How many of us have seen frank I have during two shows that he did at the desert in in I think it was 91 -92, it was a red carpet event I got to meet such stars as Angie Dickenson Ricardo montabone rip Taylor Eric Estrada the lounge act was the macgurrie sisters and so on.

That was during my drinking career so some of it was fuzzy but I had seats three rows off of the stage great seats.

Merv Griffin and those cronies had a both center room got to shake their hands, but meeting frank nope we got as close as the other end off the bar and where allowed to buy him a drink and have him acknowledge us but that is it, no one got close to him.

I have many regrets in life, but one of my biggest regrets is never seeing Sinatra live.

Dom

I walked up to merv griffin at the party said hi my name is tom welch started talking to him about vanna white and getting her the clothes line said it was a done deal thanked me for my comments and kept on trucking.

You should of seen the size of the guy sitting with frank at the bar late after the show, the desert in really knew how to throw a party, the things that want on there still put a smile on my face.

That place was indeed great.

Sorry I did not know about dice control back then. Spent a bunch of time on their golf course. Flat but interesting. That one and the old Dunes course. Right on the stip without having to take a long ride. Loved it. The pool areas were better and more interesting than the ones they have now too.

jess I loved staying in the rooms out back with the Jacuzzis right out the back doors.

I to knew nothing of dice control then but I played the hell out of pai gow

The funny thing is that I never stayed there or anywhere for the first years I went to Vegas.

My in-laws (ex) had retired there. I first went in Feb. 1979 before I was even out of chiro school. They lived 6 months in an apartment across the fairway from the Hilton. I cannot tell you how many early morning climbs over the fence, across the fairway and over the wall trips I took to play and be back before the end of breakfast 🙂

They, of course, had been going for decades and knew tons of people so I was introduced around.

During the 1980s I cannot count the number of times we went and played.

The funniest thing I remember about it was after a trip when I did not even stay. We dropped the kids off with the in-laws on the way out to Hawaii. Now I am a guy who is a bit narrow in Vegas. It’s golf and playing and if I had to go to a show or see a sight to keep the in-laws happy… Well, OK. (Not a negative thing about them — the in-laws or the shows — they were fabulous.) My mother in-law was a person who always wanted to see the sights and you to see the sights too. Yes, Liberace and even the… forgot the name but the female impersonation show and all the others.

Anyway, the kids were with them for most of a week. My older daughter was about 10. We get back and the next weekend I am leaving the Y after playing ball on a Sunday morning. One of the guys asked me where I had been. I said Vegas and Hawaii. He said, "I love Vegas. Did you see…" I have no idea what he asked but my daughter said, yes and what about the Luxor? The parking lot is so big they have their own gas station?" Well, they went on like that talking about all these different things at the casinos for about 14 minutes ( I was looking to get back to meet my wife and facing the clock so it really was 14 minutes+) until the guy realizes he is talking about Vegas to this 10 year old, looks up at me and says, "How come she knows so much and you don’t?" It was the funniest thing.

One of my big remembrances is just after they blew up the Dunes. I was there and wanted to play golf but did not want to go far and DI was booked — my in-laws had bought a home way at the edge of the developed area — 1785 E. Hacienda It was just this one house in the middle of nothing but dust and scrub. Just at the end of the runway about 1/4 mile or less toward town. Funny as hell. They had been staying out there 6 months and NY 6 months and decided to buy a house. They looked at a model, decided they like it and the furniture so they told the guy showing it they would take that one as-is and move in next week. Priceless.

The sales guy says, "This is the model you will have to wait a few months until we build them." By the time my father-in-law was done they called the builder and moved in 3 days later. There was another model up, fully furnished and showing about 3 blocks away in 5 days which was even more amazing.

Anyway, after they blew the Dunes up, the course behind it was still open but no one seemed to know about it. I got out as a single, paired up with one or two others, three days in a row at prime time. One of the days they told us not to complain if the group in front was slow but just be patient — it was Wynn and a group.

Another fun time was at the Desert Inn course. They paired me with some guy and I asked if he wanted to play a match. Now a $50 Nassau was big money for me in those days (late 80’s) He said yes. I said, "How about a hundred a side and a hundred overall?" He looks at me like I must be crazy. I asked his handicap 15 I showed my card 16. He still seemed reluctant. I said, "Think of how much money you are saving being out here for 4 hours instead of in there." He looked stunned for a second and then laughed and said, "50 each for greenies and birdies." I left up about $200 but he just paid me smiled and said he still probably saved a few thousand.

Fun times. No less fun than now since GTC but very different. No cards, pits could comp if they knew you… etc. Even the shows seemed different and better than now but that may just be nostalgia talking. Never saw Sinatra or those guys but did see Rickles and sat up front. Got lucky, he picked on the guy next to me and his fiance. I say luck not because he did not pick on me but being so close to the one picked on was even more funny than I could have ever imagined.

Except for a time or two never really played AC in its prime but I hear…

Hell, let’s hear from those of you who did AC back then. Stories??