THIEF! The Gutsy, True Story of an Ex-Con Artist

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THIEF! character, Vince Eli

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Slick's Las Vegas Then & Now: 19th in Series



Haunted Strip Casino

Prior to 1986, the MGM Grand stood on the spot where Bally’s Hotel and Casino now sits. The MGM was one of the world’s largest hotels with a 26-story tower before it moved to its current location on Tropicana and the Strip.

On November 21, 1980, during the early hours of the graveyard shift, 84 people lost their lives and 650 were injured in a terrible fire. Many of those who died were trapped on the upper floors. The fire was said to have started in the kitchen. The loss of life was so great that it caused Las Vegas to change its fire code. One man told me that his friend went back inside to collect his casino chips and was later found burned to death. An astounding $223 million was paid out to settle law suits.

Just 90 days after the MGM fire, another fire broke out at the Las Vegas Hilton where eight people died. The loss of life might have been greater had it not been for the new safety guidelines after the MGM fire. Today, because of those two fires, Las Vegas has the strictest fire code in the world.

By the way…ever since the MGM fire, guests and employees have witnessed visions in the form of people appearing and disappearing in some of the rooms and hallways.

Check here for more info on this historic fire: http://www.iklimnet.com/hotelfires/casemgm.html

1 comment:

Fxman said...

I just looked over my slides of that fire a couple of days ago, I just came out to visit my mother-law Nancy , KIm & I met slick,we even stayed at his place while we visted Vegas, he showed us a great time, was truly the reel deal had a great time ! the fire was something i will never forget!
Slick i want to get an autographed copy of your book !