Be sure to tune in to PBS tonight and tomorrow for the premiere broadcast of "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History" on American Experience. From the PBS website:

The story of Las Vegas' last hundred years is a distinctly American saga of optimism and opportunity. By 1999, it had become one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and could lay claim, in the words of one historian, to be "the first city of the twenty-first century." American Experience tells a rollercoaster story, peopled with unlikely heroes and villains, to trace the city's development from a remote frontier way-station to its Depression-era incarnation as the "Gateway to the Hoover Dam"; from its mid-century florescence as the gangster metropolis known as "Sin City" to its recent renaissance as a corporately-financed, postmodern, desert fantasyland.

It's good to see that the city's centennial celebration finally gave someone an excuse to make a serious documentary about the history of the Las Vegas Valley. Until now, just about every "informational" program has focused on casino cheating and conspiracy theories (usually involving Area 51 or the JFK assassination). This historical treatment is long overdue.

Part 1 of "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History" airs tonight. Part 2 follows tomorrow. Check local listings for the channel and time in your area.