Las Vegas Strip, November 1975

Emerson Ave (on the right) is a former street slightly north of Sands Ave, closed in the 80s. Donaldson collection, Michael Ochs archives

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Dir. Denis Villeneuve

Harrah’s and Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Strip, c. 1995

Photo by Hank deLespinasse, Remember When Las Vegas. 

On a road trip in 1977 I visited Las Vegas and stayed for one night. I don’t gamble, so I took Kodachrome slides of the incredible neon signs and watched the passing parade of people. This sign was all in motion, with sequencing lights making the fire hose appear to be spraying water to cool down the overheated slot machines.

Fremont & Main, Las Vegas, c. 1956 – Slide scan from Betsey Shapiro.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, November 1960

Fremont St, Las Vegas, 1968

At Main St, 2nd St. Kodachrome scans by ElectroSpark.

The Mint, April 1972

“Las Vegas 1951.” Today’s Kodachrome, of the gas station at the Hotel Last Frontier, comes to us by way of the late Don Cox, 70 years after he snapped the shutter. View full size.