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Las Vegas is a late blooming city of the American West that's become the fastest growing city in the history of the world. We are recording how it all came to pass. The Story of Classic Las Vegas chronicles the history of the town beginning in the early 1900's and follows the town through its perilous struggle to survive. The railroads promise a great future that never comes, then Hoover Dam booms while the nation goes bust. And then, when the dam is finished, the city shrinks over night. Fortunately, as the War and Post War eras come, Las Vegas comes into its own. Magnesium and Nellis Air base make Las Vegas essential to the nation's security. Mastering the art of self-promotion, the city never quite catches on but gains notoriety as the Atomic Test Site for the free world. We talk to the scientists and soldiers who lived in secret during those days, as well as the men and women who remember the explosions they witnessed from their own front yards. "They would drop a bomb early in the morning, like 5:00, you'd see a flash, then a minute later hear the noise and then you'd run out to see the mushroom cloud." Then come years of economic struggle and shifting of casino ownership from colorful and notorious personalities to corporations. And so the struggle continues up to the 80's, with good years and bad. But all the while, the town beneath the city grows stronger and the roots go deeper. We talk to those roots, the people who still live in Las Vegas today. This is the story of the old Las Vegas, and families that held the city together. We talk to the men and women who worked there and the kids who played there, the people who helped shape Las Vegas into the legendary American town that it is today. They were valets and maids, cowboys, showgirls, activists, and PTA members. They were atomic scientists and atomic soldiers, comedians and politicians, school teachers and shop owners. All of them represent the diverse population of a city with people from many nations, all Las Vegans. Not every experience has been fair or just, but each story will be shared. We are striving to capture as many perspectives on this moment in American history as possible because it will never occur again. Shedding light on the contributions of people from every level of Las Vegas society, we are replacing the old myths and legends with the true story of a great all-American town.
© 2005 As We Knew It, LLC
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