Can You describe Circus Circus When It Was Real old-school Vegas?

I run past 20- or 30-somethings talking about “old-school” this and that. Really? I’ll now ask you to help me discuss real old school. I recall Circus Circus, then new, when they really had live circus animals! Any more description of that hotel back then?

When it comes to "old-school Las Vegas," we see three distinct eras: the present day back to 1990 (the Mirage opened in November 1989); 1989 back to 1941, when El Rancho Vegas opened out on the incipient Strip and El Cortez opened downtown; and 1940 back to 1931, when gambling was legalized in Nevada. Before that, you could call it original Las Vegas, or railroad Las Vegas, or pre-gambling Las Vegas.

Of course, these distinctions are arbitrary; for 20-somethings, "old school" probably means pre-pandemic. But for the purposes of this answer, Circus Circus, which opened in 1968, winds up in the middle of the "old-school" pack, mostly post-Mob, but certainly before what we'd call the modern Las Vegas ushered in by the Mirage.

Anyway, one thing that puts Circus Circus in a league of its own, old school or not, was an actual admission charge to get into the casino. According to UNLV's David Schwartz, author of the definitive biography of Circus Circus creator Jay Sarno, the (short-lived) admission charge was $2, although a Circus Circus fan site offers a differing account, stating that the fee was 50¢ from 2 to 7 p.m. and $1 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Perhaps Sarno hoped the levy would recoup the money he was losing by not building any hotel rooms.)

Just as the Mirage was the first truly luxe hotel-casino in Vegas, Circus Circus foreshadowed the era of theming. It was Las Vegas' second fully themed casino, following Caesars Palace by a couple of years. With its novel carnival midway, trapeze acts, and live circus animals, including a wandering elephant, it was designed to be kid-friendly, presaging another mini-era, but it straddled an interesting line, with juxtapositions including a full bar built into a merry-go-round, plus peepshows and a "knock-the-girl-out-of-bed" game, both of which featured topless women.

And if that's not enough, the ground-floor casino could be entered from the second-floor midway by any of three means. The sedate could walk down the stairs. Spunkier patrons could take a slide. And the really daring could shimmy down a fireman's pole. Schwartz believes the slide and pole continued no longer than 1974, when Bill Bennett and William Pennington bought Circus Circus. In one year, they turned the property from a money loser to a profitable casino and by then, the admission charge, topless women, slide, and pole were all things of the past.

Its family-friendliness remained, as it does to this day, 50 or so years later. Though that particular mini-era came and went, Circus Circus continues to maintain the tradition that it established. Also, along with the Flamingo, Sahara, Tropicana, and Caesars, it's among the only Strip hotel-casinos that predate the Mirage. So it could be said that Circus is old school in some ways, but new school in others.

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Comments

Kevin C Feb-01-2023

Hobby shop

Was Circus Hobbies on South Highland affiliated with or owned by the casino or hotel? I seem to recall them using the same clown logo on the Circus Circus sign. They used to advertise pretty heavily in all the radio control airplane magazines of the day

rokgpsman Feb-01-2023

Those were the days my friend, we thought would never end...

My definition of "old school Vegas" was back when I felt valued as a customer to the casino, and at the end of the trip I couldn't wait to return and have more fun. Sigh, not all changes that are called progress are for the best.

Carey Rohrig Feb-01-2023

Buffet

When old school Circus Circus is mentioned I remember one thing, a bacon alternative called "sizzle lean" at the buffet !!! the beauty of it, it was served in Vegas and Reno for your dining pleasure.

gaattc2001 Feb-01-2023

I first saw Circus Circus in 1969...

when they still had the admission charge. Later, about mid-1971, they had a late-night lounge show that got pretty raunchy. 
It's also featured, but not specifically identified, in the James Bond movie "Diamonds are Forever" (1971), complete with Tanya the elephant and Zambura the transforming ape-girl. Jill St. John escapes the bad guys by going out the back door of the Zambura show. 
I also remember "Top Banana" Bob Mitchell playing trumpet and trombone simultaneously--I mean, literally at the same time--at the Hippodrome showroom. He later became the long-time Master of Ceremonies at the Palomino Club, and even later headlined "Old-Time Burlesque" at the Maxim.
By 1974 they had built the hotel, which was jocularly known as "Hotel Hotel"; and I actually stayed there once or twice. Those were the days....

VegasVic Feb-01-2023

Great Book

The book by David Schwartz, Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas: How Jay Sarno Won a Casino Empire, Lost It, and Inspired Modern Las Vegas, is really good.  It covers everything about the development and building of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus (funny how the same guy did both). While Sarno did initially charge to enter the casino he stopped it when too many cabbies complained.  Cabbies were often paid with casino chips and they liked to run in and cash them in.  They weren't about to pay an admission fee and Sarno didn't want the cabbies ticked off so he stopped charging the admission fee.

VegasROX Feb-01-2023

Surprise of the day

What surprises me most with today's answer is that Circus Squared actually has a "fan site"?!?!

Lotel Feb-01-2023

Great area

It was located in a great area.  one side you had Circus Circus, Westward Ho, Stardust. on the other side Riviera , El Morocco . Silver City,  You could find Great gambling and cheap cheap food.  all with in a minute walk of each other.

Lotel Feb-01-2023

videos

this site has some  great videos of Las Vegas through the ages. 
https://www.casino.org/blog/14-amazing-vintage-videos-of-vegas-through-the-ages/

Vegas Fan Feb-01-2023

Circus manor

Used to stay in a quieter, separate section, across the street, called circus manor. It was 3 or 4 2 story tall motel like buildings. They were connected to the main building by a monorail. It always seemed the Beatles song"chains" was playing on the ride over. And it wasn't then, but a muzak (all instrumental) version.

Dnalorailed Feb-01-2023

Vintage Vegas

Thanks Lotel for posting that link to all the videos. I only started going to Vegas about 10 years ago and relish links to the past. I actually prefer the downtown of old and wish they hadn’t erected that Fremont street experience canopy monstrosity.

rokgpsman Feb-01-2023

Tipping and Manners

https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/heres-why-tipping-is-down-gamblings-up-and-people-are-acting-like-jerks/

Lots of interesting comments from frequent Las Vegas visitors at the end of this article on casino.org about tipping and manners in Las Vegas. Even if you don't like the article's author the comments from ordinary people are worth reading.

Question of the Day - 01 February 2023

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