popturf

city: las vegas

the orleans hotel and casino

from george carlin posted in television by corporate_sunshine

Located about a mile off the strip, The Orleans is considered a locals casino in the city of sin.

George Carlin gave his last stand-up performance there on June 6, 2008. He died on June 22 at the age of 71.

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las vegas convention center

from gorgeous george, muhammad ali posted in pro wrestling by pete_nice

In 1961, the outlandish veteran wrestler Gorgeous George (then 46) and the up-and-coming boxer Cassius Clay (then 19) both had matches at the same venue for the same promoter.

They were on the radio promoting their matches, and the boxer gave a half-hearted bravado for his fight.

Gorgeous George followed up by saying:

“I am the Gorgeous One! Not only am I the best wrestler, the most highly skilled, with the greatest technique, but I’m also the most beautiful wrestler who ever lived! ...And if that uneducated punk somehow manages to beat me, I’ll take the next jet to Russia! But that will never happen, because I am the greatest!”

Cassius (later Muhammad Ali) was inspired. He realized that this was a fight that he had to see. Later, Gorgeous George gave Ali the following advice at the convention center:

"...a lot of people will pay to see somebody shut your big mouth. So keep on bragging, keep on sassing, and always be outrageous.”

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caesers palace

from wrestlemania, hulk hogan posted in pro wrestling by pete_nice

On April 4, 1993, Wrestlemania IX was held outdoors at the Las Vegas casino Caesars Palace. The title match featured Yokozuna defeating Bret Hart, and then Hulk Hogan defeating Yokozuna.

The ninth installment of the Wrestlemania franchise saw a reduction of attendance to a third of the audience in Wrestlemania 8. Pay-per-view numbers were down as well. The matches were held outside for the first time in Wrestlemania history, and there was a recurring Roman theme.

Due to the poor broadcast and uninteresting matches, many see Wrestlemania 9 as the worst of the franchise. However, it's worth noting that Bobby Heenan entered riding a camel backwards...

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the plaza hotel (formerly the mint)

from hunter s. thompson, fear and loathing in las vegas posted in literature by tree

I believe this was the mint hotel.

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the flamingo

from hunter s. thompson, fear and loathing in las vegas posted in literature by tree

The second place they stayed. Evidently, it was also the first resort on what's now the strip. And it's radically different now.

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