Comments on: Stardust, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1960

By: Andy Windes

Andy Windes — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:07:14 +0000

The Stardust, of course, was the real-life location of the events dramatized in the movie, “Casino.” Robert De Niro’s Sam “Ace” Rothstien was modeled after Stardust boss Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal. On Saturday nights in the mid-seventies a local TV station broadcast Rosenthal’s show from the Stardust, and all the big-shots appeared on his show.

Until Sam Boyd bought the property in the 1980′s, the Stardust remained the most “mobbed-up” casino in Las Vegas.

When my family moved to Las Vegas in 1974, I remember being amazed by the Stardust sign, which in my opinion was and remained the greatest of all the hotel signs on the strip. Fortunately, the Las Vegas Neon Museum saved the sign when the hotel was closed, and it is now being stored at the Cashman Field parking lot. Hopefully, one day soon, it will be restored to all it’s glory.

By: Tim Severs

Tim Severs — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:20:56 +0000

First off, ditto everyone’s comments about the Stardust being demolished. Also ditto comments about you, Charles, preserving everyone’s memories of things past. I’ve never been to Vegas, but the Stardust leaving reminds me of when I read about a motel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that got demolished recently. It was called The College Motel in Houghton, Michigan and it was located not far from Michigan Tech’s campus. I went to look it up on one of the motel web pages for the U.P., and it wasn’t there. Upon further research, I found out it got demolished last November to make way for apartments. I’m going to miss that place even though I never stayed in it. We would pass the neon sign each time on the way to Michigan Tech whenever we had the car to drop off my dad, who worked there as a chemist. In the mornings, the neon sign would be on. I can relate to the loss of the Stardust even though I’ve never been to Vegas. You can Google it by typing in Houghton_Motel.jpg. You rock Charles!

By: PofTorC

PofTorC — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 16:03:53 +0000

In the infamous words of Dr. Smith, “the pain, oh the pain…”
the last time i was in vegas i spent an evening soaking up the Stardust for the last time. i could smell it coming. anyone who hasn’t been to the Peppermill Lounge (back room bar) should make a beeline before it’s gone too. thanks again Charles for helping us get closure.

By: ben.sengers

ben.sengers — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 09:28:00 +0000

hallo i like to join in i like it .thank you.v.m. ben

By: Trish

Trish — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:39:33 +0000

Yeah, totally sad. And once they’re gone, you can just never get some things back.

RIP Jerry

By: Nudie Girl #2

Nudie Girl #2 — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:18:10 +0000

Hey Charles — love your report on the Stardust to dust implosion for NPR. So sad about the barback, hope he gets a job. I am moving to Las Vegas, and yes it is very sad to see the classic casinos get blown to smithereens. I stayed at the Desert Inn the last night it was open, and stole everything from the posh room that wasn’t nailed down, and I could shove in my suitcase. I use my “magic scale” from the Desert Inn every day. It is magic because it never weighs little ole me at more than 100 lbs. I love it! Anyway, that’s Vegas. The Sahara, the Riviera, the Tropicana, and the New Frontier are all hangin’ in, but not for long. Amazingly enough the original site of the original strip resort — the El Rancho Vegas is still vacant, almost 50 years after it burnt to the ground. Now, that’s ironic, in a town where strip property is so highly prized. The Stardust tower that was imploded was built in 1989, only 18 years old! That kinda freaks me out — that the Vegas shelf life would be so short. Oh well, look at it this way — the tower only got one more year than the barback.

By: Susanna

Susanna — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:09:53 +0000

I agree! It always break my heart to see classic examples of true Americana get the axe from modernization. I, too, wish someone had had the foresight to save the signage from the hotel and re0use or refurbish it. 30 years from now will anyone “oh” and “ah” over the significance of New York, NY or the Bellagio? Doubt it.

By: Tom Menninger

Tom Menninger — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:41:55 +0000

Ditto everyone’s comment. Sniff.

By: David

David — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:40:41 +0000

It’s because of people like Mr. Phoenix that we will have more than our own fading memories of places like this.

I’m glad you’re saving these memories for us.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 21:01:38 +0000

Oh,Charles, it’s all tooooo sad!!!! Why couldn’t someone see the possibility of redoing the Stardust into a hip, retro, ultra cool pad-like hotel. I’d think that this would’ve gone over really big. We are all into retro and I think all the cool people would have flocked there. I find Vegas one of the most disgusting places but even I would have returned to the Stardust if it had been “made over”. Ah well, even with all it’s history, the mighty buck wins once again. To,to bad! Thanks for the momories.
Pamela