| Oscar Goodman - downtown’s notorious former "Mob Mayor" |
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| Anthony Curtis - publisher and media personality who helped popularize the city via multiple TV appearances while informing the public how to gamble optimally and "do Vegas" on a budget |
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| Michael Gaughan - founder of Coast Casinos and owner of South Point; champion of NASCAR, bowling, equestrian events |
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| Jean Scott - the 'Queen of Comps' and patron saint of the low roller |
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| George Maloof - founder of the Palms who found a formula for straddling the locals/tourist markets and was instrumental in fostering Vegas as a hip club destination |
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| Tony Marnell II - casino designer (Caesars Palace, Wynn, Mirage, TI) and original owner/builder of the Rio |
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| Lance Burton - the first Vegas headliner to receive a custom-built theater and mutli-year residency |
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| Derek Stevens - owner/redeveloper of downtown’s the D and Golden Gate; creator of Downtown Events Center |
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| Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta - founders of Station Casinos and owners of UFC |
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| Guy Laliberte - not a Vegas resident, but the influence of his Cirque du Soleil brand cannot be denied |
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| Tony Hsieh - Zappos founder and downtown re-developer |
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| Max Rubin - author, ’Comp City,’ the seminal guide that introduced the concept of comp hustling to the world at large |
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| Kerry Simon - the ’Rock n’ Roll’ chef who helped put Las Vegas on the culinary map |
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| Fluff le Coque - as company manager of Jubilee! for decades, was guardian and protector of the classic Las Vegas showgirl (claims being shot in the head by Joe Pesci in Casino was career highlight, however) |
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| Pat Mulroy - headed the Las Vegas Valley Water District for a quarter century; played crucial role in city’s sustainability |
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| Jan Jones - senior executive with Caesars Entertainment and Las Vegas’ first female mayor |
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| Floyd Mayweather - love him or hate him, the boxer continues to be a revenue and visitation-generating machine and boxing icon |
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| Dana White - president/’face’ of UFC and instrumental in orchestrating Fertitta’s purchase of the franchise |
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| OTHER - who and why? |
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| Brandon Flowers - as lead singer of homegrown band The Killers, helped bring credibility to Vegas music scene |
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| Steve Siegel - founder of Siegel Suites ’no-lease’ apartments and owner of non-gaming "boutique-hotel" pioneers including Artisan and Rumor |
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| Rehan Choudhry - founder, Life is Beautiful festival |
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| Pasquale Rotella - founder Electric Daisy Carnival and partner of Holly Madison |
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Analysis
Anthony was upset when he heard about this survey and that his name was on the list, but it was our objective decision to include him and it seems we were justified in that, albeit with the recognition that this site may have a somewhat biased audience. With her passing last week, Fluff LeCoque's inclusion seems that much more poignant -- and the knee-jerk announcement regarding the cancellation of Jubilee! that much more distasteful. But we digress...
Thanks, as always, for your participation; here's some of the feedback we received, including your thoughts about who else should have been on this list of the "Next 100" (and here's that list of the original First 100 for all who missed it).
- "I vote for David McKee, whose Stiffs & Georges blog showcases his vast knowledge of the casino industry in the US and beyond. From where does he get his information??? And where does he find the time to do his research? It takes me a while to read each of his columns...I can't even imagine how much time he spends reading his resources, then writing this column. A full-time job."
- "I must add Terry Fator to the list. He is the best entertainer in Las Vegas today, and will be for several more years."
- "An interesting poll. I included the Fertitas as one of my choices, but it got me to thinking. . . Did they actually lose anything when Stations filed for bankruptcy or was all the pain inflicted on vendors and outside investors. I'll never understand the UFC hype, but apparently I'm in the minority there."
- "Steve Wynn (no explanation needed!)" [Ed: Quite! Hence his inclusion, already, in the "First 100" list :-)
- "What, no Steve Wynn? Also, Donald Trump? Also, some of the big name concert people such as Celiene Dion or Elton John who bring in people and money." [Ed: Re Steve Wynn, see previous; re Donald Trump, what's his major contribution to Las Vegas been? And re Celine/Elton etc. - we feel this list is more than about economics, it's about their personality or their work having made a tangible impression on the life and feel of the city. An argument could be made for Celine, perhaps, but will generations to come recall the "Celine" or the "Elton" era as past ones remember the Rat Pack? We doubt it.
- "Rick Harrison - He changed the public perception of pawn brokers from seedy to respectable through the 'Pawn Stars' TV show." [Ed: This one we'll buy. The average pawn broker is still just as they ever were, but he has challenged all kinds of perceptions and is putting his money where his mouth is. Putting Las Vegas on the "reality TV" map for shows that are a cultural cut above "Rehab" and "Real World" is also a laudable accomplishment and he's been a shot in the arm for downtown. OK, he's in!]
- "I nominate Rick Dale, of Rick's Restorations, for his quality of work and ability to bid a price/cost for weird items that come to him to be restored. Also, he's got a very HOT wife!!!" [Ed: Ha! But we're going to lump Rick under an umbrella "Pawn Stars" nomination because hot wives to NOT count for the purposes of this survey lol.]
- "My 'other' is Bob Dancer. One of the bigger changes to Vegas is the number of competent VP players (such as myself). I think Dancer has more to do w/ that (particularly in my case) than anyone." [Ed: We feared being accused of cronyism and because Bob's not so high-profile media-wise, we opted to leave him out, but you're not alone in arguing his case, and we won't argue against it!]>br>>br>
- "John Arena, co-founder of Metro Pizza. Started in Vegas 35 years ago. Humble beginnings have turned into neighborhood pizza joints all over Vegas. Pizza consultant around the world. Mainstays of Pizza Expo held in Las Vegas yearly. On Black Friday he sold $250,000.00 in gift cards in under an hour!" [Ed: A worthy nomination. P.S. Are you a shareholder?!]
- "Danny Gans. Such talent. I still miss the Strip without his face on it."
- "How was Jackie Gaughan (El Cortez, Union Plaza, etc) not included in the original 100? At the very least he should be included in the supplemental list." [Ed: He is now!]
- "Mason Malmuth: Poker player, author, publisher, and owner of Two Plus Two. He helped bring about the expansion of poker with his books and forum. Nolan Dalla: Media Director of the World Series of Poker, blogger."
