The Stardust
The famed “Stardust sign” became a symbol of Las Vegas with it’s free standing globe constraining in an amorphous cloud of cosmic dust circled by an orbit ring and dancing stars. In 1967, the sign was replaced by a new $500,000.00 marquee sign and its form was blurred by a scatter of star shapes and a shower of stardust. In 1991, the Jetsonian lettering was replaced with a futuristic typeface. The Stardust was conceived and built by Tony Cornero and opened on July 2, 1958. By 1961, Stardust’s management included Credit Manager, Hyman Goldbaum, a career criminal, Casino Manager, Johnny Drew, a veteran associate of Al Capone and General Manager, Morris Kleinman who served three years for tax evasion. In 1969, The Parvin-Dohrmann Corporation purchased the Stardust for an undisclosed amount. In the 1970s, Argent the owner had skimmed off between $7 and $15 million dollars. The casino was run by Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro on behalf of the Chicago and Kansas City Mafia during the 1960s and 1970s. Siegfried & Roy got their start at the Stardust with the help of mob associate Frank Rosenthal.  In the film Casino, Robert De Niro portrayed the head of the casino, Sam “Ace” Rothstein and Joe Pesci portrayed Nicky Santoro. The name of the casino was changed to the “Tangiers”. However, snippets of the Hoagy Carmichael song Stardust can be heard on the sound track revealing the casinos true identity. After a 48 year run of continuous 24 hour operation the Stardust closed its doors at 12 noon on November 1, 2006.

                                     1950s                                                                                        1960s

                                     1970s                                                                                         1980s

The Dunes
The Dunes opened on May 23, 1955. It was built in part with financing from movie mogul Al Gottesman and the Teamster Pension Fund. It was know as “The Miracle in the Desert” with its 35 ft Sultan at the main entrance to the casino. Frank Sinatra had surprise appearances dressed as the Sultan and would perform in the lounge. Many faithful casino goers knew the Dunes was controlled by the mafia because for many years it was owned by Morris Shenker “an attorney associated with the St. Louis Mafia, Meyer Lansky and Jimmy Hoffa”. In 1985 the 35 ft Sultan caught fire from an electrical short and was never rebuilt and on January 26, 1993 the Dunes closed.

                                    1950s                                                                                           1960s

                                   1970s                                                                                            1980s 

The Desert Inn
The original name was Wilber Clark’s Desert Inn. When Wilber ran out of construction money he turned to the Cleveland mob led by Moe Dallitz and opened on April 14, 1950. The casino would later be renamed the Desert Inn and be affectionately called the “DI” by locals and regular guests. The “DI’s” most famous guest was Howard Hughes. He purchased The “DI” on March 1, 1967 from Dalitz for $13 million. Almost every star of the last fifty years played at the infamous “Crystal Showroom” including Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. The 1960 film Ocean’s Eleven was shot at the “DI” and the hotel served as the primary back drop for the TV show VEGA$ staring Robert Urich as Dan Tanna. On April 24, 2000, the “DI” celebrated its 50th birthday and a time capsule was buried in a granite burial chamber on April 25, 2000, to be opened on April 25, 2050. Three days later Steve Wynn purchased the casino and closed it several months later and was demolished on October 23, 2001. If anybody knows what happened to the time capsule please let us know

                                      1950                                                                                          1980