Can we list 50-100 men who had a big effect on Las Vegas?

Not to sound sexist from the start, but I'd wager it would mostly be men. But in the spirit of Time Magazine's "Man of the Year (ie: important people, not always for good) who would make your list?

Here are some of my nominees and why. (If we get 100 maybe I'll put a bio of each on my blog here and my main one.)

1. Ben Siegel -- made the modern "resort" casino-hotel
2. Steve Wynn -- reintroduced Vegas to America. introduced the super-casin0
3. Bill Bennett/Bill Pennington -- founders of the Circus-Circus empire
4. Frank Rosenthal -- many innovations, last of the gangster-run casino bosses
5. Oscar Goodman -- from mafia lawyer to most popular mayor in the USA
6. Tony Spilotro -- most famous "outside man" in LV history
7. Howard Hughes -- invented the "corporate" casino
8. Jimmy Hoffa -- lender to too many casinos to mention
9. Kirk Kerkorian -- another master of casino finance
10. Jay Sarno -- designed most opulent and tackiest casinos at oppisite ends of the strip
11. Benny Binion -- legendary casino boss
12. The Rat Pack (group nomination)-- epitomy of 1960s LV entertainment
13. Wayne Newton -- Mr LV entertainer
14. Liberace -- if you can bring in the crowds, your personal live doesn't amtter in LV anyways



15. Meyer Lansky

The MIT Blackjack team (Hey, if you can give a group nomination to the Rat Pack...).


Superhost Steve Cyr, author of the book Whale Hunt in the Desert.

I would add Hoover for the Hoover Dam for without the Dam you wouldn't have Lake Mead or the drinking water required for Vegas.

I would also add Truman for his support of the Atomic Tests in the early 1950s which drew employees to Vegas.

And George Crockett who established Alamo airport which then became McCarran field and LAS in 1948.

Phil Tobin, author of the bill in 1931 that legalized gambling in Nevada.

Tommy Hull, builder of the El-Rancho hotel-casino (across from the Sahara) in 1941. This created a mini boom of hotel-casino along the street which is now known as the Strip.

Herbert Hoover, for being instrumental in pushing for the project of building the Boulder Dam [Hoover Dam].

TRIVIA QUESTION: what facts about Boulder City shows why this project was so good for Las Vegas? [looking for the correct answer, no looking it up!] this'll be a new thread if no one gets altho I think someone quickly will.

Quote: AZDuffman

12. The Rat Pack (group nomination)-- epitomy of 1960s LV entertainment

I would personally split the rat pack up (and not just to pad the list). Sammy Davis jr for being one of the First (if not the first) black headline act (while still not being allowed in the lounges or casinos of the hotels he played) and for one of the first interracial marriages for a Vegas public figure.

Frank Sinatra - for his work with the civil rights movement, and getting Sammy genrally accepted everywhere.

Dean Martin - pass. Dont know enough about the guy.

I would also like to extend a group nomination for Will Max Schwartz, Louis Rubin, Alexander Bisno, and Joe Louis for Opening the first racially Integrated hotel in Las Vegas (the Moulin Rouge)

As a history student, I find the Civil rights movement and related things fascinating, but some of my facts here could be sketchy. Sorry about that.

and while we are at it - Elvis - for Viva Las Vegas promoting the city

Barry Manilow - for the longest running show at the Hilton (i think)

Jackie Gaughan and Bob Stupak.

Hunter S. Thompson - or maybe thats just a big effect on my view of Las Vegas.

Sigfried & Roy, whoever created Cirque de Sole, and Michael Shackleford.

Gaming Hall of Fame Inductees do include two women. Elaine Wynn and Debbie Reynolds. Debbie Reynolds did own a casino before she went bankrupt.

2009
* Michael Gaughan
2008
* Bernard Goldstein
* Robert Arum
* Don King
* Emeril Lagasse
2007
* John Wilhelm
* Clifford Perlman
* David Copperfield
* Michael Mina
2006
* Steve Wynn
* Alex Stratta
* Franco Dragone
2005
* Craig H. Neilsen
* Larry Ruvo
* Debbie Reynolds
* Wolfgang Puck
2004
* Jack Binion
* Don Rickles
* Fred Benninger (posthumously)
2003
* Phil Satre
* Tom Jones
2002
* Shannon Bybee
* Merv Griffin
2001
* Boyd Gaming Corporation
* Park Place Entertainment Corporation
* U.S. Sen. Harry Reid
* Paul Anka
2000
* J. Terrence Lanni
* Wayne Newton
* Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
* Del Webb
1999
* Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
* Elaine Wynn
* Jack Entratter
1998
* Siegfried & Roy
* Anthony Marnell, II
* Lud Corrao
* J.K. Houssels, Jr.
* Thomas Young, Sr.
1997
* Charles Mathewson
* Frank Sinatra
1996
* Donald Carano
* Paul Endy
* Michael Rose
1995
* Len Ainsworth
* Burton Cohen
* Donald Trump
1994
* Frank Modica
* Bud* and Jean* Jones
1993
* William Boyd
* Henry Gluck
* Harvey* and Llewellyn Gross
* Leonard Prescott
1992
* John Ascuaga
* Sol Kerzner
* Claudine Williams
1991
* Sam Boyd
* James Crosby
* Kirk Kerkorian
* Don Laughlin
* Bill Pennington
* Si Redd
1990
* Bill Bennett
* Benny Binion
* Jackie Gaughan
* Barron Hilton
* Raymond Smith
1989
* Warren Nelson
* Jay Sarno
* William Harrah
* Grant Sawyer
* E. Parry Thomas

Quote: odiousgambit

Herbert Hoover, for being instrumental in pushing for the project of building the Boulder Dam [Hoover Dam].

TRIVIA QUESTION: what facts about Boulder City shows why this project was so good for Las Vegas? [looking for the correct answer, no looking it up!] this'll be a new thread if no one gets altho I think someone quickly will.

No gambling or drinking allowed in Boulder so the worker had to go to Vegas?