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The [[Chamber of Commerce]] is a local private organization that supports civic activism and economic growth in the community. Its members are local businesses and not-for-profit organizations (such as hospitals and universities).  It represents "[[Main Street]]" (that is, locally owned businesses) but also includes branches of national chains.

The [[Chamber of Commerce]] is a local private organization that supports civic activism and economic growth in the community. Its members are local businesses and not-for-profit organizations (such as hospitals and universities).  It represents "[[Main Street]]" (that is, locally owned businesses) but also includes branches of national chains.

Sin is a big draw for men.  The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce energetically promoted tourism in the 1930s, following the completion of Hoover Dam. They featured an image of Las Vegas as a 'last frontier.' Advertising brochures, newspaper publicity, and motion pictures celebrated Las Vegas for its hospitality, legal gambling, easy divorce laws, and local naughty attractions. It worked, as shown by the increasing number of tourists and visitors in the late 1930s. Completion of the El Rancho Vegas resort casino in 1941 foreshadowed the postwar boom in resort hotels.<ref>Larry Gragg, "Selling 'Sin City': Successfully Promoting Las Vegas During the Great Depression, 1935-1941," ''Nevada Historical Society Quarterly'' 2006 49(2): 83-106,</ref>  However, prostitution (which is legal in many other areas of Nevada) is illegal by state law in Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County.

Sin is a big draw for men.  The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce energetically promoted tourism in the 1930s, following the completion of Hoover Dam. They featured an image of Las Vegas as a 'last frontier.' Advertising brochures, newspaper publicity, and motion pictures celebrated Las Vegas for its hospitality, legal gambling, easy divorce (and marriage) laws, and local naughty attractions (though prostitution is illegal under state law, questions have arisen about its enforcement in the city). It worked, as shown by the increasing number of tourists and visitors in the late 1930s. Completion of the El Rancho Vegas resort casino in 1941 foreshadowed the postwar boom in resort hotels.<ref>Larry Gragg, "Selling 'Sin City': Successfully Promoting Las Vegas During the Great Depression, 1935-1941," ''Nevada Historical Society Quarterly'' 2006 49(2): 83-106,</ref>  However, prostitution (which is legal in many other areas of Nevada) is illegal by state law in Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County.

[[Image:Las Vegas Night 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Faux Paris]]

[[Image:Las Vegas Night 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Faux Paris]]

Las Vegas is known as a quick place to marry and caters to a variety of individual tastes in the area of personal (mis)behavior.  For instance, a couple can get married in Vegas by an [[Elvis impersonator]]. "Quickie" divorces are commonplace.

Las Vegas is known as a quick place to marry and caters to a variety of individual tastes in the area of personal (mis)behavior.  For instance, a couple can get married in Vegas by an [[Elvis impersonator]]; there is no residency or blood testing requirement to obtain a marriage license in the state. "Quickie" divorces are also commonplace, again due to lack of state residency requirements.

The mayor of Las Vegas is Oscar Goodman.

The mayor of Las Vegas is Oscar Goodman.