Question of the Day - 08 March 2007

Thanks to all who wrote in; here are some of the highlights:

• "My first visit to Vegas had us staying at the Stardust. We stayed in the bungalows attached to the hotel and watched a full eclipse of the moon before going into the casino. It was a terrific beginning."
• "What do we remember about Stardust? Many things: One of our earliest play places and my first "3 Sevens" jackpot, (nickels, $50 win). But most of all, we would go to church at the magnificent Guardian Angel 'Cathedral on the Strip,' then have a wonderful meal at the then-new Warehouse Buffet, with shrimp and cream puffs and all sorts of delights! I also remember the squirting fountains that shot over the sidewalks. Sad to see it go. It was only a matter of time, though, as that is a huge property with expensive frontage. Sigh..."
• "For years, my wife and I always had one dinner at Aku Aku. It was magnificent Polynesian food, quail eggs and such, long before changes in immigration brought all the wonderful ethnic restaurants that abound in the country today. Its closing was the beginning in a long line of mourned Vegas changes for us."

"One time when I was there, the crap table got hot and somebody -- probably in the mob management at the time -- put a call out to a high roller who showed up, got a $50,000 marker, which was off the hook in those days, and spread $16,000 on all the numbers. The heat held at the table for another half-hour or so, and this guy paid off the marker and walked with nearly $200,000."

• "I worked at the Stardust in early 1960s. I was a bus boy at the Palms room, which had a large glass window with a view of the swimming pool. It was great! Then the showgirls from the Lido would come in with only a coat on. They would not talk to the employees except for food orders, but they were beautiful. This was my first job in Las Vegas and there are many good memories at the Stardust. Sorry it's gone."
• "It was the first casino we went to in 1973, with a $50 bankroll. We were wide-eyed as a guy in a ten-gallon hat stood on his chair, blew a whistle, and let out a big yell every time he hit on blackjack.

  "The Lido show was our first big show and it was great, including Bobby Berosini and his orangutans.

  "Jackie and Angie, and all the others at the cashier's cage, were so friendly, as were the people who worked the floor -- they knew you and chatted. We haven't found that in other large casinos."

• "My first visit to Las Vegas was in the late 1970s to attend a convention. A local South Florida entertainer had recently begun a gig at the Stardust Lounge. I was totally enthralled by the enormous signs and lights everywhere and was excited to see a name I knew on the Stardust sign ... 'Copeland Davis.' I entered the lounge and he stopped playing and welcomed me and I felt so important! The Stardust became one of my favorite places and I stayed there several times right to the end."
• "Memories of the Stardust ... I hit my first royal flush in the Stardust in 1999. I was playing the bank of Treasure Chest video poker machines just outside the then-Tres Lobos restaurant. My husband and I stayed there, one last time, just a few weeks before it closed. It was sad to hear many of the employees talk about how many years they had worked there and their plans for the future, some of which were uncertain. GOODBYE STARDUST."