Opening in 1965 as Del Webb’s Sahara-Tahoe and adorned in Las Vegas-style flashing neon, its ornate dinner theater over the years headlined major stars like Elvis Presley who labeled it his favorite showroom.

If I recall correctly, the debut show was Phyllis Diller with the Osmond Brothers.

This also was the theater where entertainer Ann-Margret suffered a fall onstage and broke her jaw in the 1970s.

Taking on a Western theme remodel in 1983, the resort was renamed Del Webb’s High Sierra.

Next owner, Columbia-Sussex, renamed it again in 1990 as (today’s) Horizon Casino Resort. The classic showroom was partitioned into a multi-screen movie theater shortly afterward.

These photos from 1965 and 2012 were taken from the same vantage point, across Highway 50 in Harrah’s back parking lot. The casinos had no multi-level parking garages in 1965. And notice that virtually all the cars in the 1965 parking lot were of domestic manufacture.

— Bill Kingman

The Community Winter Tree and Menorah Lighting will be Dec. 7 from 5-7pm in South Lake Tahoe.

Bring a camera for pictures with Santa.

Hot chocolate, cookies and complimentary Borges sleigh rides are planned.

A Liberty Utilities crew strings the lights across from Harrison Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. Photo/LTN

Lake DJ will provide holiday music. There will also be a performance by members of the South Lake Tahoe Children’s The Art League and museum are having open houses that night.

Organizers are also accepting donations of canned food and toys for Christmas Cheer and Caps for kids.

The event is at the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority California Visitor Center, 3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

On Dec. 13 from 4-7pm several local businesses and artisans will be selling their wares at Lake Front Weddings, 3351 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra has invited several vendors who have supported their annual fundraiser, Elegant Evening, to not only sponsor a time to celebrate the holidays, but also to encourage shopping locally.

Check out this lake front event and enjoy wine, appetizers, live music and these businesses — Adore Boutique, Sagebrush Soap, Après Wine, TKO Entertainment, Lake Tahoe Holidays, Le Tournesol de Provence, Bona Fide Books, Taste This!, Heart Rock Herb & Spice Co, Bags 4 Every Reason/Season, Forest Furniture, Imagine Salon, Pat’s Beauty Control, and Ellen Nunes Fine Art.

Lake Tahoe News is going grocery shopping. We are taking money each week from the paid subscriptions and going to different stores in the area — to keep that shop local vibe alive — and then what we buy is going to be distributed to groups in need.

Joanne Shope, who runs Christmas Cheer in South Lake Tahoe, said as of this week there are toy requests from 703 children and frozen turkey requests for 450 families. She added that the shelves are bare and the need is great. Christmas Cheer is open Monday and Wednesdays from 11am-2pm and Sundays from 2-4pm. They are located at 1120 Third St.

We’ll be by with goods on Sunday.

Originally for every paid subscriber form Lake Tahoe New received between now and the end of the year, we were going to give one non-perishable food item to entities in the basin that are in need. We’ve at least doubled that commitment.

Paid subscribers help Lake Tahoe News in two key ways — the more forms we have, the better for attaining adjudication, and cash keeps electric bills paid so the computers stay on and reporters get paid.

A benefit to being a paid subscriber is that you become part of the NEWS Team. From time-to-time we give away things — with the last being two tickets to the Soroptimist wine tasting.

Credit goes to longtime LTN supporter Old Long Skis for coming up with the subscriber-food drive. He’s even volunteered his truck to deliver all the goods. He’s that confident LTN will have that much food to donate after all the subscriber forms come in.

Here is a copy of a subscriber form.

– Kathryn Reed, LTN publisher

The annual Tree Lighting Celebration & Project MANA Food Drive is Dec. 1 from 4:30-6:30pm at the Ritz-Carlton at Northstar.

The evening includes s’mores with the marshmologist, hot chocolate, cookie decorating, ornament making and holiday performances by the children of the Boys & Girls Club and the Tahoe Expedition Academy.

The event is free.

People are asked to bring a non-perishable item for Project MANA. Needed items include peanut butter, canned meats, dried and canned beans, rice, pasta and sauce, cereals, oatmeal, canned fruit and canned vegetables.

NV Energy is warning people of a scam.

Someone identifying themselves as employees of the company is calling customers threatening to disconnect power if a credit card payment or cash transfer is not made over the phone immediately.

NV Energy does not call customers and solicit payments. If customers receive a call asking for a payment, they should refuse and call local law enforcement official or NV Energy if they have additional questions.

Customers may also call NV Energy’s Customer Service Department in Reno at (775) 834.4444.

Customers who may be at risk of having their power disconnected because of nonpayment will receive a 10-day and 48-hour notice via U.S. mail.

• Forbes magazine lists Lake Tahoe as one of the top five places in the world to cross country ski based on scenery.

• At the Nov. 13 board of directors meeting the North Tahoe Public Utility District board thanked Director Frank Mooney for his 25 years of service.

• Snowboarder Jeremy Jones of Truckee is in the running to be National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year. More details are online.

• On Dec. 3 at 10am at the Capitol, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval will lead the sixth annual Wreaths Across America ceremony honoring the nation’s veterans of military service.

• South Lake Tahoe will host a meeting for area No. 5, which includes Rancho Bijou and Bijou Acres, on Dec. 5 at 6pm at the Senior Center at 3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

Markleeville is putting on a free holiday event Dec. 2 from 10am to about 3pm or when it gets cold.

The town comes alive with the Christmas spirit with decorations, music, local vendors offering their hand crafted Christmas items.

Santa will be in his favorite chair next to the fireplace at the Wolf Creek Restaurant.

There will be a choir singing on the courthouse lawn starting at 1pm before they stroll around town.

Santa will stroll down to the library about 2pm to help with the storytelling, cookie decorating and wishes from the little ones.

The museum will be open and free for the day.

The restaurants in town will be open with special deals.

The Sugar Pine Foundation is having a fundraiser Dec. 6 at the Hard Rock Cafe inside Harvey’s in Stateline.

Festivities will start at 6pm with dinner and live commentary on the Sugar Pine Foundation film.

There will be a silent auction, limited edition Hard Rock Sugar Pine pins for sale, and drink specials. Thick as Thieves plays from 9-11pm.

Tahoe Arts Project is putting on a Holiday Festival on Dec. 8 from 11am-4pm.

For $10 (those 12 and younger are free), there will be arts and crafts vendors, cookie decorating, music by Sister Analog, Marcia Sarosik Dancers and Santa.

Food, wine and hot chocolate are included in the price.

All proceeds benefit TAP.

The event is at St. Theresa’s Grace Hall, 1041 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe.

For more info, call (530) 542.3632.