For only $9.99 (including postage)
you are getting this magnificent set of limited edition, casino quality,
mint, pictorial, collectible, souvenir playing cards. You are getting
two decks of poker-sized (2-1/2" wide) playing cards. Each deck consists
of 52 cards-plus-3-jokers, comes in its original box, and has 55 different
monotone photos on the cards. Thus, with the two decks, you are getting
a total of 110 different Las Vegas-Nevada historical photos, from 1905 to
1980, but mostly from 1940's, 50's and 60's. The two boxed decks
fit snugly into the slot machine-styled presentation box (c. 4" x 5.5" x
0.75," pictured above in small scale). You might want to buy more than
one set -- they make great gifts.
The 110 images were selected with the assistance of the Special Collections
Department of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from over 100,000
photos, many which have never been in print or seen by the public.
The resulting monotone design is reminiscent of the valuable souvenir scenic
decks of the turn of the 20th century. Below, I have listed some of the images
on the cards.
The images have been cleverly and methodically arranged. Deck
One has been divided into four categories of images by suits:
¶ clubs -- hotels: El Rancho, Flamingo, Thunderbird, Sands,
Tropicana, Moulin Rouge, Dunes, El Cortez, Landmark, Arizona Club, etc.
¶ hearts -- landmarks: 1950 Showboat, 1960 Castaways sign
featuring Tom Jones, 1980 Frontier sign (Siegfried & Roy), Vegas
Vic sign at the Pioneer Club c. 1950, 1958 Stardust sign, 1949 Golden Nugget,
1950 Dunes sign, 1950 Silver Slipper, aerial views of the strip day and night,
etc.
¶ spades -- gambling scenes: roulette at the Flamingo
1956, craps at El Rancho 1960, slot action at Sands 1950, Jimmy Durante
playing blackjack at Stardust 1950, Sinatra dealing baccarat at Sands
1959, keno, faro, wheel of fortune, etc.
¶ diamonds -- moments: atom bomb test as seen from Fremont St.
1953, Liberace stepping out of carriage at Hilton 1970, Binion's $1,000,000
display, Dunes opening with Sinatra and Harem Showgirls 1955, Jerry
Lewis and Jayne Mansfield at Sands 4th anniversary party 1956, etc.
Deck Two has these categories:
¶ spades -- movers and shakers: movers and shakers</b>:
Howard Hughes 1966, Bugsy Siegel 1946, Wilbur Clark of Desert Inn (DI)
1950, John F. Kennedy & Peter Lawford at the Sands 1960,
Liberace helping open the Riviera 1955, Pres. Harry Truman playing piano
with Jimmy Durante 1962, Benny Binnion 1968, President Eisenhower at
Hoover Dam 1955, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby golfing at DI, Wilbur
Clark and Lyndon Johnson 1965, etc.
¶ hearts -- pairings: Ronald and Nancy Reagan on Last
Frontier boat 1954, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans at Sam's Town 1980, Elvis and
Priscilla Presley with Tom Jones 1970, Rita Hayworth marries Dick Haymes
at Sands 1953, Janet Leigh married at Sands w/ Dean Martin looking on 1962,
Sammy Davis Jr. at Sands 1956, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward w/ El
Rancho Vegas owner Beldon Kattleman, etc.
¶ diamonds -- female celebrities: female celebrities</b>:
Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds at DI, Lena Horne Sands 1962, Betty Grable
& Harry James El Rancho 1960, Lucille Ball Sands 1953, Carmen Miranda
1951, etc.
¶ clubs -- male celebrities: Elvis w/ Ann Margret
on "Viva Las Vegas" set 1964, all five Rat Pack guys on stage in the
Sands Copa Room 1960, Donald O'Connor w/ Wilbur Clark DI 1953,
Nat King Cole Sands 1963, Paul Anka Caesar's Palace 1977, Tony Bennett Sahara
1979, Wayne Newton Sands 1977, etc.
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