Sun, Sin & Suburbia
Subtitle: the history of modern Las Vegas
By: Geoff Schumacher
Edition: Revised and expanded edition.
Publisher: University of Nevada Press
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Reno
Language: eng
Number of pages: 341
ISBN-13: 9780874179880; 9780874179897
Subjects: Description and travel; Neighborhoods; Community life; Social change; HISTORY / United States / State & Local / West (AK, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY); Economic conditions; Social conditions; History
Other titles: Sun, Sin and Suburbia
Description: "More than forty million visitors per year travel to Sin City to visit the gambling mecca of the world. But gambling is only one part of the city's story. In this carefully documented history, Geoff Schumacher tracks the rise of Las Vegas, including its vital role during World War II; the rise of the Strip in the 1950s; the explosive growth of the 1990s; and the colossal collapse triggered by the real estate bust and economic crisis of the mid-2000s. Schumacher surveys the history of the iconic casinos, debunking myths and highlighting key players such as Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian, and Steve Wynn. Schumacher's history also profiles the Las Vegas where more than two million people live. He explores the neighborhoods sprawling beyond the Strip's neon gleam and uncovers a diverse community offering much more than table games, lounge acts, and organized crime. Schumacher discusses contemporary Las Vegas, charting its course from the nation's fastest-growing metropolis to one of the Great Recession's most battered victims. Sun, Sin & Suburbia will appeal to tourists looking to understand more than the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas and to newcomers who want to learn about their new hometown. It will also be an essential addition to any longtime Nevadan's library of local history. First published in 2012 by Stephens Press, this paperback edition is now available from the University of Nevada Press"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-327) and index.
Table of contents: title: Preface to the Revised and Expanded Edition; title: Introduction: Making a Life in the City of Sun, Sin and Suburbia; title: Downtown : The Revival; title: The Strip : 1941-1988; title: The Strip : 1989-2012; title: Howard Hughes : The Game Changer; title: Summerlin : Taking the Edge Off Desert Living; title: Henderson : The Master-Planned City; title: Photographs; title: North Las Vegas : Two Cities in One; title: The Federal Role : Balancing Act; title: Lap of Luxury : Las Vegas Goes Upscale; title: Transportation : Better Late Than Never; title: The Reckoning : Riches to Rags; title: The Future : Hope Floats.