Las Vegas has played a major part in my life from the first time I was there at age eight with my mother and father--the days when there were still hitching posts for horses outside the casinos--until today when sin city has morphed its image into a family theme park destination. My dad taught me to shoot craps with silver dollars when I was fifteen and had to stand on a stool to reach the table. Back then no one asked my age. Most of what you're going to see here is pure, vintage Vegas where I was a part of it.
 At the Rivera Hotel where I starred in 1957. This was where Elvis came to see me. |  Cheesecake posing in 1953 at the Last Frontier--before Howard Hughes bought it and changed the name to The Frontier. | |
 At Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn I was Queen of the Golf Tournament. It was 1956 and I had just had my baby. |  Circa 1965 when I starred at the Thunderbird. | |
 Popular columnist of the day (still 1956), Walter Winchell. Walter introduced me to Bo Belinsky. |  Debbie Reynolds, me, Walter Winchell, Bing Crosby, the McGuire Sisters, and Marie Wilson (barefoot). | |
 Here's an historical lineup: First two unknown; 3rd from left, Wilbur Clark; Walter Winchell with his putter in his hand; next to him, comic Ben Blue; Marie Wilson in the hat; the McGuire Sisters next to her; then Debbie Reynolds; and Denise Darcel, French actress. Back row behind the McGuires, an unknown crooner; a barely known crooner, Eddie Fisher; Ed Murray; and Phil Harris. |  Crosby and Walter posing with me. | |
 The golf tournament crowd outside the Desert Inn. Notice that Las Vegas in the distance is FLAT. No high-rise hotels yet. |  I was a fairly good golfer back then. My dad taught me that too. Here Walter is shocked when I sink a putt with his putter. | |
 The El Rancho Hotel photographed from the Thunderbird Hotel, circa the 1940's. That highway is the Vegas Strip today. |  The newly built Desert Inn. Notice that Ed Sullivan is appearing. (The Desert Inn is being torn down now.) | |
 With my boy dancers in my show at the Rivera, circa 1962. |  Monique Van Vooren visited me at the Rivera before my show. | |
 Before my show at the Rivera, circa 1957. |  The Vegas Stip today. Bugsy Segal would have loved to see this. | |
 The opening of the Dunes Hotel in 1955. |  Performing at the Thunderbird in 1965. This photo was taken from Steve Allen's table. He's applauding. | |
 Sammy Davis Jr. took this photo at Lou Walters' Latin Quarter in New York at my opening in 1965. Lou's daughter Barbara Walters was my wardrobe woman. | ||