Roundup History

Pre-Roundup – 1966

The population of Las Vegas in 1966 was approximately 100,000 and the Aladdin Hotel and Caesars Palace had both just opened for business. Howard Hughes, the eccentric hero of the American aviation industry, was staying at the Desert Inn. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Sandy Smith broke a national story about how the Chicago mob controlled and skimmed millions of dollars a year from Las Vegas casinos.

The First Las Vegas Roundup – 1967

Records show that the first Roundup was held at the North Las Vegas City Hall on November 3rd, and the Carpenters Union Hall on November 3rd and 4th, 1967. The banquet was at the Showboat on November 4th. The following is a 1993 quote from Les E, who is generally credited as the founder of the Las Vegas Roundup:

"The idea was conceived out of a real need, at least I felt it was real. Previous AA's had created some unpaid bills to a couple of caterers, one in Reno, who's name I don't recall, and a 'Carl Belding Catering' in Las Vegas. For whatever reason, I felt a personal reponsibility to protect AA's good name. I related this dilemma to Morrie S, founder of the Palm Springs Roundup, which he ran until his death in the late '70s. His solution for Las Vegas was to start a Roundup. And since his was always in June, he suggested that we start ours in late fall, perhaps November he said. So, with not much to go on except a couple of poorly informed supporters, JoAnne K and Bill A, and Morrie's promise to share his mailing list (which he never did), we started. The first weekend of November 1967. The event was a mild success, we paid off our debts and had a few bucks left over for seed money, $300 as I recall. Most of the financial success was because the Al-Anon's came through with donated food, which we sold, and a lot of hard work. Thank God for Al-Anon."

Also in 1967: Howard Hughs purchases the Desert Inn in order to avoid eviction, Siegfried & Roy debut at the Tropicana, Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Anne Beaulieu at the Aladdin, Evel Knievel fails an attempt to jump the fountains at Caesars Palace on his motorcycle.

 

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