Paul Szydelko
Las Vegas buildings fall and change (Tropicana, The Mirage), hospitality trends and marketing priorities come and go, but personalities and their accomplishments persist through the decades.
Let's for the time being set aside the massive structures (Luxor, the Strat, the High Roller observation wheel, Sphere) that help define modern Las Vegas, food (shrimp cocktails, buffets) and strongly associated elements (neon, Cirque du Soleil, the Fountains of Bellagio, Betty Willis' "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign). Who are the most pervasive Las Vegas icons in its relatively young history, and where can visitors be in their presence in 2025? Here's how I'd rank them:
1. Elvis Presley. He dabbled in Vegas as early as 1956, but five years after starring in the iconic film, "Viva Las Vegas" (1964), Elvis Presley arrived at the International (soon to be the Las Vegas Hilton and now the Westgate) and stayed for 837 consecutive sold-out shows over seven years, drawing more than 2,000 fans a night. Westgate is celebrating what would have been the King's 90th birthday this year. Tribute shows are hard to find, but photo and wedding-officiant opportunities with costumed Elvis characters endure. And "Viva Las Vegas" is played every time the NHL's Golden Knights win at T-Mobile Arena.
2. Showgirls. They're really not on stages anymore, but the sparkly rhinestone-covered women with their giant feathered headdresses were fixtures on massive productions beginning in the 1950s through the demise of "Jubilee" in 2016. "The Last Showgirl," a new film starring Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis and filmed in Las Vegas, explores their work and descent from the top of the entertainment landscape. Today, they're still ubiquitous on the Strip's sidewalks, offering Instagrammable moments for visitors.
3. Liberace. With his exquisite costumes and over-the-top presence, he established what is considered the first Las Vegas residency in the mid-1950s and dominated Vegas stages for more than two decades. Perhaps underrated now, Liberace was a flashy pianist and a master showman who appeared to have coined the phrase "fabulous Las Vegas" that now adorns the iconic sign. His aesthetic lives on in both Vegas decor and across musical genres. Go to liberace.org for information on how to see artifacts related to his life.
4. Celine Dion. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace was built for Dion, who had two glorious residencies there, from 2003 to 2007 and from 2011 to 2019, among the highest-grossing Las Vegas residencies ever. She undoubtedly set the stage and expectations for stars such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Adele and others. Health problems have delayed what is hoped to be similar magic at Resorts World Las Vegas.
5. The Rat Pack. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin et al performed at the long-gone Sands and other casinos. They created an intimate bond with audiences in the 1950s and '60s. OK, but where are they now? For starters, there's "The Rat Pack Is Back," a tribute show at the Copa Showroom Theatre in the Tuscany Suites & Casino, just east of the Strip. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. There's also Sinatra, the Italian restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas, and the vintage Bar Prohibition at the Golden Gate downtown, where members of the Rat Pack reportedly hung out; it's been renovated since, but photos of Frank, Dean and Sammy still hang on its walls. And Frank Sinatra Drive and Dean Martin Drive are exceptionally useful parallel routes near the Strip. If your driver uses them, you're in good hands; if your traffic app guides you to these options, take them!
• Related: Four museums that hold the history of Las Vegas
6. Howard Hughes. He was a recluse atop the long-gone Desert Inn from1968 to 1972, and his image can now only be found in the Legacy Club atop Circa Resort & Casino. But he bought a half-dozen resorts and paved the way for corporations to own casinos. The land under Summerlin, the community west of the city, was all his. It was named after his paternal grandmother, and it's also the home of the minor league Las Vegas Aviators, an Athletics farm team whose nickname is a nod to Hughes' aerial pursuits.
7. Steve Wynn. Another visionary, Wynn created and rode the wave of megaresorts. Although The Mirage is being revised to become Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, his legacy in hospitality endures at Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn-Encore.
8. Penn & Teller. They began performing in Las Vegas in 1993, and their remarkable run at the Rio in 2001. Their brand of magic, infused with music, humor and one-way-banter, continues to be an endearing production.
9. David Copperfield. Longevity matters, and the magician has dazzled audiences at the MGM Grand since 1996.
10. Wayne Newton. "Mr. Las Vegas" was a presence last year at the city's first Super Bowl. Even after 60 years in Las Vegas, he continues to perform at Bugsy's Cabaret at the Flamingo. Danke schoen, Mr. Newton.
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Among the others worthy of consideration: Siegfried & Roy, Louis Prima (whose raucous shows at the Sahara pioneered the city's lounge scene in the 1950s), Kirk Kerkorian (the developer of what is now Westgate), Jay Sarno (who created Circus Circus and Caesars Palace) and Bugsy Seigel (who helped open the Flamingo). The Mob Museum, Neon Museum and the Clark County Museum are excellent resources for those wish to learn more about Las Vegas history.