Not at all. According to OnlineNevada.org's online encyclopedia, "The Circus Circus casino ... debuted without any hotel rooms – during a live broadcast of the Ed Sullivan Show, a popular television variety program, on October 18, 1968."
A Strip casino without hotel rooms was an anomaly, even 40 years ago, and this probably contributed to Circus Circus' early financial struggles. So did owner Jay Sarno's policy of charging admission to the casino (at least when the circus acts were performing). Also, a dice-throwing elephant that Sarno employed on the gaming floor caused what are diplomatically referred to as "offensive odors."
Among the offended was rival casino owner Howard Hughes, who harrumphed, "The aspect of this circus that has me disturbed is the popcorn, kids side of it. In other words, the poor, dirty shabby side of circus life. The dirty floor, sawdust and elephants."
However, sawdust and elephants – to say nothing of acrobats and the flying trapeze – must have been tailor-made for the Ed Sullivan Show. Based on your question, it was clearly as memorable a TV spectacle as it sounds.
