Category Archives: Entertainment

R.I.P., Sahara (1952-2011)

Posted on March 11, 2011 by David McKee

Once the Riviera changed hands, the Strip casino for whom mortality seemed most imminent became the Sahara. The ‘death by a thousand cuts’ regime of nightclub impresario and absentee owner Sam Nazarian bled the place to the extent that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, history, International, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pansy Ho, Plaza, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Station, Greenspuns part company

Posted on March 10, 2011 by David McKee

For quite a while the relationship between Station Casinos and Greenspun Corp. has been in the “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” category, as the two bickered over the ownership and management of their casino joint ventures. Today they’re Splitsville and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Warm February in Philly; “Lion King” hungry

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After a pretty lackluster January, gaming revenues in Pennsylvania bounced back at the slots.  The statewide February average was a 10% increase year/year, with Sands Bethlehem right on that button ($22 million) and Harrah’s Chester Downs down 2% ($24 million). … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Ferris wheel fetishists; Rail fail; “Aerotropolis” now?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment better get a move on with that Ferris wheel it wants to build out back of O’Shea’s. A rival project, slated for problematic (and fairly blighted) land opposite Mandalay Bay received approval from Clark County. Then again, getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

Publicly traded casino operators in Macao got a dose of good news today. A late-month rally in play means another record month at the tables, a 51% increase from last year. Roughly half the $2.5 billion haul will be divided … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Did you know … ?

Posted on February 25, 2011 by David McKee

… that back in what Sue Lowden would call “the olden days,” the high cost of presenting grand opera was (in some cities) subsidized by the revenues from casino games in the foyer? I do not know if this was … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Entertainment, history, Movies | Comments Off on Did you know … ?

Behind the curtain at Wynn LV

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

Freshly uploaded to the Web, here’s a look at how Wynn Resorts makes those truly baffling illusions at Wynn Las Vegas‘ Lake of Dreams come to life. As always, there’s Steve Wynn (& Co.) and then there’s Everyone Else.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Hooters in default; Rio robbed; Morgans out, Warner in?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

From the “Could mean something, could mean nothing” File comes a Notice of Default, filed by the Bank of New York against Hooters Casino Hotel. The lenders are calling in a $130 million note on the 332-room hotel (arguably making … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Back from Chicago

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies to everyone who got tired of looking at Stanley Ho‘s wizened mug. S&G was on a brief, unannounced hiatus, as yours truly ventured to the cold but wondrous place that is Chicago, home to the greatest architecture in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Michael Gaughan, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 17, 2011 by David McKee

“[Y]esterday Celine Dion showed up and Vegas groveled at her feet. When she first came here in 2003, people wondered about her ability to sell tickets at prices that sailed as high as her irritating voice. Now she is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Ohio, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 16, 2011 by David McKee

“Vegas is a different market. You can get a room in the finest hotels on the Strip for Holiday Inn Express prices. That’s why Sheldon Adelson is stomping his feet. The restaurants are not making their lease payments either. The convention … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Gary Loveman … visionary?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

At the risk of pumping additional hydrogen into his already zeppelin-sized ego, allow me to suggest that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, PhD. is actually onto something. But first would somebody clue him in that there has been casino gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

How to save $10

Posted on February 11, 2011 by David McKee

Anyone besides me remember Foster Brooks? Nothing reminds me of him so much as Jeff Bridges‘ unintelligible reinterpretation of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit, the main difference being that Brooks is far easier to understand. Seriously, just watch two hours … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history, Movies, TV | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 10, 2011 by David McKee

“Our job is to constantly refresh the notion that we are humble, proud and grateful to be allowed to be part of that scene, and the way to do that in China is to take good care of your employees.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Have you seen this man?

Posted on February 10, 2011 by David McKee

That guy, the fourth goombah from the left. That’s Milton Jaffe, onetime managing director of the Stardust and someone whose dusty trail I’m trying to retrace for LVA.com’s “Question of the Day.” (Second from the left is Joe DiMaggio and … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Silverton, Sports, The Mob, The Strip | 3 Comments

Hard Rock: Oh no!; Bellago bandit busted

Posted on February 3, 2011 by David McKee

Is there anybody who could probably run the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino worse than hapless Morgans Hotel Group? We may soon find out as Navegante Group has been announced as operator-to-be by NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. The latter, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

The sky is falling!

Posted on February 1, 2011 by David McKee

Or so you’d think, to hear the reaction to the news that Florida is contemplating bringing a micromanaged form of casino gambling to its fair shores. S&G readers are well rehearsed in the flaws of the bill being contemplated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Hawaii, history, Ohio, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 28, 2011 by David McKee

“Go see Carrot Top. He’s channeling the ghost of Rip Taylor — and Rip Taylor’s still alive.” — Bobby Slayton, kicking off his return to Hooters Casino Hotel. He characterized the shroud-covered stage as “like one of those bad Abbot … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Best-kept secret in Vegas

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Best-kept secret in Vegas. It’s the pool deck at Cosmopolitan, according to an S&G reader who visited it after dark and found but four patrons hanging out on its shores. The missus and I checked it last night and, sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

The case of the ‘missing’ Moore; Waiting for Macao

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Recent photo coverage of the makeover of CityCenter‘s famous/notorious “pocket park” made it appear as though the Henry Moore sculpture (best thing in CityCenter, IMO) had gone missing. Was MGM Resorts International retreating from its commitment to public after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, history, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment