Old Vegas Vanishing. Stardust Hotel to close this weekend.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 7:55pm

The lights will go out on another landmark when the Stardust closes for good. The famous casino-hotel will cease operations Nov. 1 and will be demolished. In its location will go a $4 billion "Echelon Place" project. Echelon Place will have four hotels, a casino, a convention center and retail space, and is scheduled to open in 2010.

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 07:55 PM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:00pm

Aww. One of my earliest memories is walking into this hotel, and being awestruck by all the twinkling lights. There also used to be a really good restaurant there called Toucan Charlie's, but I believe that closed a while ago. I'm glad I revisited when I went to Vegas last February or March. It's sad to see it go.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:15pm

We saw Steve & Edie there last time we were there a few years ago

I wonder if they will close the place down & turn out the lights. They really should get rid of that eyesore Circus Circus

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:25pm

Vegas is (surprisingly) like Houston, the old is thrown out for the new.

it's just a fact of life, as much as i'm fascinated by Vegas of the 50s/60s etc

[DAME]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:33pm

Mr Roxy;
Steve and Eydie are the closing Headliners this weekend. We will be there.

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 08:33 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:36pm

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 8:42pm

So sad.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:24pm

Lucky you DAME

The audience should look like an old folks home. Get me a couple of matchbooks & a dollar chip if you can

Have fun

by the way, caroline, NYC is the same. Get rid of the old for the new - splendid architecture & quality be damned

Updated On: 10/23/06 at 09:24 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 12:32am

It's Eydie with a Y...

I stayed at the Sands with my parents the first time I went to Vegas in the 1960s. We saw Juliet Prowse in a tab version of Sweet Charity.

PalJoey'sPal and I stayed at the old Desert Inn the last time Lorna Luft opened for Don Rickles.



Lorna took us on a tour of what was left of the Las Vegas her mother knew.

These photos of Judy with Lorna and Liza were taken the day after Christmas 1957, the first time she played Vegas.



She came back in October 1958 and played the Flamingo.



She came back again in February 1962, after her Carnegie hall triumph.





She played the Thunderbird and the Sahara in 1965, but she was starting to have troubles.



And in 1967 she played Vegas for the last time, at Caesars

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 12:32 AM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 12:40am

Great history PJ!

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 7:01am

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Stardust the casino that the book and film Casino based on?

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 07:01 AM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:31am

You just can't compete with the "new" Vegas. I'm glad I experienced Vegas the way it used to be; but the new one is pretty dazzling! I saw Steve and Eydie there, as well. I'd love to see them one last time. Enjoy!

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 9:28am

I used to be able to see that beautiful Stardust marquis from my parent's back yard. I thought that sign looked like it was made out of diamonds and other jewels. It was always a favorite.

Now add it to the bone yard with the Landmark, the Sands, the Silver Slipper, the Dunes, and so many others.

If the rat pack came back, they wouldn't recognize the place.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 1:20pm

The Stardust sign is so identified with Vegas. I remember when I went just being mesmerized by it. It really is gorgeous with the colored lights. So sad....sigh. Why can't they just revitalize the old casinos instead of trashing them. If the Tropicana goes, then Vegas is really dead to me.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 2:14pm

Tropicana will go in two years. I don't know what publication I was reading.. but there are already plans in motion.

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 2:18pm

Of course, if you're really talking about Las Vegas history, you can't forget the Flamingo.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 2:20pm

DAME, wanna hook up?
HAHA.
Just kidding.
But...

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 2:40pm

Thanks for posting the pic Mamie!!!

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 2:51pm

You're very welcome. Isn't it pretty? I hate to see it mothballed in that neon graveyard they have out in the desert. (On the other hand, I hope it goes there rather than seeing it destroyed.)

[DAME]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:02pm

Where exactly is the graveyard? I do know there is one.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:09pm

Oh that is sad. As a kid it was my favorite. I do hope they preserve the sign at least.

Oh, and to comment on PJ's statement regarding Judy, "She played the Thunderbird and the Sahara in 1965, but she was starting to have troubles."

STARTING?

[DAME]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:20pm

Maybe he just meant that the problems were more in the public eye?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:21pm

Oh, Sueleen, you're just a Judy-hater.

[DAME]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:22pm

PJ;
This tour Lorna gave you sounds wonderful. Where else did you go? More details please.

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 03:22 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 3:23pm

Was this about the time she was doing her "Blond in the Thunderbird" style show?