As part of the ongoing 100th Anniversary celebration of Las Vegas, Insignia Films has partnered with PBS American Experience series to create "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History," the officially sanctioned documentary project about Sin City's past.

It will debut on Nov. 14 and 15 (check your local listings for exact times and dates).

I was honored to be of part of the making of this documentary and the companion book that will be released in November. Items from my collection of Las Vegas memorabilia (some of which you can see online in the Vegas4Visitors Museum) are featured in both the TV and print version of the project.

(No, I don't get paid for either version, so this is purely an altruistic promotional push. The self-serving one will come in a couple of weeks when I start telling you about my upcoming guide book.)

The four-hour documentary spans the history of Las Vegas, from its early days as a railroad whistlestop through the boom of the Boulder Dam era into the Rat Pack days and the explosive growth of the 1990s to current day. It focuses on the unconventional ways in which this town became what it is, manufacturing little more than the promise of instant fortunes or instant gratification rather than an actual product that you can hold in your hands.

The documentary features interviews of Steve and Elaine Wynn, media mogul (Las Vegas Sun) and casino entrepreneur (Green Valley Ranch) Brian Greenspun, and many others who helped shape the city into what it is today. It also profiles 10 modern-day Las Vegas residents who in one way or another add to the fabric of the city.

And, of course, there's all that wonderful archival footage, not just from Vegas4Visitors but from sources far and wide. You'll see historical film and photos that you've never seen before, offering an unparalleled look at the city's past.

For more information on the documentary, the companion book and some really fun features such as interactive maps, postcards, trivia, a Vegas timeline, a photo gallery and more, visit the official "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History" Web site.

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In Next Week's Column

Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.

Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!

Click here to go to the main page of Vegas4Visitors.com and see all of the fantastic resources Vegas4Visitors has to offer you when planning your next trip to Las Vegas.