It was announced this morning, the venerable Sahara Hotel, one of the last of the original ladies of the Las Vegas Strip still standing (the Riv and the Trop the other two), is closing May 16th.

Once home to the swinging sounds of Louie Prima, Sam Butera and Keely Smith, the Sahara was where not only Louie and the gang hit the big time and ushered in the era of the "Las Vegas Lounge" but Buddy Hackett and Don Rickles also got their start.  Johnny Carson used to headline the Congo Room.

The Beatles would have played there but, by 1964, Beatlemania was in full bloom and the concert had to be moved to the larger Las Vegas Convention Center's Rotunda.  But, John, Paul, George and Ringo stayed at the Sahara during that concert weekend.

Built by one of the Strip's best visionaries, Milton Prell and with Stan Irwin as the Entertainment Director, the Sahara was the happening place on the Strip for all of the 1960s.

But that was then and this is now.  Time and various owners have not been kind to the regal lady of yore.  For the last ten years, she has struggled to find her footing on the changing north end of the Strip.  Wynn and Encore provided a striking body blow that the Sahara has never really been able to recover from.

But, if you remember the old girl as fondly as I do, then you can read about the history of the Sahara here.

Any one remember the Club Bingo?

Yeah, I thought you might.

And all you Mid-Century Modern fans, how about Don the Beachcomber?

It's all part of the Sahara's history.

And thinking of staying at the Sahara, read my review from last year before making that reservation:

Berkley Square

Circus Circus and the Riveria along Las Vegas Blvd.

I-15 under construction

The Copa Room where Sinatra, Davis, Martin, Lawford and Bishop held court

The Congo Room souvenir photo cover (The Sahara)

Atomic Liquors has anchored East Fremont since the above-ground testing days of Las Vegas history.

Fremont Street in the late 1950s:

The Yucca Motel:

Fremont Street the mid-1950s:

The Holiday Motel:

The Gateway Motel (next door to Dona Maria's):

The Somerset Motel:

April Corbin at the Las Vegas Weekly has a wonderful article this week about the multi-generations of people who have called Las Vegas home for the last 75 years.  One of those in the spotlight is Gretchen Payne, wife of former Las Vegas News Bureau Manager Don Payne.  But Gretchen's roots in the community go back to her childhood.  She was born in a small house on Fremont Street back in 1935 and has called Las Vegas home ever since.

Her father taught science at Las Vegas High School and she is a wealth of information not only on the history of the high school but also all the changes she has witnessed as Las Vegas grew from a dusty railroad town to the entertainment capital of the world to the metropolis of the 21st Century.

Ms. Corbin also spotlights a number of natives who are all glad to call Las Vegas home.

Check it out:  Las Vegas Weekly