Casino History:
Millions of people every year travel to Las Vegas from all over the world to see the city and get a glimpse of casino history in the city where it all began. The city of Las Vegas has interesting architecture, loud sounds, blazing neon lights that make it a city that never sleeps. There are many attractions to see in Las Vegas. Some of the incredible things to see are the famous casinos, musical acts, comedians, and the infamous and famous Las Vegas ‘Strip.’
Casino History:
It was General Stephen W. Kearney who founded Las Vegas in the year 1846. Kearney discovered what wouod become the gambling capital of the United States when he claimed the territory New Mexico in the year 1846. One important feature of development in those times was the opening of the Santa Fe Trail, which allowed trade and commerce to pass easily through the city.
Casino History:
Las Vegas as a city began to develop when Fort Union was built as a fortress to protect the Santa Fe Trail from Indian raids. The fort bolstered the economy of Las Vegas as the army bought supplies and foodstuffs for its soldiers. As the city began to prosper, it attracted a lot of despicable characters that are well known thoughout American kegend and history– Billy the Kid, Vicente Silva, Belle Sidons, Jesse James, Doc Holliday and his lady friend, Big Nosed Kate, all of whom established gambling halls as an easy and lucrative way to make lots of money.
Casino History:
As technology progressed with the development of the steam locomotive and railways, European immigrants began to pour into Las Vegas, which left its mark in the various architectural styles dotted throughtout Las Vegas and lend it some ambiance and charm amid the bright lights of the ‘Strip.’
Casino History:
The city of Las Vegas has over 900 historic buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Casino History:
BAL TABARIN – LAKE TAHOE
The La-Vada Lodge, a boot legger liquor hangout during prohibition that had gambling, was built on the North shore of Lake Tahoe located at Crystal Bay in the year of 1927. Of interest is that when it was issued a gambling license in 1931, the name of the lodge was changed to the Cal-Vada Lodge. Joby Lewis bought the Cal-Vada in 1955, and he resold it the following year to a group that changed the name again this time to the Bal-Tabarin, after the famous San Francisco night club. Lincoln Fitzgerald acquired the Bal-Tabarin along with the Tahoe Biltmore in 1959. Fitzgerald closed the Bal one year later when he caught staff at the lodge stealing from the tills.
Casino History:
BANK CLUB – RENO
BANK CLUB 1926 to 1952
Casino History: The Lovely Bank Club was located on the southwest corner of Douglas Alley and Center Street just adjacent to the Palace Club. This club became very popular and had many different casino games, both prior and after legalized gambling. It’s owners, Bill Graham and Jim McKay, also owned the “Stockade”, Reno’s infamous brothel. In 1952 the Bank Club was combined with the Golden Hotel to form the Golden Bank Club. After changing owners, the Golden Bank Club burned down to the ground in 1962.
Casino History:
CAPITAL CLUB
1931 to 1955
The Capital Club operated in Ely, Nevada from March of 1931 to June 27, 1954 when it was destroyed by fire. Two boxes of $5 chips were saved by someone walking by the club.
Casino History:
The El Rancho Vegas was built by California hotelier Thomas Hull who also built the El Rancho Fresno and El Rancho Sacramento hotels in California. The official opening on April 3rd, 1941launched the El Rancho Vegas as Las Vegas’ first spectacular resort hotel. The main building contained a fully functional casino, restaurant, the Opera House Showroom, and several boutiques. It also contained bungalows and cottages located off the path of the main building. The El rancho was plagued with staffl problems which caused a constant changing of staff which led Hull to sell the El Rancho Vegas in 1942. The property was bought and sold many times until 1947 when Beldon Katleman bought it. He spent a lot of money turning the buildings into a very trendy place which attracted huge crowds, among them many hollywood celebrities. Among the long list of Hollywood types were famous actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward who married there in 1958. The sensational times that the El Rancho Vegas cultivated began to fade during the 50s as newer and larger clubs hit the Strip. This property too, was destroyed by fire and never opened again. A lot of Casino History in the strip is full of mysterious fires. Actually, they are not really myseries at all. They were torched for the insurance money.
Casino History:
The Frontier Club, was located between the Nevada Club and Harrah’s new Virginia Street casino, opened first as Pick’s Club (1943 to 1945). Prior to 1943, the site was a bar. Pick and Joe Hobson opened the casino after making some money due to the success of Harry’s Club in Hawthorn, Nevada during the second world war. Soldiers loved to gamble. Others notables were also associated with the club: Marion Hicks, Dub McClanahan, George Sedlow, and Cliff Jones. Reno Gaming guru Virgil Smith ran the slots and Jim Brady operated the keno games. The Frontier was the first casino in history to offer $10,000 and then $25,000 games. The Frontier Club was bought by Harrah’s in 1956.
Casino History:
George Cannon first opened the Gateway Club adjacent to Harvey’s Wagon Wheel in 1949. Cannon opened his Quonset-hut at the California-Nevada state line when Placer County banned his slots at his Highway 50 operation. In January of 1955, Bill Harrah purchased the Gateway Club for $500,000. Harrah’s opened Harrah’s Lake Club on the same site on June 20, 1955. Only a year later Harrah’s sold the club to Harvey’s for $5 Million. The largest amount paid at that time in Casino History.
Casino History:
In 1952, Bill Graham and Jim McKay acquired the old Golden Hotel from Reno tycoon, George Wingfield. Graham and McKay merged the Golden with their Bank Club, changing the names of the two properties to the Golden Bank Club. In 1955, the Tomerlin brothers purchased the Golden Bank Club, and kept it until 1962, when it was mysteriously destroyed by fire. A new “Golden Club” was built on the same site, and it stayed open until 1966, when it was sold to Harrah’s. Harrah’s wanted the site for their new hotel.
Casino History:
HOLIDAY HOTEL
1956 to Present Day
The address is 111 Mill St. on the famous strip. The Holiday Hotel was constructed in 1956 by Norman Biltz and Stanley Dollar. Newton Crumley, Jr. a savvy tycoon first leased and then bought it in 1956. On February 10,1962 Newt Crumley and First National Bank President, Eddie Questa, died in a plane crash in the area of Tonopah, Nevada.
Casino History
HORSESHOE CLUB
1957 to 1995
The Horseshoe Club opened its doors at 229 N. Virginia Street in Reno. It was owned by two professional gamblers Bernie
Einstoss and Ruby Mathis.. The Mason family acquired the club in 1967, adding the Silver Spur property right next door in 1982. In 1989, Bob Cashell bought the Horseshoe and kept it until 1995.
Casino History:
The Hotel Nevada opened its doors in 1908 at the beginning of the copper boom in White Pine County. The exterior the building has includes two lasting Nevada icons; a tall, Unknown Prospector, and a neon slot machines.
Casino History:
The original Hotel Last Frontier was the second hotel to open on what later became known as the “Strip”. It opened its doors on October 30, 1942 having been operated by R.E. Griffith and was bought by Beldon Katelman on October 5, 1951. This landmark became known as “The Last Frontier Village”. The village’s dance hall was changed from the “The Golden Slipper Gambling Hall” to ” The Silver Slipper Casino”. The property was renovated and changed. It opened as the “New Frontier” in April 4, 1955 .
Casino History:
MAPE’S HOTEL
1948 to 1982
It opened as Reno’s elegant hotel-casino on December 17, 1948. It was the tallest building in Casino History: built after the second world war. The architect Frederick J. Delongchamps, also designed Reno Courthouse and the Riverside Hotel. The Mapes closed on December 17, 1982. It operated for 34 years.
Casino History:
1969 to 1982
The Mapes family opened the Money Tree Casino at 211 N. Virginia Street in Reno during a boom of gaming in the State of Nevada. The Money Tree was a huge structure that extended from North Virginia Street west to Sierra Street, across from the Sahara. The Players Club tried and failed to acquire this huge property for their own site. It was bought Eddie’s Fabulous 50’s (1987-1989), then the Gambler in 1993 which still remains. Guess what? No fires.
Casino History:
Nevada Club
1947 to 1998
The professional Detroit Gambler Lincoln Fitzgerald acquired the Nevada Club at 224 N. Virginia Street in Reno in 1947. In 1958 “Fitz” purchased the Tahoe Biltmore at Crystal Bay, changing the name to the Nevada Lodge. Fitzgerald expanded in 1976 when he launched Fitzgerald’s Hotel-Casino on the site of the Silver Dollar Club right next to Reno’s very large landmark the arch.
Casino History: the people behind the casinos:
Casino History:
Lincoln and Meta Fitzgerald bought the Tahoe Biltmore in 1958, changing the name to Nevada Club and then the Nevada Lodge. Lincoln Fitzgerald died in 1981 and the Lodge was sold in 1986. The Fitzgeralds were active in gambling in Nevada for a period of 41 years.
Casino History:
Jim Kelley opened the famous Nugget at 233 N. Virginia Street in 1954 at the formar site of Mixon’s Piccadilly Bar. Kelley sold it in 1992 and the new owner installed one single blackjack table. The Nugget’s small diner is famous for it’s much toted “Awful-Awful” burger.
casino history:
Alexander Dromicack constructedt the Overland Hotel at 245 North Center Street and Commercial Row in 1905. It was no doubt the most elegant hotel of this era. Of interest is the steam heat and the first tiled floor in the whole state. Pick Hobson owned the Overland from 1959 until it closed its doors 1977, following it’s acquistion by Harrah’s. The site is currently a parking lot maintained by Harrah’s.
Casino History:
PALACE CLUB 1888 to 1979
Owned by the Petricciani family, the old Palace Club weathered through legalized gambling and the great depressionof the 20s and 30s. It also survived a terrible fire in 1909 to become the mecca for the famous Jeffries-Johnson boxing match on July 4, 1910. The Palace was truly “Reno’s bright star.
Casino History:
Rod’s Shy Clown Casino opened its doors at 865 S. Rock Blvd. in Sparks Nevada in 1974. In 1976, “Rod’s” was changed to just the Shy Clown and stayed open till 1981. It was closed for seven years and in 1988 the property was revamped and opened as Baldini’s Sports Casino.
Casino History:
The Silver Spur opened its doors in 1968 at 221 N. Virginia Street in Reno, just a little south of the Horseshoe Club. This elegant and trendy casino featured a unique spur collection and a gallery of nude paintings. The property adjacent to the spur was bought in 1981 which merged the Silver Spur and Horseshoe Club and the Spur was history.
