Historical Strip aerials

Sun File Photo

The late 1970's Strip. Culturally the city was going through a golden age with books and movies set in its environs, but new investment lagged as the city reeled from the loss of traffic from LA due to the 1973 oil crisis. Kirk Kerkorian is largely credited with maintaining the city's growth, opening the International Hotel and signing Elvis Presley then opening the MGM Grand Hotel. After Atlantic City legalized gambling in 1976 and swooped up the majority of east coast gaming business, few thought the region would grow much beyond its 1980 population of around 450,000.

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