Las Vegas photos

Some pics from a recent visit to Vegas. Maybe others can post pics here too if you want! (Accidentally posted these under "Collecting Tiki" first)

Finally found the Stardust Aku Aku moai in Sunset Park, thanks to people here. It's in a park at the corner of Sunset and Eastern, SE of the airport. You can't see the Aku Aku from the road, but if you drive around in the park, you can see it in the duck pond.

"Help, I can't move! Please take me to Easter Island!"

"Would someone get this bird outta my nose?"

Slot machine in the Tropicana. Visit the Vegas history museum there if you get a chance (thanks for the tip johnnievelour)!

The Venus / Taboo Cove was closed.

Hmmm, which nite sounds the LEAST fun? Is it just me, or does this look like either boobs in a red bustier, OR a strange butt with red stockings?

Our TC mug/mascot namesake.

-Randy

cool pics!

Randy-

What is the story with this Castaways place? What does it look like inside?

Good job on the picture of that slot machine- you know it's illegal to take pictures on the floor of a casino. I've seen cameras taken and film destroyed.

-martin

Dunno much about the Castaways, and I didn't have time to go in to check it out or see what the "Aloha" thing is all about. Castaways is off the strip on Fremont, maybe a mile or two east of the "Fremont Street Experience." I do know it's one of the older places, since I have an old $1000 chip from there. I also know that, like the Stardust, their older logo/typeface was much better looking. House Industries did a beautiful take on the old Castaways typeface in their Vegas fonts collection.

Incidentally, that area of Fremont is jampacked with old googie motels, many of which look like they're gonna get the wrecking ball any day. Fantastic signs though - I wanna go back when I have more time and properly document things.

Yes, I knew there was some kind of taboo about photos on the casino floor, but what the heck. I got busted for taking a digital camera video of this Elvis lounge singer guy in the Tropicana, but they were actually pretty nice about it - just a friendly request not to take pictures. Photos were also verboten in the Vegas history museum (where I took the pic of Shecky), but I specifically asked the store guy before going in, and he said "Let's just say I'm not looking."

-Randy

Oops, I got the two Castaways confused. The original was on the strip, right around the current Mirage and Treasure Island, but apparently demolished in the 80s. Here's a photo of the real Castaways.
http://www.crecon.com/vintagevegas/pcm_castaways.htm

But the current Castaways in my photo is the former Showboat casino, located on Fremont (aka Boulder Highway), and more recently renamed.

-Randy

Just an addition of a photo. I thought it was a cool sign with some palms in the background in Las Vegas.
SugarCaddyDaddy

Cheesburger at the Oasis.
SugarCaddyDaddy

Does anyone know whether the Aloha Spirit show continues at Castaways and whether its worth a cab ride to & from the strip?

Thanks.

PS - Great photos, Aquarj.

Finally found the Stardust Aku Aku moai in Sunset Park, thanks to people here. It's in a park at the corner of Sunset and Eastern, SE of the airport. You can't see the Aku Aku from the road, but if you drive around in the park, you can see it in the duck pond.

"It" is Eli Hedley's work. "Eli" not "Ely."
Ben and I could have sat on that park bench for days, gazing at one of the most awesome and beautiful pieces of history; preserved.
For longer than a moment, it was like hangin' with Eli, once again.
Aloha.

That's really cool, Vic. I'm heading out to Vegas this weekend and I've been meaning to get out to that park for a couple of years now. If i do see it, I'll say 'hi' for you and Ben.

On 2004-04-19 21:33, Mrs. B wrote:
Finally found the Stardust Aku Aku moai in Sunset Park, thanks to people here. It's in a park at the corner of Sunset and Eastern, SE of the airport. You can't see the Aku Aku from the road, but if you drive around in the park, you can see it in the duck pond.

---

"It" is Eli Hedley's work. "Eli" not "Ely."
Ben and I could have sat on that park bench for days, gazing at one of the most awesome and beautiful pieces of history; preserved.
For longer than a moment, it was like hangin' with Eli, once again.
Aloha.

I had a taxi driver take me past once. It is very close to McClarran.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=755&forum=1

The Aku-Aku needs to have the palm trees trimmed away from blocking the view as well as some spikes to prevent the birds from using it as a perch.

quote:Finally found the Stardust Aku Aku moai in Sunset Park, thanks to people here. It's in a park at the corner of Sunset and Eastern, SE of the airport. You can't see the Aku Aku from the road, but if you drive around in the park, you can see it in the duck pond. unquote.

And after our present civilization crumbles (with the deficit and current world economies, it could be any day now), and thousands of years have past, archeologists of a future civilization will uncover him and theroize about the how and why he got there... and get it all wrong.

howlinowl

On 2011-07-14 10:01, howlinowl wrote:
quote:Finally found the Stardust Aku Aku moai in Sunset Park, thanks to people here. It's in a park at the corner of Sunset and Eastern, SE of the airport. You can't see the Aku Aku from the road, but if you drive around in the park, you can see it in the duck pond. unquote.

And after our present civilization crumbles (with the deficit and current world economies, it could be any day now), and thousands of years have past, archeologists of a future civilization will uncover him and theroize about the how and why he got there... and get it all wrong.

howlinowl

And in the interim, it is a silent sentinel to glory days of Las Vegas in the past.

I wonder why it can't be transferred to Fremont St., maybe either in front of Mickey Finz,
or by the El Cortez.