EVERYBODY’S COMING TO LAS VEGAS! WHY NOT YOU?
LARRYS LAS VEGAS SAYS GOODBYE TO THE (OLD) NEW FRONTIER!
IN WITH THE NEW AND OUT WITH THE OLD!
After 65 years of operation, the Frontier closed its doors for good Mon. July 16, 2007
Locals recall the many stories and historical events that occurred over the years.
The hotel estimated that 3,000 people were on the property at 11 p.m. Sunday, an hour before it was to close. Approximately 1,000 continued to mingle at 12:01 a.m. today, when an alarm sounded signaling the end of the Frontier.
The 105-room Hotel Last Frontier opened in 1942. It was the second hotel-casino on the now famous Strip. The property grew under various ownership, most notably Howard Hughes who bought it in 1967 for $14 million.
The latest owner, Kansas-based businessman Phil Ruffin, sold the 34.5-acre property in May for $1.2 billion to New York-based El-Ad Group. Mr. Ruffin’s sale of the hotel had guests and employees alike reminiscing about the history stored within the walls of the ailing Casino. But Ruffin is also being remembered by many employees as the person who ended a bitter labor strike and kept the property operating until now.
According to the “RJ”, Rocco Prolog, a bartender at the New Frontier for 26 years, said, “He’s kept it open longer than it should have been open.” “He’s my favorite owner compared to the other two owners we’ve had. It’s unbelievable what he’s done with the place falling apart.”
The Frontier was best know for showcasing such future stars as Elvis Presley, Ronald Reagan, Siegfried and Roy, Wayne Newton among many others. The 1960’s Singing sensation “The Supremes” performed their last show together there. Reports are that the old stage’s floor will be torn up and shipped to various locations, including The Reagan Presidential Library in Northern California.
For Long time Las Vegas locals the city is literally changing right before their eyes.
The neighboring Stardust was imploded in November by Boyd Gaming Corp. to make way for its $4.8 billion Echelon. Speculation has it that the demise of the “Sahara”, “Circus Circus” and Riviera casino are not too far behind.
Michael Green, history professor at the College of Southern Nevada, said tearing down the property was inevitable no matter who redeveloped the New Frontier.
“The Frontier, as it’s constituted, was not really positioned to compete with the Wynn or Echelon,” said Green. “On the Strip, old fashion doesn’t seem to sell.”
From LarrysLasVegas.com to the Frontier: “Thanks For The Memories”
NEW FRONTIER HISTORY:
October 1942: The second hotel-casino on the now famous Strip opens as the 105-room Western-themed Hotel Last Frontier.
April 1955: A $2 million renovation converts the property to the space-themed Out of this World, complete with a Cloud 9 lounge and Venus Showroom.
1956: Elvis Presley debuts his Las Vegas show at the property. It flops.
1967: The New Frontier’s owners add 650 rooms, the now familiar 200-foot sign, convention space, tennis courts and a pool with mob-backed financing including funds from Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters.
1967: The New Frontier is sold to Howard Hughes for $14 million, who changes the name to “The Frontier”.
1981: Siegfried & Roy begin a seven-year run, “Beyond Belief,” the duo’s first full-length showcase. It runs for 3,500 shows for 3 million people.
1988: Summa Corp. sells the Frontier to Margaret Elardi and family. Summa was the holding company for Hughes’ relatives, who inherited the property after the businessman’s death in 1976.
October 1989: Larry of Larryslasvegas.com begins his nearly 10 years of employment as a “Frontier” Pit Manager.
September 1991: The Elardis and the Culinary Union reach an impasse on employee benefits, and workers begin a strike that lasts 2,325 days.
October 1997: Kansas businessman Phil Ruffin agrees to buy the property for $167 million.
Feb. 1, 1998: Ruffin, with the Rev. Jesse Jackson at his side, takes over operations of the Frontier, changing the name back to New Frontier.
May 2007: After various plans to renovate the property himself fall through, Ruffin sells to Elad Group for $1.2 billion.
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Who do we think is next to go? Check www.larryslasvegas.com for all the latest updates on the Strip!
EVERYBODYS COMING TO LAS VEGAS! WHY NOT YOU?
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