Goodbye to the Stardust

[Brian Sheridan]

Can't understand how the news still likes to cover implosions. We already had the two that no one's going to top.

Funny you should mention that, when I anchored the TV news, I loved implosions. We used to put them in my newscast as the fun story at the show's end (the kicker) all the time - no matter where they happened.

After Sept. 11th, I never ran one again. I can barely watch them now.

 

[goldwyn girl]

I went to the last night the Stardust was open and it was sad. I hate to see the old ones go and in their place something that looks like evey other building. In my opinion if the Vegas strip needs to expand don't put up the condos put the new hotels there and leave the old ones for people to enjoy too.
Here are a couple of photos of the Royal Nevada taken after the Stardust closed. So much more tranquil than high rise.

I went to the Neon Graveyard right before christmas and we were told not to touch anything but I was bad and I did touch the 60's Stardust letters, I just had to...................

 

[Lincsong]

The Stardust was the casino in the movie CASINO. Frank "lefty" Rosenthal worked there from 1971-1981. The HISTORY CHANNEL has an espisode on it every once in a while.

I was there in September to watch Don Rickles. I've stayed there a couple times. Oh, well, if the place was making a big profit it wouldn't have come down. Every business in there to make money.

I remember the first time I saw the place when I was 16. It was such a different place then when compared to today.

 

[Lincsong]

My husband and I got a room with a view at the Circus Circus last night to watch the implosion. We had some friends over and drank a glass of wine/beer as a fond goodbye.

to give you some perspective on the whole subject:

I was not too sad to see the Stardust tower go. the building was not that old by vegas standards - built in 1991 i believe. it really obscured the 1964 tower (which was also impoded last night). The real treasure was the Royal Nevada property next door - dating to the 1955 (by Paul Williams - of La Concha and LAX theme bldg. fame). That property was bought out by Stardust and incorporated into their property in 1958, BUT it retained its 1950s low rise motel charm with palm lined pool area to this day. We hung out by that pool on the last open night of the Stardust with friends after seeing Steve and Edie play the ballroom. now that was a treasure to lament losing.

In fact - this morning the only thing left standing was the one last row of the 2 story motel buildings - pretty karmic in a way that those remained... i am sure those will be removed via wrecking ball.

yup - in vegas, casinos come and go - many of the wel known names we all know and love were built on the graves of earlier gambling establishments. the specific architecture of the stardust was more wrapped up in the signage then the building - with the original solar system facade LONG gone. so the loss is more of an emotional one more then anything.

the 1968 streetside pole sign neon tubing was indeed donated to the Neon Museum and the very happy ending to this story is that the Neon Museum already had the original stardust angular lettering that was removed for the ugly helvetica lettering years back. so now the original lettering will once again be reunited with the 1960s sign in the hands of the neon folks.

in answer to the question - is there ANYTHING cool from the past left in las vegas? the answer in definitely YES. sure we have lost alot of high-profile landmarks, but you would be surprised at the local structures that survive - especially the residential architecture! PLUS, there is a brand new preservation group here dedicated to keeping it alive, too. BTW - our next meeting is actually tomorrow night - we meet every 2nd wed.of the month.

Atomic Age Alliance
http://www.atomicage.org

YOU can learn more about the coolstuff left in vegas AND support a good cause by purchasing one of our tourbooks on our website.

One of our first actions as a group will be to nominate the last remaining giant moai from the aku aku restaurant (a stardust institution for years through the 1950s-1980s) that lives on in a local city park as a landmark!

Atomic Age Alliance is also one of the sponsors of an up and coming event held by the local AIA and jr. assistance league - an Alan Hess lecture in April - but check back with the www.lottaliving.com/bb message board as i will post those details there as that's more of an appropriate forum for that.

in any case....
the recent Mondo Lounge Atomic Frolic event helped to kick off our group and we plan to hold many more fun and educational events that will be of interest to Fedora Lounge members in the future. In fact, we'd love to team up with Fedora if you want to do any local meets in Vegas.

That was a good turnout in January you got there for your firt Mondo Atomic Frolic Event. I know this Lounger and a couple others will make the trek across the desert for the next one.

 

[TailendCharlie]

Good riddance to bad luggage

I had my suitcase missplaced or stolen from there back in the 80,s,one of those American Tourister;remember the gorillia commercial onT.V.
I wonder if it survived:cry: