

I looked over the shows that were playing the two days I was going to be there and I decided to see the Penn & Teller show. I am a big fan of magic shows. I have seen David Copperfield and Criss Angel and their shows were amazing, so I was looking forward to P&T.

I was not disappointed.  Their show did not have spectacular special effects and expensive props like the two I mentioned, but they were excellent at their kind of show. The showroom at the Rio Hotel is fairly small, so everyone really has a good view of what is happening.  They also use a lot of people from the audience to help with some of the illusions. The woman who was sitting next to me participated in one trick.  Shen went on stage and Penn read her mind. When her part was over, I asked her if she was working for the magicians and she denied it.  I suppose that is what she would have done if she was an accomplice, but I believed her.

They made an elephant disappear right before our eyes. Actually, it was a cow with plastic ears and a metal tube for a trunk, but it was amazing nonetheless. They must have a smaller budget than Copperfield.

After the show, Penn & Teller came into the lobby and took pictures with anyone who asked.  Copperfield and Cross would never have done that. Snobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is something they did not have in 1966 – Virtual blackjack dealers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Sportsbook you can watch any sporting event that is going on and make a bet on the outcome. I watched the Nebraska game on Saturday.  They won (finally) and I made a few bucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It only rains about 4 inches a year in Vegas, so this is something you don’t see often:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK. I’m done with Vegas.  California here I come!