Howard Hughes and the silver slipper

Another of the most iconic signs in Las Vegas belonged to the Silver Slipper Gambling Hall. Originally opened in 1950 on the Last Frontier property, it was called the Golden Slipper because the Silver Slipper name was already in use, but shortly after they opened, the Silver Slipper closed and the name moved to its new home on the Las Vegas Strip. The Silver Slipper was never much of a casino, but due to its central location on the Strip and its proximity to the Last Frontier, it was very popular with families and offered the best 49-cent breakfast buffet in town.

I find it interesting from a marketing perspective that most of the hotels on the Strip used desert or pioneer themes for their casinos: Hacienda, Sands, Aladdin, Dunes, Frontier, Sahara, Desert Inn, Stardust, El Rancho Vegas, and Bonanza. Some hotels even referenced their Cuban and South Florida roots: Flamingo, Tropicana, and the Riviera.

Considering that hotels and casinos on the Strip didn’t begin to emerge until the late 1940s with El Rancho Vegas and Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo, it’s interesting that they all stick to a particular set of themes, but then again, The mafia have never been known for their creativity or risk-taking, unless said risk-taking involves a new and improved style of murder or extortion. I guess they were less concerned with design awards and more interested in skimming.

Following the sale of his Trans World Airways for $546,549,171, Howard Hughes arrived in Las Vegas with his eyes on the future and plenty of cash, but Hughes wasn’t convinced Las Vegas was the place he wanted to settle. After two years of traveling back and forth between the East Coast and Las Vegas, and a careful study of Las Vegas’ financial potential, Hughes decided to stay, moving into the top two floors of the Desert Inn, determined to redo the Las Vegas . scenery. Why? Who knows, but Howard Hughes found enough intrigue to keep him an active participant in Sin City’s growth, and with a billion-dollar budget, he was an instant force. In fact, his name was so big that the Nevada Gaming Commission nearly turned around when it came time to review his application to own a casino. Something that took most potential owners months and years to complete, with Howard Hughes, the ink dried before his aides left the audience.

So what does Silver Slipper have to do with Howard Hughes? It seems fair to say that by the time Hughes moved to Las Vegas, his apparent bipolar behavior and the paranoia of his coworkers were well established. Hughes moved into the Desert Inn with the express agreement that he would not stay more than 2 months. This arrangement was fine with the property, but the penthouse suites on the top two floors were intended for the hotel’s group of high rollers who came to gamble over the Christmas holidays, and the Hughes staff, who were all Mormons, not gamblers. , not. -drinkers, and they just weren’t spending money at the casino or bar. Hughes was asked to leave and when the time came, Hughes wrote a check for $13.2 million, assumed ownership of the Desert Inn and went on a spending spree the likes of which had never been seen in Las Vegas before.

But Hughes was not satisfied and his neurosis and paranoia grew. Memories of McCarthy’s anti-communist hearing also began to weigh on his psyche. This was amplified by the fact that his suite overlooked the Silver Slipper gambling hall across the street and the spinning slipper on the Strip marquee would reflect light into his room. Not only did it wake him up at night, he got the idea that hidden in the toe of his shoe were cameras with the sole intention of photographing the Desert Inn, his suite, and the hotel entrance, all in an effort to chronicle his goings. and comings. . So incensed by the sign, Howard Hughes sent a telegram to his senior assistant: “I want you to buy that place, that damn sign is driving me crazy, it goes round and round and round.” On April 30, 1968, Howard Hughes bought the Silver Slipper Gambling Hall for $5,360,000, and it is rumored that his first edict was to stop the revolving Silver Slipper and fill it with concrete. Surveillance cameras or not, Howard Hughes would finally get a good night’s sleep. Maybe.

Hughes Corporation owned the Silver Slipper until June 1988, when it was purchased by Margaret Elardi, owner of the Frontier Hotel and Casino next door. The Silver Slipper was demolished soon after with plans to expand Frontier, but a union strike and hard economic times put an end to that.

Today, the iconic Silver Slipper stands on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Neon Museum, just north of downtown Las Vegas. The sneaker is available to view 24/7, but the museum is only open by appointment. Go to their website for more information on their tours and costs. For anyone who revels in “Old Vegas” nostalgia, a trip to the museum is well worth it.

Howard Hughes moved to Las Vegas on November 24, 1966 and died on April 5, 1976 at the age of 70. His impact on Las Vegas in the ’60s and ’70s is monumental and came at a time when mob interests were waning and corporate Wall Street. interest was growing. We’ll take a look at this fascinating moment in Las Vegas history in future posts.

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