One of my favorite places in Boulder City was the Recreation
Tavern. Now the Backstop Bar, it has an old Brunswick backbar
that came out of Jim Jeffries’ Saloon in Los Angeles. They gave
you a free beer any day the sun didn’t shine in Boulder City.
During the Dam construction there was a gate where they would
inspect your car for liquor. If you couldn’t walk a straight line
they’d put you in a “bullpen” until you sobered up. Still, a lot of
booze got snuck into town from illegal stills just outside of town.
Another favorite spot was Fort Lucinda that had a small bar,
a Money Wheel and some slots that included a 1929 Fey Silver
Dollar machine that took real silver dollars. It was open for a
couple years in the 60s and was the Gold Strike before and after.