Question of the Day - 27 December 2023

In 1905, mere weeks after the original land auction in May, one of the first commercial establishments to receive water service from the Las Vegas Land & Water Company was the eponymously named Miller Hotel, located at One Fremont Street on the southeast corner of Fremont and Main, built by one Abe Miller. Miller bought the three prime lots for his hotel from the railroad for $1,750. The Miller Hotel was a glorified tent, with canvas walls and cots for beds while he was constructing a permanent structure.

A year later, in 1906, Miller opened the Hotel Nevada, a two-story 35-room corner building, the first hotel in Las Vegas to be constructed of concrete. Miller charged $1 to stay in one of the 10-foot-by-10-foot rooms, complete with electric lighting and steam radiators. In the lobby of the Hotel Nevada was a cigar store that received Las Vegas' first telephone service in 1907; the phone number was 1. There was also a small casino, with roulette and poker.

In 1931, when gambling was legalized throughout the state, Miller expanded the Hotel Nevada, adding a third floor. He also changed the name to "Sal Sagev." How he came up with the name, we suppose, is pretty simple and once he did, we imagine he liked it enough to grace his building with it. 

Three years later, for reasons unknown, Miller closed the casino, which remained closed for the next 20 years. It wasn't much of a casino, though there's some debate among local historians about it. Our favorite historian, Jeff from VintageLasVegas.com, tells us, "I personally can't find any evidence of a casino at the hotel outside of slots and one roulette table licensed in 1934. The Golden Gate was a separate business when it opened on the ground floor in 1955. Sal Sagev remained a hotel. The Golden Gate partners bought the hotel in 1974, when it finally became Golden Gate Hotel & Casino." 

Here's a photo with a clear view of the sign. 

Here's a color view of the sign.

Here's an illustrated postcard showing the full building and the sign, plus a pronunciation of "Sagev."