Silver Slipper Explained

Casino:Silver Slipper
Coordinates:36.1306°N -115.1667°W
Pushpin Map:United States Las Vegas Strip#Nevada
Address:3100 South Las Vegas Boulevard[1]
Date Opened:September 1, 1950
Names Pre:Golden Slipper
Casino Type:Land
Theme:Old West
Owner:Margaret Elardi (final owner)
Architect:Martin Stern Jr.
Homer Rissman
Shows:Minsky's Burlesque (1965–1967)
Wonderful World of Burlesque (1968–1973)
Boy-lesque (1977–1988)
Renovations:1966

The Silver Slipper was a casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada.[2] It opened on September 1, 1950. It was built just north of the Frontier hotel-casino, and they both shared the same ownership, although the Silver Slipper's gaming operations were later leased out. Businessman Howard Hughes leased the casino from 1968 until his death in 1976.

The Silver Slipper closed on November 28, 1988, amid an ownership change. It was demolished shortly thereafter to become a parking lot for the Frontier, with plans to eventually rebuild the Silver Slipper as a high-rise hotel and casino, although this did not pan out. The Frontier was demolished in 2007, for another resort project that was ultimately canceled as well. The Frontier and Silver Slipper sites remain vacant as of 2024.

The Silver Slipper was known for its neon slipper, which was preserved after the casino's closure. It stands 12 feet and features more than 900 bulbs. The slipper was installed along North Las Vegas Boulevard in 2009.

History

Early years

The Silver Slipper was built as part of the Last Frontier Village, a western-themed attraction at the Hotel Last Frontier.[3] The Silver Slipper, built just north of the Frontier hotel, opened on September 1, 1950. It was originally known as the Golden Slipper.[4] Shortly after opening, the Golden Nugget hotel-casino threatened to sue the Golden Slipper, alleging similarities in design and name. The Golden Slipper agreed to stop using the name,[3] and was rebranded the Silver Slipper by the end of 1950,[5] having bought the rights to that name from a bar and casino located on Boulder Highway.[3]

The Silver Slipper was a two-story,[6] Old West-themed casino. It featured various games, including a Big Six wheel, craps, Farobank, poker, and roulette.[4] A convention hall, located on the second floor,[7] was the largest in the state.[8] The casino would later become known for featuring a collection of artwork by Julian Ritter.[9] [10]

The Silver Slipper was originally operated by the Frontier ownership group, before being leased out in 1956.[11] [12] [13] In April 1964, the casino became the first in Nevada to be shut down on cheating charges. Agents of the Nevada Gaming Control Board raided the Silver Slipper for using "flat" dice.[14] Although its table games were shut down, the state allowed the slot machines to continue operating.[15] [16] The casino was closed entirely on May 8, 1964, by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which alleged that $70,000 in taxes were owed.[17] Later that month, the Nevada Gaming Commission found the casino's management guilty of using flat dice and revoked their gaming license.[18]

The Silver Slipper entered foreclosure in January 1965,[19] but plans by the IRS to sell it were halted after the Frontier owners filed suit, noting that they owned the land and structure.[20] Shelam Inc., a group led by local gambler Sam Diamond,[21] [22] soon took over the casino's lease,[23] [24] [25] reopening the property on October 20, 1965.[26] A $500,000 expansion project was underway in 1966. It included exterior remodeling and a larger casino. The project was designed by Martin Stern Jr. and Homer Rissman.[27] [28]

Hughes involvement and later years

Businessman Howard Hughes took over the Silver Slipper's gaming operations in 1968, leasing the rights from Shelam for $5.3 million.[29] [30] [31] Hughes had also purchased the Frontier by that point.[32] The Silver Slipper was the only casino that Hughes held personally; the others were owned by Hughes Tool Company, which later became Summa Corporation. Because his company had government contracts, it could not donate to political candidates. Hughes instead withdrew funds from the Silver Slipper for political contributions.[33]

In 1970, the Silver Slipper became the first casino on the Las Vegas Strip to hire female table dealers.[34] [35] [36]

Summa Corporation attempted to buy the Silver Slipper out of its lease in 1973.[31] However, the ownership group (the former Frontier owners) contended that the option to purchase was assigned to Hughes only, not his company. The group also stated that a $100,000 payment, one of the conditions on the option, was never made.[37] The owners later stated that the purchase option applied to Shelam and should not have been transferred to another leasee.[31] Litigation ensued starting in 1974,[38] when the owners filed a suit against Hughes, alleging he was behind on a year's worth of rent. They sought to evict Hughes and take control of the Silver Slipper.[39] [38] Hughes died in 1976, and Summa ultimately took ownership of the casino.[40]

In its final years, the casino employed approximately 600 workers. In December 1987, Summa agreed to sell the Frontier and the Silver Slipper – the last of Hughes' Las Vegas gaming properties – to casino owner Margaret Elardi.[41] [42] Summa continued operating the Silver Slipper until its closure on November 28, 1988, at which point Elardi took over the property.[43] [44] [45] Demolition was underway the following month.[46] Elardi redeveloped the land as a parking lot for the Frontier,[47] [48] and planned to eventually construct a new Silver Slipper on the site, in the form of a high-rise hotel-casino.[44] [47] [49] However, this project did not pan out.

The Frontier would be sold several times, and eventually demolished in 2007, for a new resort project that would also be canceled.[50] As of 2024, the Frontier and Silver Slipper sites remain vacant; the latter is still under the ownership of the Elardi family.[51] [52]

Signage

The casino was known for having a large, rotating neon slipper, designed by Jack Larsen Sr. and manufactured by YESCO. It is 12 feet high and includes 900 bulbs, with an additional 80 built into a bow that covers the toe area.[53]

The slipper was installed in 1954 or 1955, originally on the casino rooftop. The casino is briefly featured in the 1957 film The Amazing Colossal Man, in which a man grows to gargantuan height and travels through Las Vegas, at one point dismantling the slipper.[54] [55] [56] In 1965, the slipper was moved to a sign directly alongside the Strip.[57]

Myths

In 1968, Hughes was living in a penthouse at his Desert Inn resort, located across the street. Persistent, false stories claim that Hughes took over the Silver Slipper specifically because of its neon slipper. These stories originated with a 1967 article by columnist Earl Wilson, who wrote:

Another story is that the reclusive Hughes was paranoid about photographers hiding in the toe area of the slipper in order to snap photos of him in his penthouse. As such, he purportedly wanted the slipper's rotating mechanism disabled and had it filled with concrete. In reality, Hughes had kept his drapes closed at all times, which would have prevented any bright lights or photographers from bothering him.[58] Hughes himself never wrote of the neon slipper in his extensive archive of memos,[59] and concrete was never found in the rotating mechanism.[58]

Preservation

After the casino closed, the slipper was acquired by the city's Neon Museum for preservation. At some point during its years in storage, singer Wayne Newton posed with the slipper for a promotional shoot. One of his feet broke through the toe area of the slipper as he stepped onto it, a result of its age.

In 2009, the slipper was installed on a median along North Las Vegas Boulevard, in front of the Neon Museum.[60] The slipper had undergone restoration, which included new wiring and paint, as well as repair work to the toe area.[61] In 2018, the museum changed the slipper's sole and insole paint from red to blue, matching the original color scheme according to early photographs.[62] [63]

Another sign, a neon arch that read "free parking", was also preserved after the casino's closure. It was purchased by the Exchange Club casino in Beatty, Nevada, and was relocated there to mark its parking lot, before being toppled by strong wind in 2018.[64]

Live entertainment

Comedian Hank Henry was a frequent entertainer at the Silver Slipper during the 1950s.[65] [66] Transgender singer Christine Jorgensen also performed there in 1955.[67] [68] Other entertainers included singers Fifi D'Orsay, Nellie Lutcher and Rusty Draper, and comedians Billy Gilbert and Buster Keaton.[69] A weekly boxing series, Strip Fight of the Week, took place at the Silver Slipper from the 1960s to 1982.[70]

A 400-seat showroom, the Gaiety Theatre, opened on August 3, 1966. Another venue, the Red Garter Lounge, was also added.[71] The casino hosted several burlesque shows,[72] including Minsky's Burlesque (1965–1967),[73] [74] [75] and Wonderful World of Burlesque (1968–1973).[76] [77] [78]

Drag queen Kenny Kerr opened a show, titled Boy-lesque, at the theater in 1977.[79] [80] [81] It featured a variety of female impersonators, including Kerr,[82] who portrayed singers such as Barbra Streisand and Cher.[83] The show was a hit for the Silver Slipper, and continued running for the next 11 years, up until the casino's closure.[81] [82]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Silver Slipper Casino, Gay 90's Buffet menu . University of Nevada, Las Vegas . August 9, 2024.
  2. Web site: Property overview . Clark County Assessor's Office . August 7, 2024.
  3. Web site: Nelson Patrick . Elizabeth . An Interview with William J. Moore . University of Nevada Oral History Program . August 3, 2022 . 1985 . 17–18.
  4. News: Newest Resort Attraction, Golden Slipper, Opens Today . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 1, 1950 . August 3, 2024 . subscription.
  5. News: Silver Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 3, 2024 . subscription.
  6. News: Fire Routs 500 From Casino on Las Vegas Strip . Los Angeles Times . December 29, 1966 . August 9, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  7. News: More Than 10,000 Persons to Use Facilities of Silver Slipper Hall . Las Vegas Review-Journal . March 7, 1951 . August 9, 2024 . subscription.
  8. News: New Silver Slipper Sets Expansion Plan Shortly . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 1, 1956 . August 9, 2024 . subscription.
  9. News: Hyman . Harold . Purchase Of Paintings By Hughes Negotiated . Las Vegas Sun . October 29, 1970 . August 5, 2024 . subscription.
  10. Web site: Autry . Greg . Julian Ritter's Life and Art Review - An unknown Artist of worldwide acclaim . Splash . August 5, 2024.
  11. News: Silver Slipper Lease Blocked . Reno Evening Gazette . November 17, 1955 . August 7, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  12. News: Court Blocks Club Lease . Reno Evening Gazette . December 27, 1955 . August 7, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  13. News: Frontier Hotel Action Settled . Reno Evening Gazette . January 20, 1956 . August 7, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Las Vegas Casino Shut Down for Cheating . August 7, 2024 . The New York Times . United Press International . April 3, 1964.
  15. News: Three Witnesses Testify Slipper Dice Altered; Cheat Case Windup Nears . Nevada State Journal . April 23, 1964 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  16. News: State Ponders Silver Slipper Gambling Case . Reno Evening Gazette . April 24, 1964 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  17. News: Vegas Casino Padlocked by Revenue Agents . Reno Evening Gazette . May 9, 1964 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  18. News: Vegas Club Games Out . Nevada State Journal . May 13, 1964 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  19. News: Silver Slipper Foreclosure Authorized . Reno Evening Gazette . January 6, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  20. News: Casino Sale Halted by Vegas Suit . Reno Evening Gazette . January 30, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  21. News: It's Official – Diamond Takes Over Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 22, 1965 . August 5, 2024 . subscription.
  22. News: Silver Slipper Will Reopen . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 1, 1965 . August 5, 2024 . subscription.
  23. News: Silver Slipper Reopening Asked . Nevada State Journal . July 28, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  24. News: Silver Slipper Reopening Asked In Las Vegas . Reno Evening Gazette . July 29, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  25. News: Commission OK's Reopening Of Two Major Vegas Casinos . Nevada State Journal . September 22, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  26. News: Las Vegas Flashes . Van Nuys News . October 29, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  27. Web site: First Floor Plan, Silver Slipper: architectural drawing . University of Nevada, Las Vegas . August 9, 2024.
  28. Web site: Master Development Plan, Silver Slipper: architectural drawing . University of Nevada, Las Vegas . August 9, 2024.
  29. News: Hughes Placed On Bottom Of Game Agenda . Nevaa State Journal . April 30, 1968 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  30. News: Hughes To Buy Sixth Casino . Journal and Courier . Associated Press . May 1, 1968 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  31. News: Summa ouster rejected . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . April 22, 1977 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com .
  32. News: Hughes Buys Frontier Hotel Property . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . September 22, 1967 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  33. Retrieved August 11, 2024:
  34. News: 'Hit Me, Ma'am'–It's New At Vegas . San Francisco Examiner . August 12, 1970 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  35. News: Strip Has Its First Woman Dealer . The Kansas Star . August 12, 1970 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  36. News: She's Got a Good Deal . New York Daily News . September 17, 1970 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  37. News: Silver Slipper ownership disputed . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . June 12, 1975 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  38. News: Judge will stay in Hughes hassle . Reno Evening Gazette . Associated Press . July 16, 1976 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  39. News: More Hughes woes: $6 million suit . Lompoc Record . United Press International . May 17, 1974 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  40. News: High court overturns Silver Slipper ruling . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 18, 1979 . August 11, 2024 . subscription.
  41. News: Summa Corp. sells Frontier, Silver Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 16, 1987 . August 10, 2024 . subscription.
  42. News: Summa sells 2 resorts . Reno Gazette-Journal . December 16, 1987 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  43. News: Las Vegans bid farewell to Silver Slipper Saloon . The Spectrum . November 28, 1988 . August 10, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  44. News: State ends Hughes era in gaming . Las Vegas Review-Journal . June 24, 1988 . August 10, 2024 . subscription.
  45. News: Smith . John L. . Lady was a tramp . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 30, 1988 . August 10, 2024 . subscription.
  46. News: Workers, patrons bid final farewell to Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 13, 1988 . May 19, 2022 . subscription.
  47. News: Bates . Warren . Old days are slip-sliding away . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 27, 1988 . August 10, 2024 . subscription.
  48. News: Strow . David . Casino hotel planned for Silver Slipper site . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Sun . April 25, 2002.
  49. News: '88 may be remembered for building boom in Las Vegas . The Press of Atlantic City . January 1, 1989 . August 7, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  50. News: Moore . Thomas . Wynn Resorts buying site of former New Frontier on Strip . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Sun . December 14, 2017.
  51. News: Question of the Day . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Advisor . August 22, 2022.
  52. News: Ross . McKenna . What is that vacant lot on the Strip? . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . March 12, 2024.
  53. News: Toplikar . Dave . Las Vegas Boulevard sign-lighting ceremony set for Monday . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Sun . November 6, 2009.
  54. Book: Holabird, Robin . Elvis, Marilyn, and the Space Aliens: Icons on Screen in Nevada . 2017 . University of Nevada Press . 978-0-87417-465-6 . August 5, 2024.
  55. News: Carter . Geoff . Hollywood keeps destroying Las Vegas on film. We've had enough . August 5, 2024 . Las Vegas Weekly . June 10, 2021.
  56. News: Lawrence . Christopher . How many of these 13 Las Vegas horror movies have you seen? . August 5, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 16, 2023.
  57. Web site: Silver Slipper at Young Electric Sign Co, Las Vegas, c. 1954/1955 . Vintage Las Vegas . August 9, 2024 . January 26, 2013.
  58. Web site: Levitan . Corey . Vegas Myths Re-busted: Howard Hughes Bought Silver Slipper Just to Dim its Sign . Casino.org . August 10, 2024 . November 10, 2023.
  59. Web site: Silver Slipper . Vintage Las Vegas . August 10, 2024 . April 10, 2022.
  60. News: Toplikar . Dave . Refurbished signs a step forward in preserving Las Vegas' past . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Sun . November 9, 2009.
  61. News: Choate . Alan . Vintage signs will soon light up Las Vegas Boulevard . August 10, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 31, 2009.
  62. Web site: Neon Museum Restores Silver Slipper Sign Paint Color To Original Silver, Gold, Blue . Neon Museum . August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220729034052/https://www.neonmuseum.org/media-inquiries/news-releases/neon-museum-restores-silver-slipper-sign-paint-color-to-original-silver-gold-blue . July 29, 2022.
  63. News: Seeman . Matthew . Neon Museum restores Silver Slipper sign on Las Vegas Boulevard . August 10, 2024 . KSNV . August 7, 2018.
  64. News: Stephens . Richard . Wind destroys piece of old Vegas in Beatty . August 7, 2024 . Pahrump Valley Times . April 18, 2018.
  65. News: Comedian Hank Henry Is Las Vegas Fixture . Logansport Pharos-Tribune . May 19, 1956 . August 9, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  66. News: Johnson . Erskine . Comedian Hank Henry Finds Rainbow's End In Las Vegas . Redlands Daily Facts . October 26, 1957 . August 9, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  67. News: Christine Jorgensen is Silver Slipper Hit . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 2, 1955 . August 9, 2024 . subscription.
  68. Web site: Christine Jorgensen, the First Transgender Celebrity . Neon Museum . August 9, 2024 . 21 June 2023.
  69. News: Colorful hotel history . August 11, 2024 . Las Vegas Sun . April 4, 1955.
  70. Retrieved August 9, 2024:
  71. News: Slipper Opens New Theatre Revue Here . Las Vegas Review-Journal . August 5, 1966 . August 7, 2024 . subscription.
  72. News: Hawley . Tom . Video Vault The Silver Slipper closes its doors forever . August 9, 2024 . KSNV . November 27, 2019.
  73. News: Minsky Show Opens Silver Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . October 20, 1965 . August 8, 2024 . subscription.
  74. News: Minsky Show Opens Again At 'Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . September 11, 1967 . August 9, 2024 . subscription.
  75. News: Minsky's Burlesque Moves To Thunderbird . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 12, 1968 . August 11, 2024 . subscription.
  76. News: Wonderful World Set for Silver Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . December 16, 1967 . August 11, 2024 . subscription.
  77. News: Silver Slipper presents Barry Ashton's burlesque . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 7, 1972 . August 10, 2024 . subscription.
  78. News: The Duke of Las Vegas . Needles Desert Star . March 22, 1973 . August 11, 2024 . Newspapers.com . subscription.
  79. News: 'Boy-Lesque' Big Hit at Silver Slipper . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 20, 1977 . August 7, 2024 . subscription.
  80. News: Question of the Day . August 7, 2024 . Las Vegas Advisor . January 4, 2010.
  81. News: McKee . David . Gone but not forgotten: More spectacles, performers and producers that left their mark on Las Vegas . August 7, 2024 . Las Vegas Weekly . November 16, 2016.
  82. News: Hawley . Tom . Video Vault: Classic Las Vegas commercial showcased big change in Strip entertainment . August 7, 2024 . KSNV . March 14, 2018.
  83. News: Weatherford . Mike . Kerr, a drag queen star in Las Vegas, dies . August 7, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . April 29, 2013.

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