R.I.P. Dan Tana

[Boris]

Or was it Tanna? In either case, I loved watching that show. You know, there was a time when gamblers couldn't just gamble. You had to go to Vegas. There was no lottery, or local casino, or even local track for me. Vegas was cool back then, and the opening scene of Vega$ was the coolest. First time I went there was in 1977. Round trip airfare and a week at the Circus Circus for $120.00. Anyway, Robert got a bum deal. 55 is way too soon.

[LurkingBettor]

Boris,

You are so correct. Did you play blackjack at Slots O' Fun for a quarter a hand, too?

Times have changed, huh?

LB

[Boris]

OH, the Slots O' Fun. Yes indeedy. Me and college bud, read two broke punks, snooted out the supreme el cheapo Christmas break vacation. He had an uncle that worked security at the DI and two cousins that were to help us "see Vega$". (Aside: we were two of about 10 guys that were bit with the gambling bug early in life. Since 9th grade, we would meet on weekends at one buddy's house and play cards in the third floor gameroom. Used to hitch a ride there before I could drive. By our senior year, we had speed gambling down to a science. Explains alot of my action bets to this day. In one hour and 7 minutes, our alloted lunch break from school, we would speed to James Coney Island and slam down 4 to 6 hot dogs each, speed to Mook's house, play poker for about 30 minutes, and speed back for last period and football practice. 5 days a week. One of my priceless memories from high school. Number of dogs you bought determined your bankroll. Food or poker?) Anyway, we find Braniff flying round trip from Dallas to Vega$ for $78 and the CC had rooms for $14 a night, $7 fins a piece. Drive to Dallas for "the trip". Being used to "low limit" poker games, we were severely under capitalized for the slaughter that was about to occur. A WEEK in Vega$ with about $200 each. You can only image. If not for Slots O' Fun, we'd of spent many more days playing pick up basketball games at UNLV than we did, and we went there often. .99 cent shrimp cocktail was breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think we splurged on the $2.99 buffet "under the tent" once, but in the back of my mind I was missing out on a couple of rounds being dealt next door.

Vega$ was all about gambling and money then as opposed to being all about "vacationing" now. Maybe I'd feel different if I was 20 years old now, but seems alot like amateur hour these days. Too much gawking, too many slow walkers, too many things to see and do. Watched the original "Godfather" movie last night on TV and to see that vintage footage of the casino signs got my juices flowing. Would love to bust out for a trip today, but the thought of that oversized TV in front of the Aladin turns my stomach. Don't get me started on the "Freemont Experience". (spit) I hear Binions may be going tits north soon. Damn shame.

Anyway, watching Dan Tana pulling his rig into the front of those casinos was always a good visual for me. Cheesy show but he had "the life". Even the cleavage was real. Sorry for the ramble, but the SOF reference did it.

[anotherdave]

And how he parked his t-bird in the living room. That was cool.

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