If you have ever been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you know how much fun the people have with life.
Marching bands, pretty girls in skimpy outfits tossing beads at the public, clowns, men with umbrellas, and individuals in wild costumes fill every street corner.
They are celebrating life and sing songs like 'When The Saints Go Marching In.' or some other celebratory ditty from the Deep South. I was reminded of Mardi Gras when I thought about Laughlin, Nevada.
Laughlin has a string of sparkling casinos along the Colorado River. One of them is a river boat called the Colorado Belle.
It's an exact replica of a riverboat with several decks. The Colorado Belle has slot machines, dice tables, baccarat, roulette wheels, blackjack tables, poker, restaurants and bars.
The poker room was always kind to me. There never were less than four or five games operating and most of them were limit. The opposition was not stiff and I almost always left the casino smiling.
Casino management provided a large auditorium where a Mardi Gras-style review kept the audience entertained. There were dancing girls, a jazz band, comedians and ladies who came by the crowd and tossed beads over your head. If you got lucky...smiles...you might even come up with a phone number.
Wait. It gets better.
When we were playing poker, several times a day, a marching band came into the poker room. The band and a high-stepping black gentleman carrying an umbrella would lead the dancers through the poker room. Of course, the girls stopped at every table to drape us players with beads and to throw us a kiss. We always paused our games long enough to give them a well-deserved round of applause.
Food at the Colorado Belle was exceptional. There were several restaurants to cater to your tastes and the poker room would comp you for every hour played.
I haven't been back to the Colorado Belle in several years. Since I will be heading to Arizona in June, I plan to visit Laughlin and pay homage to some of my old friends from Laughlin and Bullhead City. The Belle, the Riverside where Don Laughlin makes his home, and Sam's Town will definitely be on my list of places to visit.
On the Arizona side of the river -- I am referring to the mighty Colorado River, of course -- is Bullhead City where I once worked as a newspaper reporter. While Bullhead City is not the most scenic western town in the world, it does have its plusses, and they include affordable motels, decent restaurants, an abundance of bars, and some wild west type characters who will make you smile, even if it's a nervous smile.
Down the road is the Bagdad Café and Motel which were used in an offbeat movie starring Jack Palance. It's a cult film and definitely has its international following of fans. The café is still operating and features an awesome omelette and a cheeseburger that I understand is a 10. Since I haven't tried them, you'll have to take your chances, but what do you have to lose? Also, if you can find a copy of the movie at your local library, be sure to rent it. The film is a winner.
I worked briefly for Don Laughlin at the Riverside as a change attendant and spent a year assisting a minister who operated a wedding ministry in Laughlin and Bullhead City. The minister's name was Rev. Doug Pender and he had six wedding chapels in the area, including a movable wedding mobile and even a hot air balloon.
Laughlin is a lucky town surrounded by gold mines, some defunct and some still operating. The mountain scenery is exhilarating and you can feel the old west as you are winding your way through Oatman and surrounding communities. Personally, I cannot wait to get back.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
