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Category: 1960s

Mid-Century Vintage Las Vegas Memorabilia

Step back in time to the golden age of glitz and glamour with mid-century vintage Las Vegas memorabilia. From dazzling casino matchbooks and neon cocktail stirrers to iconic hotel postcards and souvenir ashtrays, these treasures tell the story of a bygone era when the Strip was a playground for the stars.

Whether you’re a vintage enthusiast, a collector, or simply nostalgic for the charm of classic Vegas, exploring these artifacts is like hitting the jackpot of history and style. Let’s dive into the world of mid-century Vegas and uncover the magic hidden in its memorabilia.

1950s vintage las vegas postcard dunes hotel

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.


Mid-Century Vintage Las Vegas Memorabilia

Vintage Las Vegas souvenir felt pennants from the mid 1960’s featuring Fremont St. casino’s.

Vintage Las Vegas souvenir felt pennants from the mid 1960’s featuring Freemont St Casino's.

Source: Etsy-UnVaultedVintage

Mid-Century 1960s ashtray from The Mint Casino.

Details: This is a clear glass souvenir ashtray from The Mint Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. The ashtray features a pink and black logo from the 1960’s, prior to the 26-story hotel skyscraper addition to the Mint, completed in 1965. In 1988, The Mint was sold and became part of Binion’s Horseshoe.

Due to its iconic Mid Century shape, The Mint is seen in several movies and videos including: 1964 – Viva Las Vegas and 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (Source).

Fun Vintage Las Vegas History-A Mid-Century 1960s ashtray from The Mint Casino in Las Vegas.

Source: Etsy-TrinketsMysteryDepot

The Mint … opened in Las Vegas in 1957. What a beauty of a hotel exterior!

Vintage photo of The Mint hotel in Las Vegas that opened in 1957. Fantastic Mid-Century Architecture on the exterior. Fun vintage Las Vegas photo.

1960s Stardust Hotel and Casino vintage matchbook. Love the Mid Century stars illustrations.

Further Reading: Vintage Matchbook Advertising

Vintage Las Vegas 1960s Stardust Hotel and Casino vintage matchbook
Vintage Las Vegas 1960s Stardust Hotel and Casino vintage matchbook

Source: Etsy-QuickChickDesigns

1960s vintage restaurant menu for “Cafe La Parisienne” at the Dunes Hotel and Casino.

Dishes included: Roast Prime Rib for $6.50; Boiled Filet Mignon for $7.50. From my quick research these meals were in or around $70 (if my source was correct).

Further Reading: Vintage Menus: 1920’s-1960’s

1960s vintage restaurant menu for "Cafe La Parisienne" at the Dunes Hotel and Casino. The cover illustration features a showgirl
1960s Vintage Restaurant Menu from the Dunes Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Fun Vintage Las Vegas memorabilia

Source: Etsy-Pianonewby

SANDS Las Vegas Times -Dedication Issue December 1965 Las Vegas. 28-page dedication program features stars, guests, pages of color drawings of multiple rooms in the hotel and more.

Vintage Las Vegas-SANDS Las Vegas Times -Dedication Issue December 1965 Las Vegas. 28-page dedication program features stars, guests, pages of color drawings of multiple rooms in the hotel and more.

Source: Etsy-DCshop

1960s Tiki Mug from Aku Aku, a Polynesian restaurant inside the Stardust Hotel.

Vintage Las Vegas: 1960s Tiki Mug from Aku Aku a Polynesian restaurant inside the Stardust Hotel.

Source: Etsy-SanDiegoVintage

Read all about the history of the Aku Aku Polynesian Restaurant HERE (fantastic photos).

1960s Vintage Advertising for Aku Aku a Polynesian restaurant inside the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.

The photo below is from 1966 and you can see the amazing sign for the Aku Aku Polynesian restaurant in the background behind the marque that mentions a lineup featuring, The Collins Kids (seen them live), Montecillo Sisters (Filipino girl group), Coquettes and The Corondaos. FUN!

Vintage Las Vegas-1966 and you can see the amazing sign for the Aku Aku Polynesian restaurant in the background behind the marque that mentions a lineup featuring, The Collins Kids (seen them live), Montecillo Sisters (Filipino girl group), Coquettes and The Corondaos.

Source: Thehubagirls.blogspot.com

1960s View-Master for United States Travel featuring 21 picture reels of the Fabulous Las Vegas Strip.

Vintage Las Vegas-1960s View-Master United States Travel featuring 21 Picture Reels of Fabulous Las Vegas Strip.

Source: Etsy-SimplyUniqueByRob

1950s-60s nylon souvenir scarf from Las Vegas. Fun illustrations of the hotels.

Vintage Las Vegas-1950s-60s Nylon souvenir scarf from Las Vegas featuring gambling illustrations and various hotels you can stay at.

Source: Etsy-fifisfinds

Mid Century swizzle stir sticks from Las Vegas casino/resorts. Featured below, Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, Aladdin and Frontier.

Further Reading: The Kitschy Fun of Swizzle Sticks

Vintage Las Vegas- vintage plastic swizzle stir sticks from Las Vegas casino/resorts. Includes Caesars Palace, Harrah's, Aladdin and Frontier

Source: Etsy-ZenkatVintage

Vintage Las Vegas Postcard from the early 1950s for the Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn. I absolutely LOVE the lobbies early 1950s interior design. The pink and greens work so well together!

Fun Facts about the Desert Inn:

  • Opened April 24th, 1950 and was the fifth resort to open on the Strip.
  • The casino was one of the largest in the state at that time at 2,400 sq. ft. and it was the first resort with fountains – the famous “Dancing Waters” show involving the water jets choreographed to music. 
  • The Painted Desert showroom, with 450 seats, made the Desert Inn infamous with Las Vegas entertainment, and was where Frank Sinatra made his Las Vegas debut in 1951. 
  • The nursery was designed as a oversized dolls house for parents to drop off their children to stay with trained nurses (Source).
Vintage Las Vegas Postcard from the early 1950s for the Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn Las Vegas, Nevada featuring a fun pink and green 1950s lobby design. Early Mid Century Interior Design.

Further Reading: Vintage Postcards

Vintage Las Vegas Postcard from the early 1950s for the Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn Las Vegas, Nevada featuring a fun pink and green 1950s lobby design. Early Mid Century Interior Design.

Source: eBay

I will end this post with this really fun 1970’s “Weekend in Las Vegas” board game by Research Games. The game has a copyright date of 1974, model #711 and is rated for up to 6 adult players. Included in the game box are the following: playing board (3 sections), roulette wheel, 5 horses (1 blue one is missing), deck of playing cards, 6 player tokens, business cards, lottery purchase tickets, lottery winning tickets, plastic chips, 3 dice, odds cards, slot machine spinner, cashier checks and the instructions. HOW FUN!

1970's "Weekend in Las Vegas" board game by Research Games. The game has a copyright date of 1974, model #711 and is rated for up to 6 adult players. Included in the game box are the following: playing board (3 sections), roulette wheel, 5 horses (1 blue one is missing), deck of playing cards, 6 player tokens, business cards, lottery purchase tickets, lottery winning tickets, plastic chips, 3 dice, odds cards, slot machine spinner, cashier checks and the instructions.

Source: Etsy-rust2retro

Further Reading: Vintage Las Vegas archived blog posts

I’m off to Las Vegas for what feels like the millionth time, and I couldn’t be more excited! If you’re a fan of the city that never sleeps, I’d love to hear from you—share your favorite memory, hotel, or must-have collectible in the comments below!.

Thanks for dropping by friends!

Liz

Charming Vintage Birthday Photos, Advertisements & More!

It’s my birthday on May 4th and so this week’s blog post is all about birthday’s (vintage photos, ads, magazines & more from the 1940s-1960s) in honour of this special day. Enjoy!

1950s vintage photo of a 1950s housewife holding a birthday cake with red lipstick, pearls and birthday balloons behind her

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 


Vintage Birthday Photos, Advertisements & More!

September 1949, SEVENTEEN Magazine “Birthday Issue” featuring two well dressed women blowing out birthday candles on a giant cake.

1950s vintage magazine cover Seventeen magazine from September 1949 featuring two young women in late 1940's dresses blowing out birthday cake candles

Source: Pinterest

1950s Domino Can Sugar for icings and frostings perfect for a little girls birthday cake.

I am personally not a cake lover, I love pie. Any kind of pie. YUM! How about you?

Further Reading: Vintage Cake Ideas As Seen Thru 1920s-1950s Ads

1950s vintage ad for Domino Sugar featuring an illustration of a little girl looking at a big frosted birthday cake.

Source: Pinterest

Cherry-Blush Nut Cake vintage recipe – LIFE magazine, 1942.

1940s Vintage Cake Ad / Vintage Baking Recipe: Cherry-Blush Nut Cake - LIFE magazine, 1942

1960s vintage photo of a Woman holding a heart shaped birthday cake while her mom looks on. Love their hair and 1960s dresses.

1960s vintage photo of a woman holding a heart shaped birthday cake with candles it while in a 1960s dress with her mom standing behind her also in a pretty 1960s dress.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

“Who’s afraid of BIRTHDAY CANDLES?” 1940s vintage advertisement for Ivory Soap.

"Who's afraid of BIRTHDAY CANDLES?" 1940s vintage advertisement for IVORY SOAP. The vintage ad features a woman posing in front of her birthday cake and a 1940s hairstyle.

Source: Pinterest

“Please use these to light your birthday cake”. A fun 1950s novelty matchbook from Hallmark wishing a happy birthday to whomever receives this gift.

"Please use these to Light your birthday cake". A fun 1950s novelty matchbook from Hallmark wishing a happy birthday to whomever receives this gift.
"Please use these to Light your birthday cake". A fun 1950s novelty matchbook from Hallmark wishing a happy birthday to whomever receives this gift.
"Please use these to Light your birthday cake". A fun 1950s novelty matchbook from Hallmark wishing a happy birthday to whomever receives this gift.

Source: Etsy-SanDiegoVintage

Now take the matches from above and light those birthday candles! 1950s Betty Bolling birthday candles in the original box. Fun illustration on the boxes.

Happy Vintage Birthday Party! 1950s Betty Bolling birthday candles in the original box. Fun illustration on the boxes.

Source: Etsy-pinkchicboutique

March 1949, Sharon Jones (the adorable girl in the center of the picture getting ready to cut her birthday cake) celebrates her birthday at Mrs. Howard’s nursery school.

Late 1940s vintage photo of a group of young Black kids celebrating a birthday party at a nursery school. They are all wearing party hats and waiting for the birthday girl to cut the cake.

Source: National Museum of American History

“Hi Sister! Happy Birthday! A lovely 1960s birthday card featuring young women in fantastic early 1960s fashions playing records.

1960s vintage birthday greeting card / vintage birthday card featuring an illustration of young women playing records in early 1960s fashions

Source: Worthpoint.com

1944 Birthday Party Stand-Up Cut-Out Dolls for girls and boys. Cute 1940s fashions for kids (avail for purchase as a PDF).

1944 Birthday Party Stand-Up Cut-Out Dolls for girls and boys. Cute 1940s fashions for kids
1944 Birthday Party Stand-Up Cut-Out Dolls for girls and boys. Cute 1940s fashions for kids

Source: Etsy-PastPaperPrettiesCo

1950s vintage photo of birthday cakes from 1959 for a boy and girl turning 3 who are also twins. Adorable!

1950s vintage photo of a boys and girls birthday cakes for the age of 3 from 1959. Adorable twins!

Source: eBay

“Happy Birthday! 27 Songs for fun and frolic”. The vintage album cover is possibly from the 1960s.

Vintage 1960s (possibly) album cover for songs to play at a birthday party. The vintage album cover features a boy and a girl in party hats eating cake.

Source: Pinterest

1957, “Happy Happy Birthday Baby” from ‘The Tune Weavers‘.

The record entered both the Billboard pop and R&B charts in September 1957, reaching no. 5 on the pop chart and no. 4 on the R&B chart (Source).

1950s song from 1957, "Happy Happy Birthday Baby" from 'The Tune Weavers'. It was a top 10 hit in 1957.

Take a listen to this popular song below (video link).

Fred Waring’s New Happy Birthday Song”. 1950s sheet music for piano, vocal & guitar.

1950s sheet music for Happy Birthday Song from Fred Waring featuring an illustration of a birthday cake. The sheet music is for piano, guitar & vocal.

Source: Etsy-Memoryvillelane

“When out-of-town family or family have a birthday..Telephone your Greetings”

1956 magazine ad for Bell Telephone (Canadian company). Great image of children having fun at a birthday party. Includes long distance rates to and from a few major cities.

1956 magazine ad for Bell Telephone (Canadian company). Great image of children having fun at a birthday party. Includes long distance rates to and from a few major cities.

Source: Atticpaper.com

“Birthday Surprise” Jello Mold Birthday Cake! 1950s or 1960s. The ad even has the vintage recipe so you can make it yourself.

"Birthday Surprise" Jello Mold Birthday Cake! 1950s or 1960s. The ad even has the vintage recipe so you can make it yourself.

Source: Chronicallyvintage

1940s birthday card. I just adore our young woman’s hair and 1940s clothing. So cute!

1940s Birthday Card / 1940s Birthday Greeting Card featuring an illustration of a  young woman with her birthday cake in 1940s fashions & 1940s hairstyle

One more birthday card, this time from the 1950s featuring a young woman in saddle shoes and a plaid skirt chatting on the phone.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Saddle Shoes

1950s birthday card featuring an illustration of a young woman on the phone in a plaid skirt and saddle shoes and a cute 1950s hairstyle.

Cheers to Barbs birthday! 1960s vintage photo of an adult birthday party celebration, complete with an adult beverage.

Further Reading: Mini Guide To Holding The Ultimate 1950’s Themed Party

1950s 1960s vintage photo of an adult birthday party complete with a birthday cake and an alcohol beverage. One lade has cat eye glasses.

Source: Pinterest

Thank you so much for dropping by and taking a look at my vintage birthday blog post. I truly appreciate every single reader even if it’s just for one time (which I hope it’s not).

Further Reading: Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (archived posts) & Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (archived posts)

Liz