In this episode, we will dive into all things entertainment related in the 1940s: Vegas’ first showrooms and headliners, how World War II changed Las Vegas, celebrity marriages and divorces, and connections between old Hollywood and Las Vegas. So what was happening in Vegas at the dawn of this decade?

Last week, we talked about how Vegas began as a humble, dusty railroad town, springing up from the desert floor with silent-era movie theaters, a raucous district of ill-repute, the first use of neon signage, and the building of the Hoover dam, the catalyst that would spur major development, Vegas had soared through the roaring teens and 20s and started to put itself on the map. But what was next? The 30s would see continued growth, including legalized gaming, the birth of the modern showroom and casino complex, and the continual inflow of Hollywood stars. The sun was rising on what would later become known as Sin City, and things were starting to get exciting.

Before there was the glow of neon or the crooning of the Rat Pack, there was sagebrush and open desert. Back when “The Strip” was still known as Highway 91, back before the tagline “What happens in Vegas…” existed, there were a bunch of tough pioneers who started a frontier town in the absolute middle of nowhere. But how did that happen? How did we go from dusty old saloons and dance halls to the entertainment behemoth that is now modern Las Vegas?

Explore early Vegas through the end of the 1920s with me, from a lens of entertainment history. We will talk about early historic theaters and silent movie halls, Tinseltown elite visiting and filming in Las Vegas, jazz virtuosos playing the notorious vice neighborhood of Block 16, and more.

Thanks for joining me for today’s episode of On With The Show. Today’s episode was written, edited and narrated by Jen Flood-Carle. You can find more information about this episode and other episodes on my website, including show notes, links to research materials, and additional content. If you like the podcast, please tell your friends, and subscribe, rate and review on the podcast platform of your choice. I’ll be back next week with another tale of entertainment history, highlighting forgotten stars and stories from over a hundred years of stage-and-screen.

Chateau Marmont has lingered long in Hollywood history. Travel through time to learn about Tinseltown from the 1920s-1970s, hear about famous celebrity guests, and more.

Welcome to “On With The Show,” a podcast highlighting forgotten stars and stories from over a hundred years of stage-and-screen. Join us as we take you on a cultural archaeology from Vegas to Vaudeville, from Broadway to Hollywood, and everywhere in between. Written, produced and hosted by Jen Flood-Carle, this podcast is a heavily-researched work of creative nonfiction.