by Pam Goertler #R-3432

30 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 in her days of glory. Dust and dirt, up to create the Moulin Rouge. It was Hundreds of casinos have inches thick, covered everything. Bits designed to offer comfortable, even opened and closed in Las of construction debris and cardboard luxurious, accommodations to black Vegas over the years. Strip boxes littered the floor; I seem to recall entertainers who were not allowed to a few booths, their upholstery torn, stay at the hotels on the strip where casinos that were open still in the room. I pressed our camera they performed. It offered a place for many years, such as lens against the grimy windows trying for black travelers to play and stay. the Stardust and Desert to capture, on film, a bit of the magic It offered strip-quality restaurants, Inn, left their marks in that had been the Moulin Rouge. The gambling and entertainment for local the minds and hearts of pictures didn’t turn out well, there was blacks who, thanks to the Jim Crow thousands of people who no magic in them, and they were lost laws, were not welcome on the Las played and stayed there or tossed years ago. I wish we’d seen Vegas Strip or downtown. It also was her in her days of glory, but I’m glad the first neighborhood hotel-casino in through the years. Smaller we were able to see her at all. Las Vegas. off-strip casinos that were open for only a few months are often nearly forgotten. The Moulin Rouge really should fall into the second category, but it was a place where some historic, almost magical, events took place and there are people who are still struggling, more than 50 years later, to keep the magic alive.

My husband George and I went to the Moulin Rouge several years ago, Much as the reputation of the On April 6, 1955, a fire broke out long after the casino was closed. We Sands was formed during a few short at the $2.5 million Moulin Rouge, drove past the guard house that was by weeks in 1960 when Frank Sinatra, which was still under construction. A the open gate, then we got out of the Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter plumber who was using a blowtorch car and wandered around a little, and Lawford and Joey Bishop performed accidentally started the blaze in the peeked through the windows. What their antics on the stage and in the second floor attic of a hotel wing. The we saw through the windows was casino; so was the legend of the fire swept across the attic which had hard to visualize as the Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge no firewalls, destroying the roof above formed during just it, burning the ceilings of the rooms a few short months, below it, and damaging many walls in 1955. in the rooms located on the second floor of the wing. It was reported that several firemen, attempting to fight the The fire from the roof, tumbled through the Beginning weakened roof to the floor below. No White businessmen serious injuries were reported; damage Louis Rubin was estimated to be in five-figures. and Beverly While the extensive fire damage Hills developer delayed completion of that wing, it Alexander Bisno didn’t delay the opening of the Moulin were two of the Rouge which had been planned for men who teamed May or June.

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 31 and lounge were The Grand Opening painted with The Moulin Rouge opened on murals of Can- May 24, 1955, and it was every bit as Can dancers and luxurious as the nicest resorts on the scenes of Paris. ; crystal chandeliers, What made the mahogany, a spacious showroom and Moulin Rouge a swimming pool where the guests different was could cool off on a hot day. The casino the location and the guests… the Moulin Rouge was located at 900 Bonanza Road, on the west side Blackjack on opening night, as shown in Life magazine. of the tracks, on the edge of the black of Life Magazine. section of Las Vegas. The staff of the Moulin Rouge was racially integrated, Dee Dee Jasmine was a 17 year and so were the guests. The two dozen old dancer from Los Angeles, who dancers and entertainers, who came was selected to be part of the Moulin from auditions that were held all over Rouge Chorus Line. She recalls the United States, were black. The arriving at the Las Vegas airport and opening was well publicized, and a getting into a limo which took her reporter and photographer from Life and some other dancers down the Magazine were there. Photos from Las Vegas Strip. They passed the the opening night adorn the cover and , the Royal Nevada, , inside pages of the June 20, 1955 issue Riviera, Thunderbird, Sahara and … all those beautiful resorts, and the limo kept right on going. Her heart sank when they got to “the sleazy part of town”, then she spotted the beautiful hotel that said “Moulin Rouge” on it… and her spirits lifted again. The Moulin Rouge housed its employees and regular performers at the Cadillac Arms, a development that far exceeded the average Westside accommodations. Young performers like Dee Dee lived next door to stars, such as The Platters. She says the performers were all like family, and they spent a lot of enjoyable time together.

Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections The show that

32 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 (Pearl Bailey’s second cousin), and the host was former heavyweight champion Joe Louis. The show proved to be popular, thanks to the scheduled performers as well as performers who made unscheduled appearances! You can picture what happened… Sammy Davis Jr. is in town, performing with the other members of the Will Mastin Trio. The second show is over and Sammy would like An African dance called “The Watusi” to relax with a drink (performed here by Boots Wade) brought the chorus line at the and play cards for Moulin Rouge out in father tails to awhile. He can’t do writhe through a violent sequence that on the strip, of jumps and contortions. At climax so he heads to the of the dance a medicine man came nicest casino on bounding out brandishing two live squawking chickens.. the Westside, the Moulin Rouge. His entertainers who performed on the buddy Frank Sinatra strip stayed at rooming houses or Some of the Moulin Rouge dancers (clockwise from lower is in town and wants in private homes on the Westside. left) Barbara McCory, Jane Craddock, Norma Talbert, to hang out with Lorraine Riley, Anne Bailey, Dee Dee Jasmine and After the opening, several of the (center) Norma Washington. Photo Courtesy of UNLV Sammy, so he heads black entertainers who were regular Special Collections over to the Moulin performers on the strip maintained Rouge. Frank was an rooms or small suites at the Moulin premiered at the Moulin Rouge was “entertainer’s entertainer”… wherever Rouge. While the men who conceived Tropi-Can Can, which featured Stump Frank went, other entertainers the Moulin Rouge advertised it as and Stumpy, Margie McGlory, a followed, as did other members of the “Cosmopolitan” or “Integrated”, it young Gregory Hines with his brother “inner circle”, and those who wanted was really expected to draw blacks. and father, and the Honeytones. The to be. It was the same with other black The fact that a lot of whites were seen master of ceremonies was Bob Bailey performers; Ella Fitzgerald, Duke there was a pleasant surprise for the Ellington, Lionel Hampton, owners… because it wasn’t just any Della Reese, The Penguins, whites, many were famous, influential, and more. The crowds were wealthy, or all of the above! Life was so large, and the show got so good! popular that a third show was added. It was at that show that the celebrity guests most often The Mystery of the joined in, giving impromptu performances of their own. Moulin Rouge In 1955 the Moulin Rouge was a Prior to the opening of legend in its own time. That’s why the Moulin Rouge, black it was such a shock when, about six

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 33 to demand immediate payment, creating a financial problem for the Moulin Rouge. Another theory said that so much money was being “skimmed” that there wasn’t enough left to pay the creditors, forcing the Moulin Rouge to file for bankruptcy. Stage Manager Wally Ogle commented that a lot of money was going out the back door… which seems to support the skimming theory. There was also a theory that the partners weren’t getting along; they couldn’t agree who should do what as far as running the day-to-day months after it opened, it closed. that ensued, customers and operations, so nobody was paying That abruptly. I’ve come up with two employees were grabbing the creditors. Maybe the truth lies different stories on how the casino chips from the tables… chips in this speculation, maybe not. closed. According to Dee Dee Jasmine, from the dealer trays, as well Your guess is as good as mine. one day when the staff reported for as the chips they’d been playing. work they discovered heavy padlocks I guess these two stories could on the doors. There was no advance both be correct, if gaming closed notice; business had been the casino early in the day and locked it up before the entertainers reported for work.

What happened? Whoever knew the answer to that question wasn’t talking. The majority of the speculation offered these theories: The Moulin Rouge was too popular; she was taking too much booming, business from the strip and downtown and casinos and their owners, including suddenly it was over. The other version “the boys”, didn’t like it. Some of of the story says that the Gaming the strip casino owners threatened to Control Board came in to the casino, fire any of their showgirls that were closed the games, closed the cashier spotted at the Moulin Rouge! Pressure cage, and escorted the patrons and was put on suppliers to stop doing employees out… with instructions business with the Moulin Rouge. Also, Cocktail glass from the opening night. to contact the GCB to redeem any it’s been suggested, pressure was put Swizzle Stick attributed to Moulin Rouge, Las Vegas. chips. Reportedly, during the chaos on those who held short-term notes

34 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 back to the way would take place, unless a plan to end they were before segregation was developed within the Moulin 30 days. Then he held his breath. Rouge; white He hadn’t talked to anyone about gamblers went planning a march, and he didn’t know back to the strip if the members of the NAACP would and downtown, support such a move, which could black patrons result in injury or incarceration for went back to the anyone involved. There was a counter- Louisiana Club offer; Mayor Gragson promised and the Town that more blacks would be hired for Tavern. After the city jobs, and City Commissioner casino closed, the Reed Whipple, an officer of the First Moulin Rouge National Bank, promised that there Hotel continued would be loans for blacks to build

Fuller’s Index gives 5/18/59 as the ending date for the Moulin Rouge. I’m puzzled about that, because I’ve read so many reports that indicate a life span of approximately six months, for the casino. Maybe the license was kept active until that date, since it was licensing dates that Fuller dealt with. Some reports say it closed in October, 1955, some say November. One report said that the Moulin Rouge closed on

Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections

to operate, but things were or buy homes and businesses. They never really the same. didn’t, however, promise that blacks would be admitted to any of the big casinos and resorts. McMillan turned Desegregation in down the offer, and began holding meetings in West Las Vegas churches, Las Vegas trying to get blacks to agree to march. In 1960 the blacks in Las Vegas All the while, he was receiving death were getting restless. Most of the threats from the Ku Klux Klan. country had made forward strides Sergeant Wilbur Jackson, and the other towards ending segregation, but things October 11, 1955, due to “financial black officers on the LV police force, hadn’t changed much in Las Vegas. difficulties”. began making frequent patrols around James McMillan, President of the McMillan’s neighborhood. local branch of the NAACP, notified Whatever and whenever it Las Vegas Mayor Oran Gragson, that happened, the closing of the Moulin Oscar Crozier, owner of the New El a huge march on the casino district Rouge meant that some things went Morocco, contacted James McMillan;

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 35 Bob Bailey Bob Bailey worked his way through Morehouse College, in the 1940’s, as a singer in a local nightclub. He was approached by two white gentlemen, who asked if he would be interested in singing with Count Basie, and he was hired as one of two featured singers. The job lasted until 1950, when the changing times, and fewer engagements, forced the big band to downsize. Bailey then got interested in television, and attended broadcast school. His color, however, prevented him from getting a job in the Crozier had been selected by the A meeting was held on March 26, television field. “hidden” Strip resort owners as their 1960, with James McMillan, Mayor liaison. The message he brought: Oran Gragson, Dr. Charles West, LV In 1955 he took advantage of the “Cut it out, or we’ll drop you in Lake Police Chief Ray Schaeffer, Hank opportunity to go to Las Vegas to Mead.” McMillan asked Crozier to tell Greenspun, Governor Grant Sawyer, co-produce and emcee the Tropi-can- the resort owners that all he wanted Bob Bailey, several other civil rights can show at the brand new Moulin to do was “… make Las Vegas a activists, and representatives from Rouge Hotel and Casino. After a few cosmopolitan city, which would make most of the big casino-hotels in months at the Moulin Rouge, Bailey more money for them. You tell them attendance. Appropriately, the meeting was signed to host a television show that and let me know what they say.” In was held at the Moulin Rouge, and for 13 weeks, sponsored by the Moulin his autobiography McMillan admitted it was announced that blacks would Rouge. Only seven weeks into the that he was almost ready to give up. be allowed to patronize the casinos, contract, the Moulin Rouge closed. Luckily, Crozier came back with the restaurants and other businesses Hank Greenspun, owner of the Las message “Mac, Vegas Sun newspaper and KLAS TV, its OK. They’re had become a fan of the show and going to make wanted it to continue. Sponsors were their people found and Bailey’s show stayed on the let blacks stay air for the next two years. in the hotels... Black people Bailey believed that the Moulin can go into Rouge closed because of its popularity. restaurants and Back in the 1950’s the chorus girls stay at hotels were required to hang around the and gamble casino after the shows, to keep the and eat and high-rollers interested. The (white) everything entertainers usually hung around, too. else.” McMillan After the Moulin Rouge opened, the felt that the chorus girls and entertainers started mobsters going out there after the second show. thought it would be better to negotiate on the strip and downtown. This The high-rollers followed them. “The than to have cars burning up on the became known as the Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge became the place to be strip… and anything less than that Agreement. after hours.” ‘Nuff said? would have been ineffective.

36 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 Bailey pioneered the way for blacks the phone book. in television, wrote editorials for the The sign on the Las Vegas Voice (a black newspaper) building, however, and a column for the Las Vegas reads “Cocktails Sun. He became very active in the and Gambling”. civil rights movement in Las Vegas. (Author’s note: Bailey directed a Manpower Services yes, this segment Program which trained and placed should have been over 1,000 minority workers, many of in the previous them dealers, in two years. issue of CCTN, in the article about In 1964 Bailey opened the Sugar the Westside Hill Club, at 1316 Miller, in Las Vegas. Clubs. However, Bailey named the Sugar Hill after an I hadn’t found the affluent neighborhood in Harlem, and information when a Broadway show that was about life that issue went to in the neighborhood. He figured that press. Since Bob the name would interest anyone from Bailey, the founder New York, and they would want to of Sugar Hill, was visit the place. Like the Moulin Rouge, also associated the Sugar Hill became an after-hours with the Moulin

Moulin Rouge, and recapturing the magic that existed so briefly in 1955. In 1985 Sarann Knight Preddy, the owner at the time, encased the columns with stucco covered boxes, added awnings and a shingled roof to the tower, in an attempt to refurbish and improve the Moulin Rouge.

Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections hangout. Johnny Carson would play Rouge I included the information here. the drums when he stopped in, and Now, back to the Moulin Rouge…) Louis Armstrong would play an impromptu trumpet solo. According Sarann Knight Preddy in 1985 to Bailey, Sugar Hill was successful Other Important until the late 1980’s, when the Dates In neighborhood got too rough. I haven’t Moulin Rouge History found the Sugar Hill listed as a casino The Moulin Rouge changed owners in any of the usual resources, and it’s several times over the years, most of listed under “Cocktail Lounges” in them with dreams of reopening the

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1 37 flames were shooting On February 20, 2004, former out the roof of the employee Fred “Bubba” Ball pleaded casino building. guilty to arson. He was sentenced The fire department to 51 months in federal prison and pumped more than was ordered to pay $5.6 million 5,000 gallons of restitution. John “Antman” Caver had water per minute been arrested on related charges, but on the fire, in an the Clark County prosecutor’s office attempt to extinguish dismissed the charges. it, or at least control it. With no lives at On February 7, 2008, it was stake in the long- announced that $700 million funding Changes implemented by Preddy including awnings closed casino, and was in place to redevelop the Moulin and a shingled roof to the existing tower. with a fear that it Rouge. Ground breaking is planned for would collapse, 2009, with the opening anticipated in no fire-fighters were sent into the 2010. In 1992 the Moulin Rouge was placed building. The building was completely on the National Register of Historic destroyed, except for the façade and Will the Moulin Rouge, like the Places. the sweeping neon letters that formed Phoenix, rise from the ashes? Only the name. Luckily only 3 or 4 of the time will tell. In 1993 new chips were made for apartments in the hotel wing were the Moulin Rouge; The Chip Rack damaged, by water, and there were no Thanks to Rick Olson, Brian shows that it was open serious injuries. Cashman and Mark Englebretson for from 1993-1996. allowing me to use your scans.

I couldn’t find any other information on the Moulin Rouge during those dates.

In 1997 Bart Maybie bought the Moulin Rouge for $3 million. He rented out the 120 rooms, which had been transformed into “apartments” by that time, to people who were getting government assistance with housing.

In 1998, less than 200 yards from the Moulin Rouge, Fred “Bubba” Ball was arrested and was later convicted for felony drug possession.

In March of 2003, owner Bart Maybie announced plans to renovate and reopen the casino. At 1:18 A.M. on May 29, 2003, a Moulin Rouge security guard called the fire The Moulin Rouge in 1955, and above inset after another tragic fire. department because he saw smoke. By Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections the time the fire department arrived,

38 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 1