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Tradition of the Mechanical Vending Machine – History & Influence In Las Vegas

Las Vegas in the prehistoric period was a place you probably would not recognize, but over time this city grew into a behemoth of entertainment and the mechanical vending machine typified the surrounding environment. In that period, the area we now know as Las Vegas was an abundant marsh and wet area, almost like what we now know as the Everglades. As time passed, the water and marsh areas receded away and an arid ecology grew into form, in what we now know as the arid Las Vegas environment. The first recorded passerby of this area (of European decent) was Raphael Rivera in the early 1800s. In the early 1900s, this climate (with some oasis-like qualities, such as water wells and vegetation) became a frequent stop for travelers on their way to what we now know as California. When the transcontinental railroad came about, this place became a central hub for importing and exporting goods, plus a setup camp for miners, looking to score big on western gold.

The influential population movement to Las Vegas then started when the Hoover Dam was constructed in 1935 and popularized that area of the country. Even before the building of the Hoover Dam people started to move out to Las Vegas, because in 1931 the legalization of gambling paved the way for population growth. After this period, around the 1940s a period of growth occurred, particularly of Casino's and various other buildings to support the city infrastructure. During this period, the Mob families and operators (people such as 'Bugsy' Siegel) typified the business ownership and Casino tradition of Las Vegas. This would give the city the culture and branding that we all know of today.

The central time for Las Vegas was right after the 1940s, when business in Casino's was booming and the city was at heights it had never seen before. In addition, this paved the way for the style of Las Vegas-the flamboyant, attractive and somewhat sinister appeal of the city combined with the allure of something new and refreshing. In addition, the vending machine market was highlighted affluently during these times. People who loved the 'Night Life' enjoyed the style of the city and many mechanical vending machines gave items to the customer. Obviously, the cigarette mechanical vending machine was a highly popular machine. The Coca-Cola vending machine, with its unique style and attractiveness also gave the city that certain style that everyone who was there enjoyed. Pepsi-Cola also had a mechanical vending machine, which would vend you the glass bottle (not today though, we get the aluminum cans). In addition, many famous celebrities as the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop) in the 1950s and 1960s flocked to the area because of the entertainment appeal and lifestyle the city offered. Popular movies like Ocean's 11 memorialize this period. Thus, a large tradition of entertainment was born in the city of Las Vegas as well the mechanical vending machine (like the ones mentioned) popularize the style of the city and surrounding milieu.

Today, the city enjoys great population growth (a large percentage that comes from surrounding states, such as California) with the total population around 1.8 to 1.9 million people. The region is known as one of the fastest growing in the United States, so there is no slowing down for this area! Furthermore, almost 50% of the people who live there are married couples. Median income figures are respectable; it ranges from $53,000 to $58,000 dollars. The town enjoys some of the largest marriage rates and divorce rates in the country. Mostly due to the popularity of 'one night Elvis inspired' weddings. In addition, the thriving atmosphere largely pays due to the tourism; convention and entertainment (gambling) market. This is how the city survives and grows. Before the current recession, residential housing (and commercial) was growing very fast with respect to the area and number of projects served. However, since the early 2008 (2007 late) recession, much of the development has slowed and foreclosures have been largely increased. With a bump up in the economy, things should look better (not just for the city). The future can only tell.

We have seen that the city of Las Vegas started off as basically a marsh in the middle of nowhere, then turned to what it is today by the western movement in the later 1800s and early 1900s. The mechanical vending machine has typified the environment of Las Vegas and the surrounding atmosphere in which people live.

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by Carl Drummond - a writer and researcher of the tradition of the mechanical vending machine one of which by United Marketing, which he thanks for their vending support.