Celebrities, presidents and Panama Canal adventures mark photographer’s extraordinary career

CASINOS LIKE THE Tropicana, the Sahara and the Sands sprung up in Las Vegas in the 1950s. Big bands backed top entertainment like Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and Elvis.  In this heady environment, Tom Zimberoff came of age. 

“My father played violin in the big bands at the time when big bands had string sections,” Zimberoff said. “And I was getting pretty good on the clarinet at 12 when my father introduced me to my idol, Benny Goodman. He let me come to his rehearsals after school. Insane!”