Never done Vegas at Christmastime, but having walked through some of the old school casinos myself, you really captured the depressing, smoke-filled vibes! And I wish I would have checked out the bizarro Vegas World back in the day!
As I was living in LA at the time, Vegas was an enticing Xmas getaway - it was just a quick, cheap flight, and many hotels offered inexpensive holiday packages. I did it again in ‘96, but made the mistake that time of going with too many people; party of four or less is the only way to roll there.
Livingston and Evans were an amazingly prolific team- there was rarely a time in the 1940s and 1950s when they didn't get an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
I didn't realize the "Mr. Ed" theme was their handiwork!
To add to the family nostalgia....your mother and I first heard Silver Bells in a 1949 Pontiac while driving around the streets of Madison WI looking at the lawn decorations.....with your Gramps and Mother Velma. It was 1950, our first xmas in that Blue (and it has ever been so) city. The Song was had just been released! We loved it. Dad Fred went out and bought the record and we listened to it all through the season on our 78rpm record player and have had it memorized ever since. It is still a part of our Christmas repertoire. I had just turned 8 that year, your mom was 6 so she may or may not remember it as I do. It is the "perfect" holiday nostalgia song, especially for us. xoxo
I remember Bob Stupid's! I used to go to Vegas to get lost once a year in the eighties, it was a lot of fun, great thrift shops around town in those days too. Most of the places I stayed at & went to no longer exist. As a former music & book retail person, I have a strong aversion to Xmas music. I would always dread to hear "it's the most wonderful time of the year" over the mall's PA around Halloween every year. That meant the torture was about to get real for the next two months. Bah Humbug! LOL
Oh man, Vegas used to have AMAZING thrift shops... I'm still kicking myself for not snapping up a lot of the funky home furnishings I used to run across in them!
I didn't start visiting Las Vegas until after Bob's Stupid had been replaced by the Strat. But god, that made me flash back to a time I decided to visit Circus-Circus and though I was just in there for about half an hour, I had to get back to my hotel and shower because I felt so dirty.
Great read! I can't share your love of Christmas music, but I identify with your nostalgic trip back, for sure. A proper dose!
Never done Vegas at Christmastime, but having walked through some of the old school casinos myself, you really captured the depressing, smoke-filled vibes! And I wish I would have checked out the bizarro Vegas World back in the day!
As I was living in LA at the time, Vegas was an enticing Xmas getaway - it was just a quick, cheap flight, and many hotels offered inexpensive holiday packages. I did it again in ‘96, but made the mistake that time of going with too many people; party of four or less is the only way to roll there.
Livingston and Evans were an amazingly prolific team- there was rarely a time in the 1940s and 1950s when they didn't get an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
I didn't realize the "Mr. Ed" theme was their handiwork!
They are in my personal Hall of Fame just for “Silver Bells” and the Bonanza theme alone!
To add to the family nostalgia....your mother and I first heard Silver Bells in a 1949 Pontiac while driving around the streets of Madison WI looking at the lawn decorations.....with your Gramps and Mother Velma. It was 1950, our first xmas in that Blue (and it has ever been so) city. The Song was had just been released! We loved it. Dad Fred went out and bought the record and we listened to it all through the season on our 78rpm record player and have had it memorized ever since. It is still a part of our Christmas repertoire. I had just turned 8 that year, your mom was 6 so she may or may not remember it as I do. It is the "perfect" holiday nostalgia song, especially for us. xoxo
That’s a really lovely memory, Aunt Toni - thank you for sharing! ❤️🎄
I remember Bob Stupid's! I used to go to Vegas to get lost once a year in the eighties, it was a lot of fun, great thrift shops around town in those days too. Most of the places I stayed at & went to no longer exist. As a former music & book retail person, I have a strong aversion to Xmas music. I would always dread to hear "it's the most wonderful time of the year" over the mall's PA around Halloween every year. That meant the torture was about to get real for the next two months. Bah Humbug! LOL
Oh man, Vegas used to have AMAZING thrift shops... I'm still kicking myself for not snapping up a lot of the funky home furnishings I used to run across in them!
I didn't start visiting Las Vegas until after Bob's Stupid had been replaced by the Strat. But god, that made me flash back to a time I decided to visit Circus-Circus and though I was just in there for about half an hour, I had to get back to my hotel and shower because I felt so dirty.
I had a legit anxiety attack the one time I stepped inside Circus Circus!
I love Bing, warts and all! I’m reading (again) Gary Giddens’ bio of him.