stardust hotel las vegas nv was famous for its glittering marquee sign - by Kiki

Stardust Hotel Las Vegas NV

Stardust Hotel Las Vegas, NV was imploded on March 13, 2007 at 2:33 am. It has been replaced by "Echelon Place," a Boyd Gaming property which opens in 2010. When the Stardust opened in 1958, it was the largest casino in Las Vegas and Nevada with the largest swimming pool. Governors, senators and celebrities attended the lavish opening ceremonies.

Originally built by Tony Carnero, mobster and bootlegger, his vision for the Stardust was grand, including the famous glittering marquee sign, which became a symbol for Vegas. The casino had an outer-space theme. He spent $10 million for over 1,000 rooms, a 16,500 square foot gaming area, 13,500 square foot lobby and the latest in indirect lighting. The pool was 105 feet long and called the Big Dipper. Tony Carnero is credited with the idea of placing slot machines in the lobby, so hotel guests could relax and gamble. It turned out to be a very lucrative idea.

Over the years, the Stardust Hotel Las Vegas, NV was upgraded and renovated adding restaurants, drive-in theater and towers with suites featuring Jacuzzis, marble showers and views. In 1975, it was the first casino on the Strip to open a Race and Sports Book. It was a huge draw and even had a Sports Handicapper's Library. The Stardust was known for both low limit gambling and high stake players with a $10,000 limit at the Baccarat table.

By 1991, after a $300 million renovation, it had 1,500 rooms, a golf course, 2 landscaped pools and a 24 hour workout facility. It was located on the Strip close to the Circus Circus, the Riviera and the "Frontier." It was adjacent to the Wynn hotel; the Las Vegas Convention Center was also conveniently down the street. The Convention Center is only half the size of the planned 87 acre Echelon Place complex with 6.5 million square feet of meeting facilities and convention space.

Many famed celebrities performed at the Stardust or got their start here. Entertainers like Wayne Newton signed on to perform there for 10 years earning $25 million a year. Siegfried and Roy and magician Rick Thomas premiered here. The well-known French show, Lido de Paris staged by Donn Arden, was the first production show at Stardust. Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence closed the Stardust Theater with the last performance.

To celebrate their 45th anniversary, a signature cocktail was created with Cointreau, apple juice, Absolut vanilla vodka, sweet 'n' sour and a float of Leroux Crème de Noya. Scenes from well-known movies were set in the Stardust Hotel Las Vegas, NV like Swingers, Showgirls, Casino, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Electric Cowboy with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. In 1943, Cary Grant portrayed Tony Carnero, in the film, Mr. Lucky. There was a lot of history at the Stardust Hotel Las Vegas, NV.