We are back and apologize for not posting over the weekend. A knee injury makes it hard to sit at the computer for any length of time. But, we promised this installment and we try to keep our promises.

By the early 1960s the Las Vegas Strip was undergoing some changes. The Old West theme that had been part of Las Vegas and part of the lure of the original two resorts, the El Rancho Vegas and the Hotel Last Frontier, was quickly being replaced by a more sophisticated and modern theme. As if to signal the end of that era, the El Rancho Vegas suffered a devastating fire on June 17, 1960. With fire trucks and photographers rushing to the scene, the fire roared through the main building.

While the Old West theme might be passing into history, the other resorts on the Strip were keeping architects busy designing new high-rise towers and they were keeping entertainers busy with performing in town multiple times a year.

The Stardust, after a rocky start, was perched to take advantage of the brash, optimistic, can-do spirit that came to symbolize those early years in the decade.

In keeping with the times, the beloved Aku-Aku Restaurant opened in January 1960. Playing on the current rage for all things Polynesian and tiki, the Aku-Aku paid homage to the island cultures of the South Pacific. It was built between the Stardust and the old Royal Nevada. Out front, a neon rimmed shield and giant arrows sign was added along with the giant moai that immediately brought to mind the giant statues on Easter Island and the adventures of Thor Heyerdahl. The word Aku-Aku was from the Easter Islands where they were said to be the guardians of the sacred family caves.

The restaurant cost $620,000 to build and decorate. The opening was a black-tie event that brought out the cream of Las Vegas society and numerous politicians. The moai statues and most of the interiors were created by Eli Hedley who was a self-styled "beachcomber". The drink menu was designed by Donn Beach who was better known as "Don the Beachcomber" and he had his own Polynesian restaurant at the Sahara. The Aku-Aku Gold Cup was served in a "stemmed glass containing its own little bandshell of crushed ice cooling "Mexican Limes." The Savage Island Pearl Cocktail was "especially recommended for the ladies with a genuine pearl in each cocktail." Both would set you back $1.20.

The 1961 edition of the Lido de Paris was just as popular as the previous editions.

"From the ceiling descend platforms, each with a bare-bosomed beauty, standing cool as you please adn before the surprise has caused near-sighted gentlemen to repair their thoughtlessness by putting on glasses, the girls are whisked upward into the rafters." Les Devor writing in the Las Vegas Review Journal as quoted in "The Stardust of Yesterday".

Show Producer Donn Arden and Madame Bluebell were well on their way to creating the Americanized version of the showgirl. Donn Arden was quoted in a 1989 interview saying "There's a certain way a girl can walk, particularly when you're going across the stage. By simply twisting the foot, it swings the pelvis forward which is suggestive and sensual. If you twist right and swing that torso, you get a revolve going in there that's just right. It isn't the way a woman should walk, necessarily. You're selling the pelvis; that's the Arden walk."

The Kim Sisters, a Korean sister act in the vein of the McGuire Sisters, played the Stardust Lounge from 1:00am to 7:00am with six half-hour shows nightly. The girls had been a sensation in South Korea where they had entertained the troops. They were still teen-agers when they came to play Las Vegas as part of the China Doll Revue at the Thunderbird. When that contract expired the sisters took their act to the Stardust where they helped keep the lounge packed nightly.

On January 21st, 1962, an episode of the Ed Sullivan Show"" aired. It had been filmed entirely at the hotel.

By 1963, the hotel boasted 1,300 deluxe, air-conditioned rooms, two swimming pools, free parking that could accommodate 2,500 cars and special facilities for groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 people.

But the hotel needed to expand to keep up with the other resorts on the Strip. In 1964, architect William Tabler designed a nine-story tower. The tower would bring the room count 1,470. Tabler had designed the high-rise tower at the Desert Inn.

In addition, they also added new signage. They placed a neon-rimmed globe atop the galaxy facade. In addition, they replaced their original roadside sign as well. The original, as noted by Alan Hess, "had been informed by the plasticity o the roadside sign tradition, where signs took the forms of boats, cows or frying pans as the occasion demanded." The new sign, designed by Ad-Art and costing $500,000, "suggested something beyond itself. Its form was blurred by a scattering of star shapes around its periphery. It depicted, in fact, a shower of stardust." At night, the sign was animated and light fell from the stars atop the 188-foot sign downwards over the Stardust (still in that wonderful space-age font) name which was emblazed across the middle and then the stars continued to shower downward to the marquee board. It became overnight an iconic image of the famed Las Vegas Strip. It was designed by Paul Miller.

By 1964, over 3.5 million people had seen the Lido show. The 1965 version included a live chariot race, a locomotive crashing into an automobile and the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius complete with molten lava.

By 1965, the Justice Department was scrutinizing Moe Dalitz and Wilbur Clark again. They were ordered to explain a series fo complicated financial transactions between the three corporations they were involved with. Clark, who had suffered two major strokes, had sold his stock in both hotels to Dalitz for $2 million in 1964. Both men testified and the matter was soon put to rest with neither being charged.

The hotel employed 1,500 people and beyond its Showroom, Lounge and Restaurants, it offered a full service Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, Burnett's Women's Apparel, the Mens Shop, a Gift Shop and a Greyhound Bus Terminal. The 71-par Championship Golf Course was used by the PGA and the LPGA and had a driving range and Pro Shop as well.

The Stardust International Raceway was home to a 3 mile, "dead-level" track, sort of a crooked figure eight. It had a drag strip, stands, a concession stand and "comfort stations". The track drew famous racers such as "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Bobby Unser and Parnelli Jones.

The Track was opened on September 21, 1965. Actor Lee Marvin was one of the many celebrities photographed at the 1965 Stardust Grand Prix. The Raceway was located in what is now Spring Valley Township in an area from Tropicana Avenue to Flamingo Road and bordered by Rainbow Blvd and Piedmont Blvd. Back then, there was nothing out there except empty desert. Today, it covered with housing developments.

ABC's Wide World of Sports spent some time at the Stardust throughout the 1960s. They covered two special competitions for the World's Invitation High Diving Championship. There were two events featuring nine divers. The divers performed three dives from heights ranging from 80-feet to 100 feet up in the air. The prize was $2,000. Diver John Candler from London, who had placed 7th at the Tokyo Olympics, finished 1st in the World Professional Target Diving Championship. Barney Cipriani of Miami won the High Diving contest.

In November 1965, Cassius Clay made the Stardust his training camp for his upcoming bout at the Las Vegas Convention Center's Rotunda against Floyd Patterson. Patterson had turned the Thunderbird into his training camp.

By 1966, the Stardust was in the middle of the action and one of the most popular hotels on the Strip. Dalitz and his managers had never lost sight of the hotel appealing to the average couple or family on vacation. While other hotels along the boulevard were catering to a more sophisticated crowd, the Stardust had the low-roller market cornered.

In keeping with the times, the Stardust opened Moby Dick, high-end seafood restaurant.

The Convention Facilities were renamed the Stardust Auditorium and a neon SA was added to the front of the old Royal Nevada. The Stardust did good business with conventions hosting everything from Air Conditioning to Polygraphers with MENSA and the Department of Interior thrown in for good measure.

On October 7, 1967 the new Horseman's Park opened. It had a 500 seat, lighted arena, exercise ring, 100 covered stalls, feed facilities and a parking lot that could hold 100 cars. It was home to the American Angus Association's yearly convention as well as Miss Rodeo America and national horse shows.

The hotel had also revamped the Stardust Country Club. Renovations included an expanded Club house, a new Pro Shop, a new Lounge and Card Rooms, a Piano Bar and a restaurant. Members were charged $3.00 for use of the new facilities with guests being charged $6.00. Dues were $60 a year and membership was open to those who lived outside of Clark County as well.

 
Howard Hughes was on a buying spree of Las Vegas Hotels. Having arrived in November, 1966, he had bought the Desert Inn rather than have to move out of the penthouse. Since then he had purchased the Castaways, the Silver Slipper, the New Frontier, the Sands and the Landmark. By 1968, he wanted to add the Stardust to that collection and made an offer to Dalitz and United Hotel for $30.5 million. Dalitz was all for the purchase but George Dickerson and George Von Tobel of the Nevada Gaming Commission were not. They believed that the hotel purchase would violate the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.  Before the smoke had cleared , the Federal Government and the Justice Department were involved as well.

George Von Tobel, a member of one of the pioneering Las Vegas families, was quoted as saying "I did not wish to see Las Vegas become a company town."  The Gaming Commission prevailed with the Feds and won with their argument that by allowing Hughes to purchase the property, he would be creating a monopoly. Thus, the Stardust stayed out of Hughes' grasp. It was one of the rare times the Federal Government said no to Howard Hughes.

But by 1969, Dalitz and his management team were beginning to think about retirement from the daily running of resorts.  They sold the Stardust to the Parvin Dohrmann Corporation for $15 million.  The Parvin Dohrmann Corporation also assumed $20 million in debt incurred by the hotel.  The Corporation also owned and operated the Fremont Hotel downtown, the Aladdin and briefly controlled the Riviera.  It changed its name to Recrion Corporation shortly after purchasing the Stardust.  The Teamsters Pension Fund loaned Parvin Dohrman $12 million. 

Thus the stage was set for the Stardust to enter the 1970s and one of the darkest times not only in the resort's history but a dark time for the entire Las Vegas Strip.

Donn Arden (with Madame Bluebell) demonstrates the "Arden Walk"

The 1965 sign with its iconic lettering

The Stardust Hotel in the 1970s 

The Garden-Style Rooms 

Special Thanks to UNLV Special Collections , RoadsidePictures and RoadsidePeek for letting us use these images. 

UP NEXT:

Lefty Rosenthal takes over!

Siefried and Roy become headliners!

The Midnight Idol returns to the stage!

And the Feds crack down on the Mob and Skimming!

It's all here at the Brief History of the Las Vegas Strip!