Long Gone

30 July 2024

By Frank Scoblete

The fish tank is huge. A man had to jump in it to clean it. There are salt water fish in it from all over the world. Even little sharks. Those checking in check out this tank with awe.

Seigfried and Roy performed most nights. Roy took care of the tigers until one attacked him and laid him out by ripping his neck open. Roy was never the same. Their show closed.

Danny Gans headlined here too. He was an outstanding talent. He died of a drug overdose. His success came and went. As did he.

And there was the huge volcano in front that spewed lava (or some such). Drunks enjoyed looking at it. I think they liked its raw power.

One morning, maybe 5AM, I was walking with my wife the Beautiful AP past the volcano and I was spouting something or other about how writers are more perceptive than most other people.

And she said: “Did you see that?”

“What?”

She pointed. “They just walked past you.”

I looked. My lord, I thought, it’s some guy leading his girlfriend on a leash. Actually, she was on the leash leading him! She also – intermittently barked – and he’d yank that leash. And she’d quiet down.

“So,” said the Beautiful AP, “continue with the idea that writers are more perceptive than the rest of us. I’d like to hear this.”

She had me. “I guess, uh, I made, ah, mistake.”

The Beatles show “Love” came for a long while and then departed. It was a great show. I guess you could say that it was hard to mess up Beatles’ songs.

The Mirage had other performers; magicians and ventriloquists.

I never stayed at that hotel in my decades of going to Vegas. But the Mirage was an original; a Steve Wynn Original.

Wynn went on to build other themed hotels but he finally stopped and then he disappeared.

Soon the Mirage will disappear. It seems to be the fate – the ultimate fate – of most Las Vegas hotels.

I’ll miss the Mirage and I’ll also miss that guy walking his leashed dog!

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete’s books are available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, kindle, e-books, libraries, and bookstores.