Tag Archives: Flamingo

On This Date: December 26, 1946 The Flamingo Opened on the Las Vegas Strip

December 26, 2018
The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas

The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas open on December 26, 1946

On this date, December 26, 1946 the Flamingo opened on the Las Vegas Strip, which was called highway 91 back then. Mobster Bugsy Siegel and his “partners” opened  the Flamingo Hotel & Casino at a total cost of $6 million on December 26, 1946. Billed as “The West’s Greatest Resort Hotel,” the 105-room property and first “luxury hotel” on the Strip and the third resort to open on the Strip after the El Rancho Las Vegas and the Last Frontier.

Currently the Flamingo property offers a 77,000 sq. ft. casino along with 3,626 hotel rooms. The 15-acre site’s architectural theme is reminiscent of the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne style of Miami and South Beach, with a garden courtyard housing a wildlife habitat featuring flamingos.  The Flamingo is located on the Las Vegas Blvd or the “Strip”  directly across from the Caesars Palace.  Today, the third resort on the Strip competes successfully with the new megaresorts with a health spa, wedding chapel, shops, rent-a-car, fine restaurants, and popular musicals and celebrity shows. The property is now owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment and is the oldest resort on the Strip still in operation today.

Photo By: Wikipedia.com

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On This Date: June 20, 1947, Mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, Shot & Killed in Beverly Hills, CA

June 20, 2018
Bugsy Siegel Mug Shot

Bugsy Siegel

On this date: Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot and killed in Beverly Hills, California. In 1945, Bugsy Siegal, was instrumental in establishing the first resort on the now famous Las Vegas Strip with the opening of the Flamingo Hotel & Casino.

Siegel befriended fellow hooligan Meyer Lansky, with whom he established the Bugs-Meyer Gang, a band of ruthless Jewish mobsters that ran a group of contract killers under the name Murder, Inc.

Siegel opened The Flamingo Hotel & Casino at a total cost of $6 million on December 26, 1946. Billed as the world’s most luxurious hotel, the 105-room property and first luxury hotel on the Strip, it was built seven miles from Downtown Las Vegas out the the city limits in Clark County Nevada.

 

Bugsy was brutally killed On the evening of June 20, 1947, when bullets came crashing through his living room window in Beverly Hills. Meanwhile back in Las Vegas, three of Lansky’s cohorts entered the Flamingo Hotel and declared a takeover. Although Lansky denied involvement in the hit, there is little doubt that Siegel was murdered on orders.

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Virtual Strip Tour: Caesar’s to Treasure Island (Ti) c.1999

July 9, 2011

Our virtual tour of The Strip in 1999 continues. The following photos are from Flamingo Road heading north to Spring Mountain Road. Most of the hotels in the past we set far back from the street and over the years, have slowly been building closer to the street.

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Paris, Bally’s on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road.

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Caesars Palace’s Famous Fountain. Note: This fountain has been made famous for motorcycle jumping, attemps include:

  • Dec. 31, 1967 – Evel Knievel (failed landing) he spent 29 days in a coma. 
  • Sep. 16, 1980 – Motorcyclist Gary Wells (crashed into a wall after landing).
  • Apr. 15, 1989 – Robbie Knievel -(success) 
  • May 4, 2006 – Mike Metzger set a Guinness World Record with a 125-foot long motorcycle jump that included a back flip(show off) over a fountain at Caesars Palace May 4, 2006 

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In front of Caesar’s Palace, looking north and south on the Strip. The Flamingo Hilton, Bugsy old hang out,located across the street. This lush landscape has been removed and the sidewalks widened.

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Two Gladiators (statues), the most photographed guys in town, beneath Caesars Palace’s sign. (c.1999) long since removed.

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Caesars Palace is located across the street from the famous Flamingo Hotel & Casino.

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The Imperial Palace and O’Shea’s Entrance, Mirage Hotel and Caesars Palace looking north.

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Caesars Palace and the Imperal Palace, Center Strip.

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Caesars Palace and the Imperal Palace, Center Strip.

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Caesars Palace, with the 360° OmniMax Theater, which has been long removed.

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The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, opened January 1, 1992. Harrah’s located across the street.

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The Flaming volcano at the Mirage with Treasure Island in the background and the Venetian Hotel on the right.

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The Mirage Hotel and Casino opened on November 22, 1989. Note: Built by developer Steve Wynn, on the site that was formerly occupied by the Castaways. It cost $630 million in 1989 to build and was financed by the selling of junk bonds by Wall Street’s own Michael Milken. The Mirage was home to the Siegfried & Roy show from 1990-2003. 

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The famous erupting volcano at the Mirage.

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The lagoon in front of the Mirage.

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The Venetian across from the Mirage and TI (Treasure Island)

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The Venetian.

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Las Vegas Newest Mega-Resort in 1999. The Venetian.

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Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island. Treasure Island was renamed to just TI.

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Las Vegas 360 Panoramic Photos of Las Vegas

July 4, 2011

Click any of the photos for a 360° hi-res view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas historic sign, the beginning of the famous “Strip”, Las Vegas Blvd. South. (c. 1999)

Glass Pool Inn aka The Mirage
The Glass Pool Inn 1950’s style motel on the south end of the Strip, with the coolest swimming pool. Note: The Motel was renamed in 1988 from “The Mirage” when Steve Wynn’s Mirage Hotel Open. Motel and pool was demolished in 2004, only the sign remains. (photo. 1999)

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The Glass Pool Inn and the Mandalay Bay Hotel in the the background. (c. 1999)

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Mandalay Bay (includes a Four Seasons Hotel) and the Luxor Hotel opposite.  Mandalay Bay includes the legendary House of Blues which features nightly entertainment.

Click for Hi-res 360 Photo: The Luxor and Excalibur Hotels
Front Entrance to the Luxor Hotel. Largest pyramid hotel in the world. The Luxor (2,526 rooms) and Excalibur (4000 rooms) Hotels

Click for Hi-Res 360 photoLocated in the front of the Excalibur Hotel & Casino looking at the New York New York Hotel.

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On the pedestrian walkway between the Tropicana and the Excalibur

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Located in front of Tropicana, SE Corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located in front of the MGM Northeast Corner of Las Vegas Blvd.

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Located on the walkway between New York New York and MGM.

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Located in front of New York New York, Northwest corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located on the walkway between NY NY and Excabilar Hotel & Casino.

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Allstar Cafe located next to the MGM Grand Hotel includes GamesWorks, M & M World and Coke Cola Plaza. Note: All Star Cafe, a sports-themed restaurant developed by Andre Agassi and five athlete partners, closed in 2000. Replaced with cheesy-Generica fast-food.

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Monte Carlo Hotel Located next to the New York New York Hotel.

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Monte Carlo Hotel on the Left and Polo Towers (Timeshare on the Right).

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Polo Towers on the East Side with the Boardwalk Hotel & Casino. Note: Boardwalk Hotel & Casino closed in 2006. It was imploded on May 9, 2006 to make way for City Center.

Click to view hi-res 360 photoConstruction of the Aladdin (c.1999) -now Planet Hollywood and the Paris Hotels looking north. The Harley Davidson Cafe is located on this corner, it is the building with the motorcycle crashing through the front entrance. Note: Across the Street, everything was removed and City Center now stands.

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Construction of the Aladdin-aka Planet Hollywood (c.1999) (foreground) and Paris (tower).

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The Bellagio looking across the Lake Look toward Caesars Palace.  Note: Bellagio
opened October 15, 1998. It was the former site of the Dune’s Hotel that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993 imploded on November 25, 1997

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Construction of the Aladdin and the Paris Hotels (c. 1999).  Note: The Aladdin opened April 1, 1966 and closed November 25, 1997. The hotel was imploded on April 27, 1998 and reopened on August 18, 2000. On April 17, 2007, the hotel was renovated and renamed to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

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The Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Another view of the  Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Note: Bally’s was formerly the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the casino burned in Las Vegas’ worst fire on November 21, 1980, killing 85 guests and employees. The MGM Grand was sold in 1985 and renamed to Bally’s.

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Barbary Coast (c. 1999) and Bally’s Entrance at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. Note: The Barbary Coast (March, 1979-February 27, 2007)  The hotel and casino were rebranded as Bill’s Gamblin Hall and Saloon.

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