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The Aku-Aku in Las Vegas |
bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11097
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
|  Posted: 2008-01-12 11:27 am Permalink
...but you are right, Rob. I have turned my back on that city, I never wanna go there again, I got to experience too much of it in its classic state, even still in the 80s it was there...
The evolution/devolution of the Aku Aku documented in these postcards and stills is amazing, exemplifying the "bigger is better" boom town policy of Vegas:
First (ca 1959) the small shield sign, that is in proportion to the giant Eli Hedley Moai...
...then, (not much later), comes the "hey we need a bigger sign!" crossed spear sign, dwarfing the Moai..
...then, in the mid-60s, it is "hey the STARDUST needs a bigger than big-ass sign, and let's expand and envelop the Aku Aku with more slots and money milking stuff!"
Though I really would love to see a close up of that 60s box sign, those Moai with the sun look great! Aaaaah, time machine, where are you!!!
Here's one for Eli:
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1770
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2008-01-12 12:00 pm Permalink
My first visit to Vegas would have been about 1973 when I was 8. I fondly remember gazing up at Vegas Vic, waving down at me. And I recall being at Circus Circus, looking down at the casino floor, wishing I was old enough to gamble. Then the next visit would have been the late 80s. The old hotels were still there, but had been expanded a lot. But they were still miniscule compared to what would come in the 90s. Since then, I've been two more times. I've been in most of the large themed hotels, but they just don't do anything for me. But, given the power to do so, I'd gladly turn back the clock to the Vegas of old when there was more desert than buildings and when the rat pack was playing the lounge!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11097
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-01-12 12:58 pm Permalink
Not to veer of the subject too much, but just to share my favorite Googie neon place that was still around then:
My dad, visiting from Hamburg, in front of Del Webb's Mint in 1985!
The Mint in 1957:
Now THAT was Vegas!
...sorry, one more pic:
Yours truly at the YESCO sign graveyard, 1995 
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2008-01-12 13:12 ]
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icebaer69
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 03, 2007
Posts: 194 | Posted: 2008-01-12 2:36 pm Permalink
Quote:
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r.i.p.
[ This Message was edited by: icebaer69 2008-01-12 15:02 ]
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1770
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2008-01-12 3:10 pm Permalink
Okay.... that was just depressing. Go back to the earlier post!
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icebaer69
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 03, 2007
Posts: 194 | Posted: 2008-01-12 3:51 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-01-12 12:58, bigbrotiki wrote:
Not to veer of the subject too much, but just to share my favorite Googie neon place that was still around then:
My dad, visiting from Hamburg, in front of Del Webb's Mint in 1985!
The Mint in 1957:
Now THAT was Vegas!
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unbelievable
i just switched on tv ... and saw "the mint" !!!
in the 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds are Forever"
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3811
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2008-01-13 09:16 am Permalink
[quote]
On 2008-01-12 14:36, icebaer69 wrote:
Quote:
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Why did the Stardust change its logo? Should have kept the same signage - and the globe.
Such a shame.
I wish I had seen it back in the day, but at least the moai is still a silent sentinel at Sunset Park.
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Big Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2007
Posts: 2298
From: SoMass
| Posted: 2008-01-13 7:07 pm Permalink
Preach on brother Kelbo! I drive a 1959 Chev Impala!!!!
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7438
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2008-01-13 7:19 pm Permalink
Ya'll need to get that Stardust Memories book.
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Ojaitimo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 1313 | Posted: 2008-01-13 7:31 pm Permalink
My brother had this painting in a show about twenty years ago. It was a scene of the ocean far below and a small island with palms.
A transport plane with its wing on fire is surrounded by P-38's and going down. To the right these cryptic letters in rows of 8 letters in a graph box.
A
T
O
Y
O
T
F
O
H
T
R
I
B
E
H
T
O
T
O
M
A
M
A
Y
F
O
H
T
A
E
D
E
H
T
It took me a while to fiqure it out, it seems to be true.
[ This Message was edited by: Ojaitimo 2008-01-13 19:35 ]
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Jungle Trader
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 04, 2003
Posts: 3735
From: Trader's Jungle Outpost, Turlock, Ca.
| Posted: 2008-01-13 7:34 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2005-12-31 11:21, RevBambooBen wrote:
p.s. not to be vain, but do our profiles look alike or what!?!?!
Maybe I should change my name to Rev Aku Aku !!! 
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Maybe your brow and nose but the forehead.........you should sleep with a 2 x 4 tied to your forehead to help push it back.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7438
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2008-01-13 7:56 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-01-13 19:34, Jungle Trader wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-12-31 11:21, RevBambooBen wrote:
p.s. not to be vain, but do our profiles look alike or what!?!?!
Maybe I should change my name to Rev Aku Aku !!!
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Maybe your brow and nose but the forehead.........you should sleep with a 2 x 4 tied to your forehead to help push it back.
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JT,
Did they kick you out of Bali Hijinks?
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TikiPug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 14, 2003
Posts: 789
From: Den of Sin / Pug's Pair-A-Dice
| Posted: 2008-01-13 9:43 pm Permalink
[ This Message was edited by: TikiPug 2008-01-13 22:00 ]
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Jungle Trader
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 04, 2003
Posts: 3735
From: Trader's Jungle Outpost, Turlock, Ca.
| Posted: 2008-01-13 9:44 pm Permalink
No.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7438
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2008-01-13 10:06 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-01-13 21:43, TikiPug wrote:
[ This Message was edited by: TikiPug 2008-01-13 22:00 ]
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Why?
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