In the neon-drenched theater of Las Vegas, where each marquee holds whispers of a storied past, the legendary Tropicana Hotel made its final curtain call amidst a symphony of demolition. The storied establishment, a jewel of the Mojave, left spectators in a bittersweet rendezvous with history. Yet, amidst the nostalgia, not every voice sung a valedictory hymn.
Ethan Embry, known for his youthful role as Rusty Griswold in the ’97 hit “Vegas Vacation,” delivered an unsparing critique of his extended stay at the Tropicana. His candid memories erupted across the digital landscape on October 9, as he shared his relief at the building’s demise with unfiltered candor.
“I lived at the Tropicana Hotel for four months while we shot ‘Vegas Vacation,'” Embry recalled. “It was an unlivable environment in 1996. Good riddance.”
Embry, then an 18-year-old rising star, depicted the quintessential Griswold offspring—complete with humorous escapades, one involving an audacious winning streak at O’Shea’s casino under the pseudonym Nick Pappagiorgio—a name bestowed by a wily Frank Sinatra look-alike.
Despite the more than a million readers who perused Embry’s scathing reflection, not everyone echoed his sentiments. In the digital crossfire, defenders of the Tropicana emerged, their comments woven with warmth for the landmark that had once bustled with the energy of countless employees and guests.
One rebuttal stood out as a poignant defense: “Tropicana was a historical hotel, please shush. Really now… Tacky Ethan. Bye,” beseeched user @AlexisStevens02.
Another chimed in, a tinge of reproach in their text, “That place employed thousands of good people over the years. Sorry it didn’t live up to your haughty expectations.”
A striking counter-image came to light courtesy of @cesarmiles202, presenting Embry relishing a moment in a jacuzzi, surrounded by a bevy of Tropicana Girls in quintessential Vegas attire. Embry, quick to clarify with a wink of humor, retorted, “Those are the Tropicana Girls and it was at the Mirage. Even the Tropicana Girls don’t go to the Tropicana.”
The Tropicana’s fall from grace wasn’t the only subject of Embry’s revelatory streak. The industry giant and Embry’s costar, Chevy Chase, found himself in the line of critique for his historical behavior behind the scenes.
When prodded by followers if filming was prolonged by Chase’s notorious comportment, Embry hinted at witnessing tempestuous moments, stating, “I’m sure that didn’t speed things up,” and when probed further, conceded, “Did I see ugly? Yes,” though clarifying Chase’s demeanor toward him had been neutral.
Through this unfolding digital drama, the portrait of an artist amidst the rise and fall of Vegas icons is painted—a mosaic of humor, candor, and history revisited, leaving an indelible mark on both the silver screen and the social media stage.
