Viva Las Vegas
August 2001
0,00-0,08
It all began like a fairytale. The owner of this Venice was in the real city on his wedding and promised to place the entire Venice in the middle of the Nevada desert. And so he constructed the Venetian hotel.
0,28
American tourist: ‘I think it’s wonderful, all authentic.’
0,33
German Tourist. ‘It’s so kitsch, it’s beautiful!!’
In Venice one must climb up the real Rialto step, yet here there is obviously an escalator. As there is rarely cloud in Vegas, the Venetian sky had to be painted on linen. 65 businesses and 15 restaurants provide entertainment. Only one thing is missing. There are no pigeons. Is a Venice without pigeons a successful replica?’
1,03-1,18
Wendy Dewey – Management: ‘We did have the pigeons here and obviously we couldn’t put them in the actual St.Mark’s Square because it’s inside. And that really wouldn’t work out too well – they would fly into walls, so that didn’t happen. We had pigeons quite a bit outside, out front, but we ended up stopping that programme.’
The pigeons did not want to remain here. The hotel managers wanted to arrange a flight show with white pigeons three times a day. But the pigeons simply could not endure the desert climate.
There are 3000 rooms here, each one as large as a suite. Guests remain for an average of three days.
The idea to build canals with Venetian smelling water was also forgotten; here only chlorinated water flows through the waterways. ??
1,48-2,18
Wendy Dewey-‘Do you think that this is a type of Disneyland for adults?’
‘Yeah, I definitely think this hotel, and the whole of Las Vegas is a Disneyland for adults, because what adults really want to do is eat, shop, gamble. Stay in a nice luxurious hotel, and be able to do that all under one roof, and we allow that to happen. We have it all under one roof. You can stay here for two weeks and eat in a different restaurant every night, because we have fifteen restaurants here, so I definitely think it’s a Disneyland for adults.’
2,19
The largest attraction is the Grand Canal. And what would Venice be without a Gondola trip? The gondolas are equipped with electric motors.
2,53
Kurt Smith, Gondolier:
It’s very much fun. It’s very nice. You get to be the centre of attention. You get to sing. You get to learn Italian.
3,02-3,23
‘You speak English with an Italian accent. Is that part of the job?’
‘We are required – I am American – we are required to speak Italian, to learn everything about Venice. We have classes, courses, to learn everything about Venice that we can so we can be as authentic as possible.’
Only three minutes walk from St Marks Square is New York. The Statue of Liberty and skyscrapers can be seen there.
Las Vegas continues to transform itself from gambling den (hole?) to amusement park for the whole family.
As a blueprint for the rest of the world to copy, the concept works fantastically well, and also creates jobs.
120.000 Hotel beds, which are 92% filled, is a record no other American city can match.
In Paris last year 26 million tourists came to visit, here more than 38 million.
3,58
In the last two years Dell Computers has built a new town, just 20 minutes from the Strip: Sun City, the Las Vegas Paradise for pensioners. The gaming city, traditionally in the call of the Mafia, consciously makes full use of the economic clout of the seniors. Pensioners with a full wallet can now find here a whole new Las Vegas.
4,20-4,39
Bill Smith, Pensioner: ‘When the Mafia was here it was safer.’
‘Concerning the Mafia, how great these days do you think is the influence of the Mafia?’
‘None.’
‘None at all?’
‘No. Not since the early seventies.’
4,40
The gambling business is managed today by the hotels themselves. But only half of the income of Las Vegas comes through gambling.
[Throughout the night, oxygen is pumped into the casinos to ensure that players remain awake for longer]. Frequent players are treated like kings.
4,57-5,25
Wolfgang von Wieser
Four Seasons Hotel
The big spenders don’t even need to come here by private jet anymore. Every large casino here has its own plane, which flies to New York, Chicago, Hawaii to pick up the so-called ‘high rollers’. They pay nothing for the rooms, nothing for the food. But, of course, they are almost guaranteed to spend one hundred, two, three hundred thousand dollars in two days of gambling.
5,26
Wolfgang has been chef at the Four Seasons Hotel for 2 years. This hotel is the only one in the city where there are no more casinos
With this completely new concept the Four Seasons wants to appeal to a public who would like to experience Las Vegas as a luxury holiday resort.
This is a development that could never have happened in the days of Mafia controlled Las Vegas.
5,50-6,18
Wolfgang von Wieser
Hotel Four Seasons
Q: ‘Do you think that there is still any evidence of the old protection rackets?’
No. No more. It’s now so well controlled. The whole gaming industry, the ‘gaming officers’ have done a great deal to bring it all down. I mean nothing’s guaranteed, I don’t know what goes on in a dark room somewhere, but I don’t think there’s anything like that anymore.
6,19
‘Those who come to the Four Seasons Hotel, want above all else, to relax in the sun.’
6,41-6,46
Henry Robinson, Hotel guest:
‘I’m here today for the luxury. It’s a fabulous hotel, Four Seasons, and this is very nice, so I came here to relax, more or less.’
6,47-7,20
This multicoloured Italian glass ceiling provides the spectacular entrance to the Hotel Bellagio. This hotel was built a year ago because of the Americans’ obsession with Italy. Last year the powerful MGM group bought the hotel from multimillionaire Stefan Wynn.
There are already plans for the next themed ‘city’ hotel. The new owners of Bellagio believe in their Italian concept, even in the face of strong competition from Venice.
7,20-7,45
Randy Morton – President MGM Group: ‘‘yes there’s competition. There’s competition for everyone in Las Vegas, but fortunately Bellagio’s very successful and so are the other properties, and it’s an important part of our business, and the city as a destination; Las Vegas continuing to be the Number One destination in the world. Beautiful, wonderful hotel and it complements the city and is a competitor of Bellagio.’
7,46
An old rule still applies in Las Vegas today: he who has gambled his entire house and fortune away can get his flight home paid for by the city. This happens, however, ever more rarely.
7,57
Tourist (man): ‘We do not gamble generally.’
Tourist (woman): ‘We enjoy the food and the functions, and that’s it.’
Report: Patricia Pawlicki
Camera: Toni Kremer
Cut: Daniela Schwatczek
AKM:Hooked Classics: Journey through America.
August 2001
0,00-0,08
It all began like a fairytale. The owner of this Venice was in the real city on his wedding and promised to place the entire Venice in the middle of the Nevada desert. And so he constructed the Venetian hotel.
0,28
American tourist: ‘I think it’s wonderful, all authentic.’
0,33
German Tourist. ‘It’s so kitsch, it’s beautiful!!’
In Venice one must climb up the real Rialto step, yet here there is obviously an escalator. As there is rarely cloud in Vegas, the Venetian sky had to be painted on linen. 65 businesses and 15 restaurants provide entertainment. Only one thing is missing. There are no pigeons. Is a Venice without pigeons a successful replica?’
1,03-1,18
Wendy Dewey – Management: ‘We did have the pigeons here and obviously we couldn’t put them in the actual St.Mark’s Square because it’s inside. And that really wouldn’t work out too well – they would fly into walls, so that didn’t happen. We had pigeons quite a bit outside, out front, but we ended up stopping that programme.’
The pigeons did not want to remain here. The hotel managers wanted to arrange a flight show with white pigeons three times a day. But the pigeons simply could not endure the desert climate.
There are 3000 rooms here, each one as large as a suite. Guests remain for an average of three days.
The idea to build canals with Venetian smelling water was also forgotten; here only chlorinated water flows through the waterways. ??
1,48-2,18
Wendy Dewey-‘Do you think that this is a type of Disneyland for adults?’
‘Yeah, I definitely think this hotel, and the whole of Las Vegas is a Disneyland for adults, because what adults really want to do is eat, shop, gamble. Stay in a nice luxurious hotel, and be able to do that all under one roof, and we allow that to happen. We have it all under one roof. You can stay here for two weeks and eat in a different restaurant every night, because we have fifteen restaurants here, so I definitely think it’s a Disneyland for adults.’
2,19
The largest attraction is the Grand Canal. And what would Venice be without a Gondola trip? The gondolas are equipped with electric motors.
2,53
Kurt Smith, Gondolier:
It’s very much fun. It’s very nice. You get to be the centre of attention. You get to sing. You get to learn Italian.
3,02-3,23
‘You speak English with an Italian accent. Is that part of the job?’
‘We are required – I am American – we are required to speak Italian, to learn everything about Venice. We have classes, courses, to learn everything about Venice that we can so we can be as authentic as possible.’
Only three minutes walk from St Marks Square is New York. The Statue of Liberty and skyscrapers can be seen there.
Las Vegas continues to transform itself from gambling den (hole?) to amusement park for the whole family.
As a blueprint for the rest of the world to copy, the concept works fantastically well, and also creates jobs.
120.000 Hotel beds, which are 92% filled, is a record no other American city can match.
In Paris last year 26 million tourists came to visit, here more than 38 million.
3,58
In the last two years Dell Computers has built a new town, just 20 minutes from the Strip: Sun City, the Las Vegas Paradise for pensioners. The gaming city, traditionally in the call of the Mafia, consciously makes full use of the economic clout of the seniors. Pensioners with a full wallet can now find here a whole new Las Vegas.
4,20-4,39
Bill Smith, Pensioner: ‘When the Mafia was here it was safer.’
‘Concerning the Mafia, how great these days do you think is the influence of the Mafia?’
‘None.’
‘None at all?’
‘No. Not since the early seventies.’
4,40
The gambling business is managed today by the hotels themselves. But only half of the income of Las Vegas comes through gambling.
[Throughout the night, oxygen is pumped into the casinos to ensure that players remain awake for longer]. Frequent players are treated like kings.
4,57-5,25
Wolfgang von Wieser
Four Seasons Hotel
The big spenders don’t even need to come here by private jet anymore. Every large casino here has its own plane, which flies to New York, Chicago, Hawaii to pick up the so-called ‘high rollers’. They pay nothing for the rooms, nothing for the food. But, of course, they are almost guaranteed to spend one hundred, two, three hundred thousand dollars in two days of gambling.
5,26
Wolfgang has been chef at the Four Seasons Hotel for 2 years. This hotel is the only one in the city where there are no more casinos
With this completely new concept the Four Seasons wants to appeal to a public who would like to experience Las Vegas as a luxury holiday resort.
This is a development that could never have happened in the days of Mafia controlled Las Vegas.
5,50-6,18
Wolfgang von Wieser
Hotel Four Seasons
Q: ‘Do you think that there is still any evidence of the old protection rackets?’
No. No more. It’s now so well controlled. The whole gaming industry, the ‘gaming officers’ have done a great deal to bring it all down. I mean nothing’s guaranteed, I don’t know what goes on in a dark room somewhere, but I don’t think there’s anything like that anymore.
6,19
‘Those who come to the Four Seasons Hotel, want above all else, to relax in the sun.’
6,41-6,46
Henry Robinson, Hotel guest:
‘I’m here today for the luxury. It’s a fabulous hotel, Four Seasons, and this is very nice, so I came here to relax, more or less.’
6,47-7,20
This multicoloured Italian glass ceiling provides the spectacular entrance to the Hotel Bellagio. This hotel was built a year ago because of the Americans’ obsession with Italy. Last year the powerful MGM group bought the hotel from multimillionaire Stefan Wynn.
There are already plans for the next themed ‘city’ hotel. The new owners of Bellagio believe in their Italian concept, even in the face of strong competition from Venice.
7,20-7,45
Randy Morton – President MGM Group: ‘‘yes there’s competition. There’s competition for everyone in Las Vegas, but fortunately Bellagio’s very successful and so are the other properties, and it’s an important part of our business, and the city as a destination; Las Vegas continuing to be the Number One destination in the world. Beautiful, wonderful hotel and it complements the city and is a competitor of Bellagio.’
7,46
An old rule still applies in Las Vegas today: he who has gambled his entire house and fortune away can get his flight home paid for by the city. This happens, however, ever more rarely.
7,57
Tourist (man): ‘We do not gamble generally.’
Tourist (woman): ‘We enjoy the food and the functions, and that’s it.’
Report: Patricia Pawlicki
Camera: Toni Kremer
Cut: Daniela Schwatczek
AKM:Hooked Classics: Journey through America.