“Untold Stories: A Look Back at the MGM Grand Fire”
Being as Las Vegas History is one of the core topics we discuss and promote at VeryVintageVegas, it’s time to tell you about the next installment of the Untold Stories Series of Panel Discussions that are put on by Classic Las Vegas.
“Untold Stories: A Look Back at the MGM Grand Fire”
When the original MGM Grand Hotel opened in 1973, it was the most lavish hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Every facet of the hotel oozed with class from its casino that was the size of three football fields, to its MGM themed high-end gourmet restaurants such as Gigi’s, Barrymores and Tracey’s. Chandliers were everywhere. The shopping area, located downstairs from the main casino floor, was filled with high-end stores and at the end, a movie theater that played classic studio era MGM films. It was a hotel to remember.
But in 1980, an early morning fire changed forever the way we remember that beautiful hotel.
It was the deadlist hotel fire in Nevada history and the second deadlist in American history. We will look back at the events that caused the fire, the heroism and cooperation that helped saved thousands of lives and the legacy of the fire.
Panelists include:
Las Vegas Sun reporter, Mary Manning; KLAS-Channel 8 anchor, Gary Waddell; MGM employee Jose Alvarez; MGM baker, Don Feldman; and Clark County Fire Chief, Steve Smith, who as a rookie was one of the first to respond to the fire.
This should be a tremendous evening of history and stories so please join us at:
The Las Vegas Springs Preserve
Desert Learning Center
7:00 pm Admission is $12
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