Las Vegas's Circus Circus once featured actual flying pink elephants - a seemingly unbelievable but true piece of casino history. Baby elephants, weighing 300-450 pounds, were transported around the casino via an overhead tram system in 1968, creating the illusion of flight.

This extraordinary publicity stunt was confirmed by Heidi Straus, daughter of Circus Circus founder Jay Sarno. The elephants even wore diapers during their aerial performances. However, the attraction was short-lived as gamblers weren't comfortable with elephants suspended above their heads.

Another remarkable true story involves the Hoover Dam's construction. The first and last casualties were father and son John Gregory Tierney and Patrick Tierney, who died 14 years apart on the same date - December 20. John drowned while surveying the site in 1921, while Patrick fell from the completed structure in 1935.

Before these incidents, Circus Circus was known for other elephant attractions, including Tanya, a 4,000-pound Asian elephant who performed tricks like pulling slot handles and shooting dice with her trunk. These performances were even featured in the 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds are Forever."

The casino also featured "The Cage Girls," go-go dancers who performed while suspended from the same aerial tram system later used for the elephants.

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