Greetings: Now let's try to save the Riv!

I just found this place, and I'm over-the-top thrilled to see that such a forum exists.

Brief background: I've been Vegas-obsessed since I first visited there as a kid... it was the quintessential "'early 1970s suburban San Fernando family in a rented Winnebago cruising the Wild West" type of deal. I'll never forget the feeling when I first laid eyes on the sparkling Strip that fateful night. (Dunes sign-mesmerized) I later visited LV countless times during road trips, between roughly 1983-1995.

I've been living up here in Minnesota & raising my daughter since 1999, and have only been able to properly visit LV once in the last 20 years. I brought her to LV in 2012, just as my dad had done for me in '72. We saw the abandoned Sahara, and spent a few nights at Circus Circus... we had a fantastic time. This 2012 visit is what revitalized my obsession with Vegas history, and set in motion my current Vegas History Project -- which I'll probably get around to later on.

While I've always first & foremost been interested in the history of the place, I had no idea that so many of the places I loved so much back in the 80s and early 90s were doomed to imminent implosion & annihilation.

Which brings me to my latest & greatest (and probably most futile) Vegas-related effort: SAVE THE RIVIERA... or at least attempt to preserve & re-purpose the original 1955 hotel tower.

Yes, I know... however:

"It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra (R.I.P.)

So any like-minded folks who would like to join with me in this impossible quest are hereby invited to sign & share. Also, if there's anything that you might feel my petition text lacks in content, please post suggestions. I value the knowledge here.

SAVE THE RIVIERA

What's the point?

People tried and failed to keep the Riv alive and viable, but they all failed.

The LV convention center bought it: do you think they'll "see the light" because of your petition, cancel expansion plans, and sell it to someone?

That end of the strip is dead, dead, dead.

This is what I was hoping to avoid...

The "point" is very clearly laid out in the petition text. Did you even bother to read it? Honestly, your post adds nothing to the conversation, and was the reason I wrote the words "yeah, I know..." See, I had your viewpoint covered, and I know what I'm up against here.

1. Stranger things have happened
2. We are not attempting to achieve a single thing you've mentioned.

We simply hope to preserve the original hotel tower structure and incorporate it into whatever they build.

Frankly, this sort of attitude & worldview is the very reason there is so little in the way of historical preservation in the Vegas Valley. Either hop on board, or kindly get the **** out of the way.

People, I do NOT want to engage in a pissing match here. If you're not behind this, please just move on to something else.

Welcome to the forum, Tangento. You're coming on a little strong. I have many fond memories of the Riv dating back to the early 70s. Good luck with this decidedly uphill battle.

Hi there.

Like I said, I had no intention to create conflict in my first thread, I simply responded accordingly to a naysayer.
I promise you, I'm as easygoing a person as you'll ever meet... however, I'm also quite passionate about this and other subjects.

Thanks for the kind welcome.

It is an absurd, pollyannaish belief to hope that the tower will be incorporated into the convention center plans as "a Las Vegas Strip/ US Route 91 History Museum."

Liberace's museum didn't make it, do you think a museum based on the history of the strip / hwy 91 (!) would possibly fare better?

FWIW, The last thing I (and most people) want in Las Vegas is historical preservation; out with the old, in with the new.

Just implode and then build the latest and greatest: that is the heart and soul of the strip.

When I want to look back at the old days on the strip, there are many sites, such as this .

Quote: Tangento

I just found this place, and I'm over-the-top thrilled to see that such a forum exists.

Quote: Tangento

People, I do NOT want to engage in a pissing match here. If you're not behind this, please just move on to something else.

Quote: MrV

... out with the old, in with the new.

Waiting for Mr W. As in wonderful.

Quote: MrV

It is an absurd, pollyannaish belief to hope that the tower will be incorporated into the convention center plans as "a Las Vegas Strip/ US Route 91 History Museum."

Liberace's museum didn't make it, do you think a museum based on the history of the strip / hwy 91 (!) would possibly fare better?

FWIW, The last thing I (and most people) want in Las Vegas is historical preservation; out with the old, in with the new.

Neon Museum? Pretty successful from what I hear...

I need to see your petition in favor of destroying the tower outdo mine before I'm convinced of your claim...
And at what point did you become the official spokesperson for "most people in Vegas"?

The response I'm getting from many locals gives the opposite impression. There's a similar petition with over 500 signatures to date.

So let me try to understand this... are you in favor of leveling all historical landmarks and museums and replacing them with half-built Echelons & web archives?

Never went to the Neon Museum, but enjoyed the Atomic Testing Museum.

Just wondering what exhibits you propose to gather to fill the tower?

A chunk of hwy 91 pavement?

Wow.

Pictures of the old strip?

Double wow.

Your subject matter is NOT interesting enough to warrant a museum.

There's already a Mob Museum downtown, so there goes most of your material.

To answer your seemingly rhetorical question: what "historical landmarks" are there in Las Vegas?

The Old Mormon Fort? Got that one covered.

The Springs? Ditto.

Nothing else worthwhile that I can think of, other than a bunch of casinos, none of which want to stand still and allow moss to grow on them.

Keep up, or get out of the way.

To anyone reading other than MrV: Should I be treating this as a troll situation?

I'm trying hard to maintain civility here...

I simply disagree with what you propose.

Defend it as best you can.

Welcome to the board.

Quote: Tangento

To anyone reading other than MrV: Should I be treating this as a troll situation?

I'm trying hard to maintain civility here...

Just because you disagree with him doesn't mean he's trolling. He's right on the money. You have zero chance of succeeding. But that's ok. If it makes you feel good, have at it. You can always say you tried then.

ZCore13

I think they just had some Firefighter training at Riviera. Basically that means they don't care if it's destroyed.

Nostalgia cannot fix everything...

Quote: Zcore13

He's right on the money.

Is he?

Quote: Zcore13

You have zero chance of succeeding.

Do I?


Look, I stated in my initial post that I was fully aware of the futility involved here, and also stated that I didn't need to be endlessly reminded of that fact & bombarded with negativity.

Yet, almost every word hence has been nothing but.

Folks, you're not telling me anything I don't already know. You apparently also don't understand what true f'ing determination can often accomplish. You all sound like a bunch of bitter old men slouching in a dank bar, bemoaning all & everything.

Anyway, if you can't add anything constructive, please move on.

Quote: Tangento

Is he?


Do I?


Look, I stated in my initial post that I was fully aware of the futility involved here, and also stated that I didn't need to be endlessly reminded of that fact & bombarded with negativity.

Yet, almost every word hence has been nothing but.

Folks, you're not telling me anything I don't already know. You apparently also don't understand what true f'ing determination can often accomplish. You all sound like a bunch of bitter old men slouching in a dank bar, bemoaning all & everything.

Anyway, if you can't add anything constructive, please move on.

It's all cool. However, i think that what makes The Strip so wonderful is its transience, it's shallowness and meaninglessness beyond simple hedonism. Memorializing any of it beyond photographs and oral and written tradition sort of runs counter to its essence. It was built to please, and when it outlived its purpose it was imploded and replaced with a newer model.

Hi Tangento,
First, a hearty Welcome to the board.

I applaud your heart and desire, but as Mosca has stated, preserving historical bldgs on the strip is definitely "not Vegas". That is what makes Vegas so unique. The wanton destruction of perfectly viable bldgs, just because they are a bit dated and can be replaced by newer mega casnos, and then our dumb asses will come flocking to it in droves, to quickly give them enough money to pay for it all in record time. It truly is a biblical Sodom and Gamorrah.

As for the naysayers, if you don't want to engage in negativity, then I suggest you thank them for their input, and leave it at that. If that is too much for you, then don't respond at all. But to create a thread, and then declare that only people who support your point of view need respond, is pure folly on this board, and is going to be a lot like peeing into the wind. All it is going to get you is all wet.
Edit: I guess it will give you a warm feeling too.

Quote: Tangento

You all sound like a bunch of bitter old men slouching in a dank bar, bemoaning all & everything.

Except gambling.

It is a bit of culture shock to meet this sort of gamblers for the first time. Gambling is another long process of desensitization to submission. People here have little idea how all this fluff might sound to the vast majority of others who don't know they even exist.

I don't know, but maybe when casinos are a thing of the past, the powers that be may have some regrets from not having preserved any of the significant ones.

Greetings! (That's my line...lol)

I have taken the liberty of editing your post and the quote thereof to bring you into compliance with this Forum's, "Keep it PG," rule. I would encourage you to read the Forum Rules which can be found here:

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/info/rules/2-forum-rules/#post37215

In any event, good luck in your quest to save the Riviera. It would be really cool if you were to succeed as there is a tremendous wealth of Vegas history in that building alone. As has been pointed out, though, Vegas is an ever-changing place.

In fact, the Las Vegas Club, which was the first casino in Vegas to have a neon sign, was just purchased by the principle owner of The D and Golden Gate. He did not buy the rights to the name, though, just the property.

You seem to recognize the apparent futility of your effort, so I do hope (with that out of the way) that further posts in this thread will have more of a focus on helping you with your cause for those so interested.

Welcome to WoV!

Quote: Tangento

ILook, I stated in my initial post that I was fully aware of the futility involved here...Anyway, if you can't add anything constructive, please move on.

You admit YOUR idea is futile; how then can anything constructive be added to it?

Constructive futility?

Still, I applaud you for trying.

Note: I have nothing against you personally; I'm not deliberately busting your balls; I am only criticizing / challenging your idea.

I encourage you to defend it, just as you would any thesis.

We do that on this board: you may learn to like the process if you stick around.

Quote: Tangento

Is he?


Do I?


Look, I stated in my initial post that I was fully aware of the futility involved here, and also stated that I didn't need to be endlessly reminded of that fact & bombarded with negativity.

Yet, almost every word hence has been nothing but.

Folks, you're not telling me anything I don't already know. You apparently also don't understand what true f'ing determination can often accomplish. You all sound like a bunch of bitter old men slouching in a dank bar, bemoaning all & everything.

Anyway, if you can't add anything constructive, please move on.

We definitely have some bitter old men here but the folks who have responded to this thread are good guys. When the bitter old men respond you'll know it. I hear they sit in front of the computer all day in their underwear and haven't left the basement in years. Very bitter.

Welcome to the forum, and best of luck with your effort to save the Riviera. Your petition states a desire but lacks a plan. Without a specific plan the petition is in essence only an opinion poll. The forces working against you have plans rooted in economic sense. You need to present a better plan than they have to win the battle. Good luck.

Quote: RaleighCraps

Hi Tangento,
First, a hearty Welcome to the board.

I applaud your heart and desire, but as Mosca has stated, preserving historical bldgs on the strip is definitely "not Vegas". That is what makes Vegas so unique. The wanton destruction of perfectly viable bldgs, just because they are a bit dated and can be replaced by newer mega casnos, and then our dumb asses will come flocking to it in droves, to quickly give them enough money to pay for it all in record time. It truly is a biblical Sodom and Gamorrah.

As for the naysayers, if you don't want to engage in negativity, then I suggest you thank them for their input, and leave it at that. If that is too much for you, then don't respond at all. But to create a thread, and then declare that only people who support your point of view need respond, is pure folly on this board, and is going to be a lot like peeing into the wind. All it is going to get you is all wet.
Edit: I guess it will give you a warm feeling too.

+1

Quote: 1BB

Quote: Tangento

Is he?


Do I?


Look, I stated in my initial post that I was fully aware of the futility involved here, and also stated that I didn't need to be endlessly reminded of that fact & bombarded with negativity.

Yet, almost every word hence has been nothing but.

Folks, you're not telling me anything I don't already know. You apparently also don't understand what true f'ing determination can often accomplish. You all sound like a bunch of bitter old men slouching in a dank bar, bemoaning all & everything.

Anyway, if you can't add anything constructive, please move on.

We definitely have some bitter old men here but the folks who have responded to this thread are good guys. When the bitter old men respond you'll know it. I hear they sit in front of the computer all day in their underwear and haven't left the basement in years. Very bitter.

"Cars??? what the hell would you want a car for when we have horses???"
"computers??? wtf you need that for when people can do math just fine?"
"A NEW STRIP??? why when there is a perfect group of casinos on freemont"

-someone somewhere sometime



Ide buy a ticket to watch it implode.

Speaking of whens the riv imploding, I would like to see this

Quote: 1BB

We definitely have some bitter old men here but the folks who have responded to this thread are good guys.

And, if we know what it is to be good, then we'll know bad too. (The word is 'too' Axel, not 'to'.) Definitely a bunch of old set-in-its-way talk with nothing better to be about?

Quote: 1BB

When the bitter old men respond you'll know it. I hear they sit in front of the computer all day in their underwear and haven't left the basement in years. Very bitter.

And make up BS about hundreds of thousands from blackjack. What type of dumb talk keeps going on in a lame way about stuff which can't be proved? A strange position in which to put one's talking. (Is it one's or ones?)