Castaways (casino) explained

Casino:Castaways
Coordinates:36.1223°N -115.1719°W
Theme:Polynesia
Address:3320 South Las Vegas Boulevard[1]
Location:Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Pushpin Map:United States Las Vegas Strip#Nevada
Date Opened:August 21, 1955 (Sans Souci hotel)
October 23, 1957 (Sans Souci casino)
September 1, 1963 (Castaways)
Casino Type:Land-based
Owner:Ben Jaffe (1963–1967)
Hughes Tool Company (1967–1972)
Summa Corporation (1972–1986)
Steve Wynn (1986–87)
Rooms:228 (as of 1987)
Names Pre:Sans Souci Hotel (1955–1963)
Attractions:Gateway to Luck
Renovations:1957, 1963, 1969, 1971–72, 1981

The Castaways was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It began in the 1930s, as a small motel called Mountain View. It became the San Souci in 1939, and underwent several ownership changes in its early years. A hotel addition opened on August 21, 1955, when the property became the Sans Souci Hotel. A casino, showroom, and restaurant were eventually opened on October 23, 1957. These facilities closed less than a year later, due to financial problems, although the hotel continued operations. Following a bankruptcy reorganization, the shuttered facilities reopened in May 1960. However, the property soon closed due to further financial difficulties.

Investor Ben Jaffe purchased the Sans Souci and reopened it as the Polynesian-themed Castaways on September 1, 1963. A new signature attraction was a Jain temple replica referred to as the Gateway to Luck. Jaffe also added more hotel rooms. He served as landlord for the casino portion, which was operated by a separate group. The casino closed again in December 1964, and was briefly reopened a year later under a new operating group. Following another closure, it reopened in May 1967, and Jaffe sold the entire property later that year to Howard Hughes, marking his third Las Vegas casino purchase. Hughes owned it through Hughes Tool Company, and later through his Summa Corporation.

In 1986, casino owner Steve Wynn purchased the Castaways and nearby vacant property with plans to build a new resort on the land. The Castaways closed on July 20, 1987. Wynn's new resort, The Mirage, opened in 1989. The Castaways name would later be used for the Showboat Hotel and Casino on Boulder Highway, starting in 2001.

History

Early years

The property began in the 1930s, as a small motel called the Mountain View auto court. In 1939, it was sold to W. R. Miller and Dr. Freeman H. Smith, who renamed it the San Souci.[2] [3] [4] They sold it to Burton Miller and his wife in 1941.[4] The 16-room San Souci was sold again in 1946, to Las Vegas attorney H. Cleveland Schultz.[5]

A grand opening for the renamed Sans Souci Hotel took place on August 21, 1955, following renovations which included a two-story, 82-room hotel and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Future additions were planned for the 12-acre property, including a casino, nightclub, and restaurant.[6] [7] [8] The casino portion opened on October 23, 1957.[9] [10] It was operated by George E. Mitzell and Harold V. Hinds.[11] The property also featured live entertainment in the new 400-seat Jamaica Room.[12] At the end of 1957, Mitzell announced plans to add 100 additional rooms,[13] although these did not materialize. In 1958, a meat company filed a $21,500 lawsuit against the Sans Souci for lack of payment.[14] Saxophonist Charlie Ventura also filed a lawsuit, after suffering a fall on the casino's stage during a performance.[15]

In July 1958, two Las Vegas men, Jerry Kastner and Arthur Rozen, agreed to invest a total of $75,000 in operating funds.[16] [17] Kastner ultimately purchased only $31,000 worth of casino stock, and later said that he pulled out of the deal because it had been misrepresented. The casino and showroom closed in August 1958, and the property filed for bankruptcy.[18] Federal agents seized money from the Sans Souci for its failure to pay cabaret taxes. The hotel was unaffected.[19] The Sans Souci later filed a $400,000 damages suit against Kastner, alleging that his pullout resulted in the property's bankruptcy. A court eventually ruled in Kastner's favor.[20] [21] [22]

In 1959, a federal judge approved a reorganization plan which would include leasing the casino, showroom, restaurant and bar to a new group for five years, at $8,500 a month.[18] [23] [24] [25] The showroom reopened in May 1960,[26] [27] and the state approved the casino to add table games; it had only been licensed, the month prior, to operate slot machines.[28] [29] In August 1960, agents of the Internal Revenue Service seized 10 slot machines, which were considered contraband after the casino failed to purchase tax stamps.[30] [31]

The Sans Souci re-entered bankruptcy in November 1961, after four major creditors rejected financial negotiations. The property owned more than $900,000.[32] It eventually closed and, in November 1962, was sold in a bankruptcy auction for $749,600. The new owner was Ben Jaffe, a Las Vegas investor and owner of the Tropicana.[33]

Castaways

Shortly after his purchase, Jaffe announced plans to rename the property as the Polynesian-themed Castaways, and to add additional rooms while remodeling the existing 82 units. Jaffe had previously built a popular Castaways motel in Miami Beach, Florida.[34] Construction of new rooms was underway in 1963.[35] That year, KLAS Radio relocated its headquarters to the Castaways.[36] KVEG would later take its place.[37]

The property reopened as the Castaways on September 1, 1963.[38] [39] [40] The casino was operated by Mississippi oilman Ike P. LaRue and his business partner Everett Eugene McCarlie. LaRue was the brother of Fred LaRue, who also invested in the casino operation.[41] [42] [43] Jaffe served as landlord to the group.[44] The casino, restaurant, and bar were closed again on December 3, 1964, due to financial problems. The hotel continued operations,[44] [45] and the restaurant was eventually reopened. In June 1965, another new group proposed a $100,000 investment to reopen the casino and take over its operations from the LaRue group.[46] [47] The proposal was approved by the state, and the casino and showroom reopened in October 1965,[48] [49] before closing again three months later.[50] [51]

The casino reopened in May 1967, with Oliver Kahle as operator.[52] [53] Several months later, Howard Hughes reached an agreement to buy the Castaways, marking his third Las Vegas casino purchase.[54] [55] Hughes bought the entire property from Jaffe and took over Kahle's operating stake. The sale was approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission in October 1967,[56] [57] at a cost of $3.3 million.[58] At the time, the casino had 10 table games and 152 slot machines. It was owned and operated by Hughes Tool Company,[59] and would be the smallest of six Las Vegas casinos that Hughes eventually owned.

A larger showroom stage was added in 1969.[60] The casino's table games were closed in October 1971, to allow for a $250,000 remodeling of the casino. The slot machines and hotel continued to operate.[61] [62] [63] Work on the rest of the casino took place in 1972.[64] [65] [66] That year, Summa Corporation was formed to oversee Hughes' casinos.[67] A $2.5 million renovation and expansion concluded in 1981.[68]

In October 1986, the Castaways and nearby vacant acreage was sold for $50 million to casino owner Steve Wynn, who planned to build a new resort on the land. In the meantime, Summa continued leasing the Castaways site and operating the hotel-casino.[69] Real estate developer Donald Trump had previously discussed purchasing the Castaways, until Wynn made a better offer.[70] Numerous VIPs, including Wynn, attended a farewell celebration at the casino on July 19, 1987, ahead of the property's closing the next day.[71] [72] [73] Various items were given away as souvenirs, with the grand prize being a six-ton, 90-foot-long sign from the casino's east side.

At the time of its closing, the Castaways had 228 rooms and 650 employees.[74] It was scheduled to be demolished in the months ahead to make way for Wynn's new resort,[75] which opened as The Mirage in 1989. The Mirage's northern edge on Las Vegas Boulevard occupies the former Castaways property.[76] The Castaways name would later be used for the Showboat Hotel and Casino on Boulder Highway, starting in 2001.[77]

Attractions

Gateway to Luck

See main article: St. Louis Jain temple. In 1963, the Castaways added a Jain temple replica as a tourist attraction. It was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.[78] [79] [80] The Castaways referred to the temple as the Gateway to Luck. The 14-ton structure was 35 feet high and included a winding staircase leading to a balcony. It was located behind the casino building in a fenced-off area, next to a wishing well.[80]

In 1980, the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) learned of the replica's existence and its use as a tourist attraction, with which JCSC disagreed: "We believe the display of the temple this way is an insult". JCSC requested that the temple be donated,[80] [81] and Summa instead offered to sell it for $250,000, which was more than JCSC could afford.[82] In 1987, amid the Castaways' closure, the temple was disassembled and donated to members of the Jain sect in Las Vegas.[83] [84] It has since been reconstructed at JCSC.

Entertainment

In its early years, the property featured women who performed shows while dressed as mermaids.[85] [86] In 1964, the Castaways debuted several shows in its new Samoa Room,[87] including Bottoms Up, a musical comedy.[88] [89] It was produced by Breck Wall.[90] [91] [92] Another show, Happy-Go-Lucky, starred Lili St. Cyr and Hank Henry.[93] [94] Watusi Scandals, a musical show featuring the Watusi dance, opened in 1965.[95] Four years later, Wall opened another show called Cotton Club Revue '70.[96] The Castaways also hosted comedians Redd Foxx and Pearl Williams.[89] [97]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Best Deal . Los Angeles Times . February 2, 1982 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  2. News: Found in Vegas . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 9, 1939 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  3. News: 'Ideal Climate' Found Here in Las Vegas . Las Vegas Age . May 12, 1939 . April 25, 2022 . 1 .
  4. News: Auto Court Sold to Eastern Couple . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 21, 1941 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  5. News: Vegas Attorney Buys Auto Court . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 9, 1946 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  6. News: Sans Souci Change Eyed . Las Vegas Review-Journal . February 21, 1955 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  7. News: Grand Opening Held For San Souci Hotel . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 22, 1955 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  8. News: First Wing of New Hotel In Strip Area is Opened . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 28, 1955 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  9. News: Sans Souci Is Given License By County . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 14, 1957 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  10. News: New Sans Souci Hotel . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 23, 1957 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  11. News: Strip Casino Wins Approval . Reno Evening Gazette . September 23, 1957 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  12. News: Vi Taylor Director of Public Relations at New Sans Souci . Las Vegas Review-Journal . June 4, 1957 . April 24, 2022 . subscription.
  13. News: Sans Souci Set for Big Expansion! . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 19, 1957 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  14. News: Sans Souci Groups Hit By $21,500 Civil Suit . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 27, 1958 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  15. News: Big Damage Suit Against Sans Souci . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 24, 1958 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  16. News: Gaming Board Studies Sans Souci Matter . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 8, 1958 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  17. News: New Funds Set for Sans Souci . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 10, 1958 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  18. News: Casino Lease At San Souci Gets Approval . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . June 20, 1959 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  19. News: Name Trustee For San Souci . Reno Evening Gazette . August 5, 1958 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  20. News: Sans Souci Operators Sue Partner . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 24, 1959 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  21. News: San Souci Seeks $400,000 Damages . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 25, 1961 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  22. News: Casino Loses Damage Suit . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 2, 1961 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  23. News: Reorganization Plans For Sans Souci Presented . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 19, 1959 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  24. News: Sans Souci Hotel Plan Wins Okeh . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 22, 1959 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  25. News: Reorganization Approved For Sans Souci Hotel . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . July 23, 1959 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  26. News: Sans Souci To Go Ahead With Plans . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 18, 1960 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  27. News: Sans Souci Opens Show With New Type Talent . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 19, 1960 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  28. News: Sans Souci Gains License . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Associated Press . May 19, 1960 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  29. News: Special Meet Current Topic Of Debate . Reno Evening Gazette . May 24, 1960 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  30. News: Revenue Agents Seize Slots . Reno Evening Gazette . August 3, 1960 . April 24, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  31. News: Sans Souci Petitions for Slot Return . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 3, 1960 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  32. News: Sans Souci Adjudged Bankrupt After Four Years of Negotiation . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 10, 1961 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  33. News: Vegas Hotel Man Wins Bidding For Sans Souci . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 18, 1962 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  34. News: Jaffe To Rename Sans Souci 'The Castaways' . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 28, 1962 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  35. News: Foreclosure Suit Hits Sans Souci . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 28, 1963 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  36. News: KLAS Radio Moves To New Headquarters . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 4, 1963 . April 25, 2022 . subscription.
  37. News: Kansas City firm buys KVEG . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 15, 1971 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  38. News: Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 1, 1963 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  39. News: Castaways Nixes Lions For Opening Hijinks . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 4, 1963 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  40. News: Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 16, 1963 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  41. News: Who Was Answering on 2287 . Newsday . April 24, 1972 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  42. News: Sullivan . Patricia . Watergate 'Bagman' Fred LaRue, 75, Dies . April 26, 2022 . The Washington Post . July 29, 2004.
  43. News: Smith . John L. . Bagman went from Las Vegas casino owner to Watergate legend . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 1, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041104052932/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Aug-01-Sun-2004/news/24434890.html . November 4, 2004.
  44. News: Casino Closes in Vegas; Hotel Operation Continues . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . December 4, 1964 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  45. News: Game Room Doors Close At 6 P.M. . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 4, 1964 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  46. News: Four in Bid to Reopen Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . Associated Press . June 19, 1965 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  47. News: Gaming Board Reviews Nevada License Bids . March 1, 2019 . Nevada State journal . August 6, 1965 . Newspapers.com . subscription .
  48. News: Castaways, Slipper Get Board Okay . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 21, 1965 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  49. News: Castaways Casino Opens With New Show . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 27, 1965 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  50. News: Oliver Kahle Asks Permit For Gaming . Reno Evening Gazette . March 28, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  51. News: Hotel Investigating Dinner Plan Beefs . Las Vegas Review-Journal . March 3, 1966 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  52. News: Castaways Casino Back In Action! . Las Vegas Review-Journal . March 29, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  53. News: County Grants Castaways Okay . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 11, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . subscription.
  54. News: Hughes Buys Third Casino . Napa Valley Register . Associated Press . September 23, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  55. News: Macy . Robert . Las Vegas Still Feels Impact of Howard Hughes . April 26, 2022 . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press . April 13, 1986.
  56. News: Another . Independent . October 20, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  57. News: Hughes Obtains Gaming License . The Fresno Bee . Associated Press . October 27, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  58. Book: Drosnin . Michael . Hughes . Howard . Citizen Hughes . 2004 . Broadway Books . 978-0-7679-1934-0 . 473 . April 26, 2022.
  59. News: Hughes Cleared to Buy Another Casino . Kansas City Times . October 21, 1967 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  60. News: Castaways Expands Its Facilities . Las Vegas Review-Journal . February 21, 1969 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  61. News: Strip casino remodelling project starts . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . October 15, 1971 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  62. News: Casino Closes . Las Vegas Sun . October 15, 1971 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  63. News: Castaways to Undergo Refurbishing . Las Vegas Sun . October 19, 1971 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  64. News: Castaways Is Back In Business . Las Vegas Sun . January 16, 1972 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  65. News: Castaways to close Wednesday . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 30, 1971 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  66. News: Construction underway on Castaways casino . Las Vegas Review-Journal . February 25, 1972 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  67. News: Hughes casino plan submitted . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . May 8, 1973 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com.
  68. News: Construction booming at LV casinos . Las Vegas Review-Journal . June 21, 1981 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  69. Retrieved April 27, 2022:
  70. News: The big money . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 7, 1986 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  71. News: Castaways mystique fades into memory . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 21, 1987 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  72. News: Classy Closing . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 27, 1987 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  73. News: The Castaways makes classy exit . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 30, 1987 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  74. News: Morrison . Jane Ann . Las Vegas says farewell to old-timer Castaways . Reno Gazette-Journal . July 21, 1987 . April 26, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  75. Web site: Teary-Eyed Dealers Bid Casino Farewell . . March 1, 2019 . July 20, 1987 . subscription . NewsLibrary.
  76. Web site: Las Vegas Strip . Vintage Las Vegas . April 27, 2022 . North side of current Mirage property..
  77. News: Las Vegas Showboat taking 'Castaways' name . April 26, 2022 . Las Vegas Sun . September 20, 2000.
  78. News: Strip Resort to Display Teak Temple . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 14, 1963 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  79. News: Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 29, 1963 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  80. News: Sect Asks Casino to Give Up 'Shrine' Replica of Sacred Temple Displayed as Tourist Attraction . Los Angeles Times . May 21, 1981 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  81. News: Religious Group Wants Vegas Shrine Replica . The Sacramento Bee . Associated Press . May 22, 1981 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  82. News: Thai Buddhist God a Good Luck Symbol: Casino Puts Bet on Deity Statue . Los Angeles Times . January 14, 1984 . April 27, 2022 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  83. News: Jain temple replica to stay in Las Vegas . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 7, 1987 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  84. News: The temple is spared from doom . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 12, 1987 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  85. News: Sans Souci Mermaid in the Pool . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 24, 1958 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  86. News: Sonya . Padgett . Live Art: Flipping Over Fish . . January 3, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080206184603/http://www.lvrj.com/living/13001937.html . February 6, 2008.
  87. News: Castaways Act Features Guitar-Playing Vocalist . Las Vegas Review-Journal . February 14, 1964 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  88. News: Castaways' 'Bottoms Up' Now Big Strip Attraction . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 19, 1964 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  89. Book: Starr, Michael Seth . Black and Blue: The Redd Foxx Story . 2011 . Applause Theatre & Cinema . 978-1-55783-852-0 . 78 . April 27, 2022.
  90. News: McGee . Kimberley . Off the Wall . April 27, 2022 . Las Vegas Sun . September 9, 2000.
  91. News: The Great Wall . April 27, 2022 . Las Vegas Sun . August 2, 2002.
  92. News: Show proves to have bottomless appeal . April 27, 2022 . Las Vegas Sun . July 11, 2003.
  93. News: Lili St. Cyr, Hank Henry Head Show . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 21, 1964 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  94. News: Hank Henry Show Packs Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 4, 1964 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  95. News: Castaways Brings Back Hit 'Watusi Scandals' . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 2, 1965 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  96. News: Cotton Club Revue '70 To Open at Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 16, 1969 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.
  97. News: Pearl Joins Lilli, Hank At Castaways . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 12, 1964 . April 27, 2022 . subscription.

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