ENTERTAINMENT: 50 YEARS OF CAESARS PALACE

Elaborate preparations are underway for the  celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Caesars Palace. It’s a marathon milestone golden birthday blast that will stretch from June through Aug. 5, which back in 1966, was the opening night with Andy Williams as the headliner.

Robin Leach first visited Caesars in 1968 to see Dean Martin and the Golddiggers.  He recalls filming an early TV show and the staggering sight of the vaults behind the cashiers cages housing multimillions of dollars, and the fun and decadence of the Bacchanal restaurant complete with toga-clad waitresses who gave diners shoulder massages while being fed grapes.

He recalls the films made there, from “Rainman” with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise to the more recent  “The Hangover”.

He reminds us of how many entertainment superstars have called Caesars “home”, from  Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Cher and Sir Elton John to Wayne Newton, Liberace, Judy Garland, The Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin and many, many more.

And he talks about Caesars being the first casino resort to host mega-boxing events, starting with Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes in October 1980.

It’s a rich history and great read from the Las Vegas Sun. Enjoy the full article here>>

Robin Leach of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” fame has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past 15 years giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.Follow Las Vegas Sun Entertainment + Luxury Senior Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter atTwitter.com/VDLXEditorDon