Publisher's Synopsis
It was after years under communist rule that our family finally gained approval to leave Cuba in 1968. Father's experience in the most glamorous casinos of the island made Las Vegas a natural choice as a destination. Vegas was rapidly becoming the new global gaming and entertainment epicenter since the demise of Cuba and offered fantastic opportunity. Las Vegas became our new home and growing up there during the seventies and eighties was an epic experience. A Life from Old Las Vegas is a unique coming of age story about growing up in this historic time. The stories share insight into life in the city from a completely local perspective. Some of the stories run parallel to the events that take place during the movie "Casino." It was an unprecedented time of gangsters and prostitutes with an exploding gambling scene. Very few were there to witness the true spectacle of Old Las Vegas in its glory. No other city had legalized gambling and prostitution and the lure of the Vegas nightlife was simply intoxicating. When the Vegas strip became more accessible, the city's bad influences became more real. Once you were old enough, the gambling, clubs and party life seemed to suck you in. Cruising the strip to check out the prostitutes walking the sidewalk, sometimes getting too close for comfort. Frequently going to the local casinos with the addiction of gambling becoming an ever-growing problem. Life then became a fight against ending up a statistic in the vast wasteland of degenerate gamblers and addicts that litter Vegas.
Although illicit activities were present all around, a kid's life in Sin City was mostly normal. We ventured out into the desert, raced bikes, played sports, and did the things adolescents would do. Given the freedom to do as I chose and find my own path, the journey of my Las Vegas life and beyond was tumultuous. A life filled with amazing ups and spectacular downs. The battle between living the Vegas nightlife and trying to find a semblance of normalcy was an ongoing war. In an attempt to break from the cycle, it was necessary to take drastic measures resulting in unpredictable and astonishing outcomes. A story of a kid unbound by rules finding his way in a city surrounded by sin and temptation. Real stories with famous people and real situations make this a unique perspective of a life molded on the streets of Vegas. A life full of adventure with unpredictable paths that people can rally behind and relate to.
