DREAM BIG
Bickford's Las Vegas Dreams is the perfect stocking stuffer for friends and relatives fascinated with Vegas
BY DOUG FRENCH

Anyone who lives in Las Vegas has to constantly field questions about the city - almost as if to justify why we live here. Out-of-town relatives, friends and business acquaintances are all fascinated by the city. Wouldn't it be nice to just send them a book that provides some facts and figures, beautiful photography and the profiles of an eclectic group of people who made their dreams come true in Sin City?

Jim Bickford's Las Vegas Dreams: Where Anything Is Possible is the perfect stocking stuffer for friends and relatives: It's also an ideal promotional tool to lure potential employees, investors or businesses to Las Vegas. Information about all the major hotel and gaming properties are featured in the book, making it an excellent resource for visitors. And near the end there is a list of the 25 most-asked questions about Las Vegas: number of visitors, average age of visitor, number of hotel rooms, traffic, etc. Unfortunately, the answers are dated, from 2003 and 2004. That is the primary shortcoming of Las Vegas Dreams despite being published this year. Some of its information is out-of-date.

What makes the book fun to read are the 70 profiles of locals who have made their dreams come true in Las Vegas. Many of the local do-gooders and politicians are profiled as one would suspect, but there are a few surprises. Not many people know Dr. Russell B. Clark, a retired physician who at 105 is still an active real estate investor.

A lot of people know of entertainer Clint Holmes, but most don't know his band director Bill Fayne. Fayne performs all over town at various venues and loves living here, describing it "like living the 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.'" Fayne hits the nail on head about Las Vegas saying: "It's all possible. There's opportunity. People who are prepared and are willing to work have a good shot."

And what would a book about Las Vegas be without a profile of an Elvis impersonator? Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee even believes he is the product of an affair his mother had with the King himself. Joan Rivers impersonator Frank Marino also makes an appearance. But, Marino makes no claim to being Rivers‚ son.

Multi-tasking, multi-talented Sabrina Markley is profiled. She teaches a course named "Las Vegas Stripper 101." Markley practiced the bump-and-grind herself for six years, but now seeks to help others in the industry, along with being a mortgage broker, and Internet broadcasting entrepreneur. Whew.

Las Vegas radio goddess Lark Williams remembers meeting Frank Sinatra when she was a kid. Old Blue Eyes told Williams, "Aren't you a pretty little girl." It is too bad Frank is not around today to see the statuesque blond with the sultry voice.

For those who regularly read the Hard Back column in Liberty Watch, you'll recognize local authors casino host Steve Cyr and Millionaire Republican Wayne Allen Root, who are profiled.

Norm Clarke of Vegas Confidential fame says he has the greatest job in the world. "I think I write a lot of major breaking news," Clarke is quoted as saying. That is if celebrity sightings are "major breaking news."

But things change in Las Vegas. Pat Morita and Manny Cortez are profiled, but have since passed away. Art Marshall is profiled as the Chairman of BankWest of Nevada. However, BankWest is now Bank of Nevada, owned by Western Alliance Bancorporation whose chairman is Robert Sarver. Tim Poster and Tom Breitling don't own the Golden Nugget anymore and soon-to-be-former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald might have a different point of view these days from when she told Las Vegas Dreams, "I'm very fortunate to have a spouse who supports me in all of my endeavors."

Las Vegas Dreams deserves a place on everyone's coffee table, if for no other reason than to remind each of us to keeping dreaming big. LW

Doug French, associate editor of Liberty Watch: The Magazine, is an executive vice president of a Nevada bank. He is the 2005 recipient of the Murray N. Rothbard Award from the Center for Libertarian Studies.