Contemporary celebrities like Drake, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga may be popular headliners in Sin City today, but Vegas has a vibrant history. There are larger-than-life personalities that made Sin City what it is.
These names are the legends I will tell you about today. They are some of the most influential performers of the 20th century. It’s through their contributions that Las Vegas grew to its current stature.
#1. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is definitely one of the most legendary celebrities that ever performed in Vegas. He had very tumultuous years in Sin City.
The King of Rock n Roll started a musical revolution by modernizing traditional genres. His shows in Las Vegas used to draw over 2,000 fans into the largest showroom in the city every day. Queues stretched into the front lobby of the New Frontier Hotel and Casino. Today, Vegas is known for its Elvis impersonators.
#2. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is fondly remembered as the King of Las Vegas. He had esteemed solo acts and was a member of the Rat Pack. The Rat Pack consisted of him, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin.
Frank Sinatra and the history of Las Vegas go a long way back, and that’s why tributes continue today in his name. As a solo act, he made a great name for himself. As a member of The Rat Pack, he made history. They created a unique vibe in the early 60s as they were backed by the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Their talent, swagger, and banter had no comparison. When Frank Sinatra passed on in 1998, all the lights on the Strip were dimmed in his honor, signaling the end of an era.
#3. Liberace
Liberace actually came before Sinatra and Elvis. In his teenage years, he was a classically-trained pianist who was a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He later traded in a black piano for a bedazzled one and began playing classical symphonies in shows in 1944.
Liberace was not just theatrical. He was also eccentric and often arrived on stage in a Rolls-Royce. He ascended over his audience using thin cables attached to his outfits. He sold out Vegas showrooms throughout his entire 50-year career and became the highest-paid entertainer in the world during his time.
#4. Siegfried & Roy
Siegfried & Roy were a German-American duo of entertainers and magicians. Their actual names were Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn. They were famous for their appearances with white lions and white tigers and always put on a spectacular performance.
They met while working on a cruise ship in the late 50s. Siegfried was passionate about magic, while Roy deeply loved animals. When they met, Roy had snuck a cheetah onboard the ship. They held great performances in Las Vegas and attracted mammoth crowds.
#5. Wayne Newton
While Frank Sinatra was known as the King of Las Vegas, Wayne Newton is fondly known by three nicknames; Mr. Entertainment, Mr. Las Vegas, and The Midnight Idol. He was born in Virginia and began performing in the city when he was 16. By the beginning of 1963, Wayne Newton did up to three shows every night. He had a beautiful rendition of the pop song “Danke Schoen.” He has performed roughly over 30,000 shows on the Strip.
He is the face of the Las Vegas entertainment industry. He has headlined at every major casino in Sin City in his 60-year career.
#6. Derek Stevens
Despite not being an entertainer, Derek Stevens is on this list because he has contributed a lot to Downtown Las Vegas. He’s bringing back the glory days of Vegas. He is responsible for building hotels like Mermaids Casino (where Glitter Gulch resided in), the Las Vegas Club, Circa Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Golden Gate, the D, and many others. Most developers forgot Downtown Las Vegas, but not Derek Stevens.
#7. Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn is another Vegas developer that makes the cut to be a Las Vegas legend. Very few operators or builders have had a greater impact on their industry than Steve Wynn. He is most notable for being one of the major forces behind contemporary Vegas.
Steve Wynn came to Las Vegas in 1967, and in the 70s, he rebuilt the Golden Nugget. By doing this, he revitalized the Fremont Street (Downtown Las Vegas) area. He also expanded into Atlantic City and used the profits that he made from this project to finance the Mirage. The Mirage opened its doors in 1989, and it was the first major Las Vegas Strip resort to be built since 1973. It was actually the Mirage that ushered in the year of mega-resorts. He went ahead to build Treasure Island in the 1990s, followed by his showpiece property, the Bellagio. Don’t forget the Wynn Las Vegas & Encore Resort.
#8. Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk Kerkorian bought 80 acres of land on the Strip in 1962 across the Flamingo Hotel. This site eventually became the site of Caesars Palace. From his profits, he built the International Hotel (now Westgate) and bought the Flamingo Hotel the same year. After selling the International and Flamingo Hotels to the Hilton Corporation, Kirk Kerkorian built the MGM (Palms) Hotel. Over the years, as the entertainment and hospitality industry became global, he acquired over 13 more iconic properties, including ARIA, the Mirage, Mandalay, and Bellagio.
