ent001323-065

Hoover Dam, harnessing the waters of the Colorado River, was completed in 1936, agricultural and industrial interests in the Southwest were protected for the first time from a recurring and devastating cycle of floods and droughts. Boom times ensued for Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, but nowhere were the results so immediate as in the town, 26 miles from the dam, called Las Vegas. From a sleepy community of 5,000 in 1925, Las Vegas has mushroomed into a feverish, brassy city of 40,000 today, featuring Jhjgh^gambling, low taxation, easy mar- amlessly simple divorce. It has Seven magnfllfeent resort hotels, with two F more building ^^nd virtually anything goes therer# particu^y a visitor's money. .Ll^ff'S TAKE thrush, recently opened Sajiis Hotel as typicmpf this new vacation "pradise." The Sar^ ironting the new am constantly e:q>an3jra "Strip," cost four nflhon dollars and it t??k the proprietors aulpst two full months If round-the-clock galfcling by panting guess to recoup their i invlifcient. One gent whihad lost $3,000, I consraped a $16 charge foihis room exorbitant. 11|ybenevolent des! clerk reduced it %} $14 a^Human wen^away happy. ^|nother guel^^^lady whose lantern jg jaw%on her the nickname of "Mme. Pop- eye"^-held the dice for 45 minutes. She made 27 consecutive "passes" (sevens and elevens), but being a cautious soul, won only $132. Excited gamblers around her, however, backed her heavily, and her splurge cost the management $215,000. OUTSIDE of the constantly crowded gaming rooms of the Sands, and other hostelries in its class, are lavish accommodations, elegant shops and deserted jwimming pools. For those who do not like fancy roulette or the galloping dominoes, there are slot machines in every nook and cranny. -^^^_M I asked one busy lady, "Which way is it to the office of the 'L^s Vegas Sun'?" Without breaking her rhythm (she couldn't lose her LAS VEGAS night clubs don't care how much they pay their stars, figuring, no doubt, that the stars will probably lose then- loot, and then some, right back at the gaming tables. At one time, luminaries like Bankhead, Lena Horne, Joe E. Lewis and Melehior are likely to be appearing within the confines of a single mile along the "Strip." To see them, you need only order a round of sodas for your entire party. The boys will get you on the way out. Joe E. Lewis ended his engagement by climbing atop a dice table and imploring, "Shoot any part of me." . At the airport he added, "If I was LAS VEGAS. Swimming pools are empty alive today, I'd be a very sick man. But I'll be back to play Las Vegas again next year. I want to visit my money." THE LAST STRAW. When Gardner Cowles, the noted publisher and editor, and I were taken for a tour of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, our guide pointed to the breathtaking vista and boasted, "Biggest man-made lake in the world. Mightiest dam. Loftiest range of pure rock mountains. How does it all strike you?" Cowles, deeply appreciative, murmured, "Wonderful! But somewhere a voice is calling ?╟÷ and I think that somewhere is the dice table at the Desert Inn." Back we went. We saw all, knew all ?╟÷ and lost all. ?╟÷ BENNETT CERF COWLjES^efff arid"Cerf. Aafce Mead couWf&js^pei?·,witb tlwNJrce Lana May Make Film in Italy Lana ?√ß?║?√ß?·, ?╟? ?╟? .^.j- %_?╟≤ SAIXt FORREST TW?╟÷6-21-53 Motion Picture E4140'' fa^17_TjSten to tfciS HOLLYWOOD, June !?·*?·?·?╟? may fr??SoS??emoi the Italian pictures are shot on the cuff, with ?╟÷?╟÷SB scenes being written as they are filmed. M-G-M wants to be sure there's a script fn English before permission is givenl^ana. Warners, who already have announced -Helen of Troy" as a coming Picture, had better get busy-but quickly. ?╟≤ ?╟≤ * SALLY FOBEEST is the latest to desert Hollywood for a fhng S a Broadway show. After she finishes three *?╜^fBrSllau?╜ are the New York opening. gave when she ?·?·&g^e was supposed ?? toW ?Σ≤??X:%mw No. 1," she rhim^-f??fflitflfirouble in E?╜- Zsa Zsa got >^ *'Tby a newspaper- toy, when she was asteh ^ ^ as a resort, so ???mJ^^ attraction iv r?·S aiNT*and L^?╤fcWteauties as % md chorus. J radi0 sure il you h#r Jane Sgg?·g kging one oi swsg * Sf yo?·g sSrlets *&(m-"?√ß ?╜| appearance tour. ^ Kara&a, editor of The Bom?? ^ a cutting , ' ^tes to say someone^ent ^ K ? x of an interview wth mej my gg had added a P^^torTaraka to take up It'svery nice of e&tor^ tQ the *e ?╜*BJSKjil?╜ to the man ; author of the ^Udesjii^eve ^ e6 who wrote them, I don to He 3Ustj the accuracy of mysj* parsons- to my defense, Crane with his and ^^grandmother, I STVffl?·2?╜SyUnner together at'the Capt'ta s S^- ^ I that ot Arthur ^wf'-^rted at 7 and at Columbia actress- They ?╜w^ chasen's. m a. m. were st* at the tan severing 0?╜?╜fc*-5;S#tal from major SrSsr <&*?·: ^^york toi mir-** "*%^