Las Vegas Mayor Oran K. Gragson waves from a convertible in a parade on Fremont Street at night. His car has just passed the Golden Nugget Gambling Hall by passing under a street banner made of garland that says Season's Greetings. Neon signs are visible for several stores and casinos, including the White Cross Rexall Drug Store, Golden Nugget Gambling Hall, Lucky Strike Casino, and The Mint Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor.
Mayor Oran K. Gragson (standing, left) poses with USAF Thunderbirds, precision flying team based at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayor Gragson is holding a matted photo of the Thunderbirds in flight over a mountain. The inscription reads " To: Mayor Oran Gragson with sincere best wishes, The USAF Thunderbirds." Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. Site Name: Nellis Air Force Base (Nev.)
Mayor Oran K. Gragson (standing, 2nd from right), poses with USAF Thunderbirds, precision flying team based at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayor Gragson is holding a matted photo of the Thunderbirds in flight over Hoover Dam. The inscription reads " To: Mayor Oran Gragson with sincere best wishes, The USAF Thunderbirds." Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. Site Name: Nellis Air Force Base (Nev.)
Groundbreaking for the Senior Citizens Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayor Oran K. Gragson is standing at right. Seated at right in profile is Ron Lurie, City Commissioner. Standing at left is probably Aaron Williams, Vice Chairman of County Commissioners. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. Ronald Philip "Ron" Lurie (born January 23, 1941) is an American businessman and politician. He is the former mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1987 to 1991. Lurie is a member of the Democratic Party.
Mayor Oran K. Gragson (second from left) shakes the hand of an unidentified man while a a group of men look on at the groundbreaking for Pioneer Citizens Bank, Las Vegas. The sign behind them reads "Future Home Pioneer Citizens Bank of Nevada Coming Soon." A sign for Nevada State Bank is visible in the background. The location where the photograph was taken is unknown. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor.
Las Vegas Mayor Oran K. Gragson (center), and Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer (right) shake hands, as an unidentified man on the left (holding a trophy) attempts to join in the handshake. The location where the photograph was taken is unknown. Oran Kenneth Gragson (February 14, 1911 – October 7, 2002) was an American businessman and politician. He was the longest-serving mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1959 to 1975. Gragson, a member of the Republican Party, was a small business owner who was elected Mayor on a reform platform against police corruption and for equal opportunity for people of all socio-economic and racial categories. Gragson died in a Las Vegas hospice on October 7, 2002, at the age of 91. The Oran K. Gragson Elementary School located at 555 N. Honolulu Street, Las Vegas, NV 89110 was named in his honor. Frank Grant Sawyer (December 14, 1918 – February 19, 1996) was an American politician. He was the 21st Governor of Nevada from 1959 to 1967, and was a member of the Democratic Party.
A portrait of Judy Bayley, the location is unknown, but was most likely taken in Las Vegas, Nevada. Judith “Judy” Bayley, namesake of the Judy Bayley Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was once known as “The First Lady of Gambling.” Judy and her husband Warren “Doc” Bayley opened the Hacienda Hotel and Casino on October 17, 1956. After Warren’s unexpected death from a heart attack on December, 26, 1964, Judy Bayley took over the ownership and operations of the Hacienda. By doing so, she became the first woman in Nevada history to be the sole owner and operator of a hotel-casino. After Judy’s death from cancer on December 31, 1971, the Hacienda was sold in 1972. The Hacienda’s doors closed to the public on December 10, 1996. The hotel was imploded on December 31, 1996 on the 25th anniversary of Judy Bayley’s death, and was broadcast on the Fox news network as part of their New Year’s Eve 1996 telecast. In March 1999, it was replaced with the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.
Fremont Street at night. Visible on the left side of the street are neon signs for the Golden Nugget Gambling Hall, Nugget Saloon, Frontier Club, The White Spot Cafe, Pioneer Club, The Monte Carlo Club, The Union Pacific sign (in the background, right of center). Visible on the right side of the street are neon signs for the Vegas Club, Hotel Apache, and the Eldorado Club. The Golden Nugget opened in 1946, and is the first structure designed from the ground up to be a casino. Steve Wynn became the majority shareholder in 1973, and built the first tower in 1977. In 1984, the neon was removed from the building and the spa tower was built, along with the showroom. The third tower was opened in 1989. The hotel now has 2,419 rooms and suites. The casino's large hotel sign at its entrance off Fremont and Casino Center was removed in 1984 when the casino underwent renovations. The old sign presently sits at the YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company) sign yard.
Fremont Street at night. Visible on the left side of the street are neon signs for the Golden Nugget Gambling Hall, Nugget Saloon, Frontier Club, The White Spot Cafe, Pioneer Club, The Monte Carlo Club, The Union Pacific Railroad station sign (in the background, right of center). Visible on the right side of the street are neon signs for the Vegas Club, Hotel Apache, and the Eldorado Club. The Golden Nugget opened in 1946, and is the first structure designed from the ground up to be a casino. Steve Wynn became the majority shareholder in 1973, and built the first tower in 1977. In 1984, the neon was removed from the building and the spa tower was built, along with the showroom. The third tower was opened in 1989. The hotel now has 2,419 rooms and suites. The casino's large hotel sign at its entrance off Fremont and Casino Center was removed in 1984 when the casino underwent renovations. The old sign presently sits at the YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company) sign yard.
The Tropicana Hotel's float entry in the Helldorado Parade, Fremont Street, May, 1957. The float's banner reads" 8th Wonder of the World, Tropicana Girls." There are five visible platforms on the float, with eight total platforms. "Sphinx", with two showgirls, "Parthenon", with one showgirl, "Tower of Pisa", with one showgirl, and "Hanging Garden", with one showgirl. The top platform has a showgirl riding in a giant flower. There are three platforms on the far side of the float that not visible. The first one is partially visible, with two pyramids visible. The name of the platform is not visible, and the showgirl is mostly obscured. The float has just padded Joe W. Brown's Horseshoe at the corner of Fremont Street and 2nd Street, and is passing the Boulder Club, located at 118 Fremont street. The Boulder Club was in operation from 1931-1960. A sign on the Boulder Club reads ""Farmer" Page - Enjoy the Old West - Jackpots, Craps, Bar, Keno, Roulette, Twenty-One." A smaller banner reads "J. K. Houssels - "Farmer" Page - Jim Young - Larry Hezzelwood." The Hotel Apache, and the Fremont Hotel are visible in the background.