A Brief History of the Flamingo Hotel/Casino by Allan Anderson Benjamin “Bugsy” Legend has it that the Siegel came to Nevada after Flamingo was named after running a national horse the legendary legs of his race wire service and gam- girlfriend Vi rginia Hill. She bling ships off the coast of was nicknamed “The Southern California. After Flamingo” due to her red gambling was shot down in hair and long legs. the state, Siegel and his partners purchased the El The grand opening of Cortez Hotel and Casino in The Flamingo was sched- Las Vegas. Six months later uled for December 26, the group sold the hotel and 1946, with Jimmy Durante negotiated to purchase the as the opening act. In order Flamingo property from to attract and transport Billy Wilkerson. celebrities to the grand opening, flights were char- The Flamingo, having the dreamer of the resort; others say he tered but bad weather in Los Angeles reputation of being the first hotel/ did indeed at least scuff a foot in the grounded the planes. Few celebrities casino on the strip, was actually built sand to mark the unofficial ground- showed up and, as a result, the open- five years after the El Rancho Vegas breaking for his “real class joint.” It ing consisted mostly of locals. S i n c e and four years after The Last Frontier. was Siegel who took 30 acres of flat the hotel had not been completed, gam- desert and turned it into 105 beautiful blers took their winnings with them to Some say “Bugsy” Siegel mus- rooms surrounded by a health club, where they were staying which cled in on Billy Wilkerson, the original gymnasiums, steam rooms, tennis, caused the casino to lose money in badminton, squash and handball it’s first week of operation. It shut courts, stables with riding stock, a down after the second week. The championship swimming pool, a trap- casino re-opened in March, 1947, shooting range and a nine-hole golf after the hotel was finished. By May, course. Siegel convinced his under- the casino started showing a profit. world colleagues to bankroll his dream. On June 20, 1947, in Virginia Hill’s mansion in Beverly Hills, Del E. Webb was hired as the California, Siegel was assassinated by contractor and construction began in a volley of bullets. Rumor has it that 1946, without a complete set of plans. Virginia Hill helped set up the assasi- Webb’s company would build what nation. The day after, Meyer Lansky, Siegel wanted and an architect would Morris Rosen, Gus Greenbaum and draw up the plans from what was Moe Sedway met with El Rancho built. owners Charlie Resnick and Sanford Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel Adler to talk about a new partnership for the Flamingo hotel. After a brief 88 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2001 partnership, Greenbaum added bringing the total to took over as owner and ran 2,920 in 1989. In 1990, the a profitable business includ- fifth tower was erected, ing turning a $4 million upping the room total to a profit the first year. whopping 3,530. It was the second largest hotel in the Greenbaum surpassed world at that time. Four the standards of elegance years later, the final phase and showmanship that began and with it came the Siegel dreamed about. In demolition of the last of the the early 1950’s, the cream original buildings – 489 of the entertainment world garden rooms that stood in performed on the hardwood what is now the Flamingo stage at the Flamingo. Over Hilton’s lavish new Wildlife the years, some of the Habitat area which consists entertainers who performed The Flamingo with the champagne tower in the 1950’s of flamingos, penguins, were Pearl Bailey, Jerry swans, parrots and ducks. A Lewis and Dean Martin, Nat “King” Vegas hotels, the Flamingo and the sixth tower in 1994, added 612 more Cole, Lena Horne, Ted Lewis, Ray International, to Hilton Hotels rooms and the first timeshare in Las Bolger, Jimmy Durante, Shelly Corporation. In 1971, the name Vegas to adjoin a hotel or casino. Winters, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy changed to the Flamingo Hilton. Garland, Jack Benny, Count Basie, In December 1998, Hilton Danny Thomas, Bobby Darin, Wayne In 1976, construction of the now Corporation created Park Place Newton, Phyllis Diller, Led Zepplin, world-famous flowering marquee Entertainment and spun it off as a Bobby Vinton and many others. Joey fronting the Las Vegas strip was separate company. In 1999, Park Bishop was the last to perfom on the completed, and a new 28-story tower Place decided to remove the name stage on July 13, 1988. Long running was added. The room total climbed “Hilton” from the Flamingo name. revues took their places. from 700 to 1,250 rooms. Four years later, the Flamingo Hilton added The Flamingo has 3,638 rooms, a Greenbaum sold the Flamingo in another 500-room tower. Three years 70,000 square foot casino with a Race 1955. From there, the hotel under- later, 500 more rooms were added, and Sports Book, 25,000 square feet went several ownership changes and bringing the total to 2,250 rooms. of meeting space, two olympic size would-be changes, including a failed Another tower with 800 rooms was swimming pools, a health spa, one attempt by a Japanese corporation to kid’s pool, two Jacuzzis, waterfalls, take control. In 1967, Kirk streams and lagoons and Kerkorian agreed to pay four tennis courts. There $13 million for the are luxurious restaurants Flamingo. Kerkorian started for every taste, a chapel as a massive expansion and well as an outdoor gazebo renovation program by and a variety of shops. adding a 350 seat casino theater lounge and a sky- room restaurant and demol- I’d like to thank Lynn Berk ishing the legendary cham- of the Flamingo Las Vegas pagne tower. The entertain- for supplying me with the ment changed from the old pictures and background school to the hottest pop information for this article. groups of the 1960’s. In 1970, after acquiring MGM studios, Kerkorian signed away his first two Las These last remaining buildings, where Bugsy Siegel holed up amid thick walls and a maze of tunnels, came down in 1994 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | July · August · September 2001 89.