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Location DB > United States > Nevada > Las Vegas > Moulin Rouge Hotel & Casino
 Name
Moulin Rouge Hotel & Casino
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by sYnOnYx on 1/4/2009 7:07 AM
last modified by 76grinch on 6/3/2009 7:20 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Hotel Building with 200 or so rooms, the original sign and knick knacks here and there from what the place used to be.
 Basic Information
Type: Hotel
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy , Walk Right In !
Recommendation: worth the trip
 Physical Information
Address

Las Vegas, Nevada
United States
Owner: Moulin Rouge Development Corporation
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • asbestos
  • unsafe flooring
  • air quality
  • DONT GO IN HERE WITHOUT ASBESTOS PROTECTION !
  •  Interesting Features
    The Moulin Rouge Hotel was a hotel and casino located in west Las Vegas, Nevada, that is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The first desegregated hotel casino, it was popular with many of the black entertainers of the time, who would entertain at the other hotels and casinos and stay at the Moulin Rouge.

    Lots of history to the site , The " Rat Pack " stayed in a few of the bigger suites.
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • wooden boarding
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1954
    Closed: 1955
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  • breathing mask
  • gloves
  • long pants / sleeves
  • towelettes
  • Asbestos Rated Breathing Mask !
  •  Recommended Equipment
    Camera
     History
    The Moulin Rouge opened on May 24, 1955, built at a cost of $3.5 million. It was the first integrated hotel casino in Las Vegas, perhaps in the nation. Until that time almost all of the casinos on The Strip were totally segregated—off limits to blacks unless they were the entertainment or labor force.

    The hotel was located in west Las Vegas, where the black population was forced to live. West Las Vegas was bounded by Washington Avenue on the north, Bonanza Road on the south, H Street on the west, and A Street on the east.

    It was during this era that Will Max Schwartz saw the need for an integrated hotel. Will, along with other white investors Louis Rubin who was the creator of the Rubin Sandwich and was also owner of Chandler's Restaurant in New York City, New York and Alexander Bisno who worked in real estate in California, including black boxing great Joe Louis, built and opened the Moulin Rouge at 900 W. Bonanza Road. This location placed it in a prime location between the predominantly white area of the strip and the largely black west side. The complex itself consisted of two stuccoed buildings that housed the hotel, the casino, and a theater. The exterior had the hotel's name in stylized cursive writing and murals depicting dancing and fancy cars. The sign was designed by Betty Willis, creator of the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign on the south end of the strip.
    Cover of Life Magazine

    When it opened, the Moulin Rouge was fully integrated top to bottom, from employees to patrons to entertainers.

    The hotel made the June 20th, 1955, cover of Life magazine, with a photo of two showgirls. A veritable "A" list of 50s- and 60s-era performers regularly showed to party until dawn. Great black singers and musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, and Louis Armstrong would perform often. These artists were banned from gambling or staying at the hotels on the strip. In addition, white performers including George Burns, Jack Benny, and Frank Sinatra would drop in after their shows to gamble and perform. Eventually management added a 2:30am "Third Show" to accommodate the crowds.

    In November 1955 the Moulin Rouge closed its doors. Some[who?] say it was a victim of casino oversaturation (the Moulin Rouge was one of four new hotels that ran into major financial difficulties that year). Some[who?] say it was poor management. The exact cause will probably never be known. By December 1955, the Moulin Rouge had declared bankruptcy.

    The short but vibrant life of the Moulin Rouge helped the civil-rights movement in Las Vegas. For a while the hotel was owned by the first African American woman to hold a Nevada Gaming License, Sarann Knight-Preddy. Many of those who enjoyed and were employed by the hotel became activists and supporters. The hotel was also the spark needed to bring an end to segregation on the strip.

    In 1960, under threat of a protest march down the Las Vegas Strip against racial discrimination by Las Vegas casinos, a meeting was hurriedly arranged by then-Governor Grant Sawyer between hotel owners, city and state officials, local black leaders, and then-NAACP president James McMillan. The meeting was held on March 26 at the closed Moulin Rouge. This resulted in an agreement to desegregate all strip casinos. Hank Greenspun, who would become an important media figure in the town, mediated the agreement.
    Moulin Rouge sign, c. 2006

    In 1992 the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

    Although the Moulin Rouge complex remained shuttered for decades, many plans had been hatched to rebuild and reopen the cultural landmark. But on May 29, 2003, a fire ripped through the buildings, almost entirely gutting the complex.[1] No witnesses have ever been found, no one has come forward with information leading to the cause of the fire, and to this day all that remains is the facade with its signature stylized name.


     Media Coverage
    http://www.lasvega...wing-moulin-rouge/

    http://www.lasvega...uge-fire-reported/
     Future Plans
    January 2004 saw the Moulin Rouge sold again for $12.1 million to the Moulin Rouge Development Corporation. The stylized "Moulin Rouge" neon sign was turned back on.[2] A $200 million renovation of the site was announced but was never completed.
     Stories


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Recent Photos Dec 2008
    Wed, Dec 31st, 2008
    posted by sYnOnYx
    25 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Historic Photos
    Tue, Jan 6th, 2009
    posted by sYnOnYx
    12 pictures


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Panoramas

    Moulin Rouge
    Sun, Jan 4th, 2009
    posted by sYnOnYx
     Web Links
    http://en.wikipedi...in_Rouge_Las_Vegas

    http://www.moulinr...seum.org/index.htm


     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 10 / 10
    Coolness 10 / 10
    Content Quality 10 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Emperor Wang on 6/3/2009 4:08 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jun 3 09 at 16:08, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on Jun 3 09 at 7:20, 76grinch changed the following: Year Closed, Status
  • on May 11 09 at 17:21, Emperor Wang validated this location
  • on May 8 09 at 3:33, Steed changed the following: Status, Media Coverage
  • on May 7 09 at 23:27, sYnOnYx made this location public
  • on Jan 7 09 at 1:12, Darkwolf validated this location
  • on Jan 7 09 at 1:01, sYnOnYx made this location available
  • on Jan 7 09 at 1:00, sYnOnYx added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Jan 7 09 at 0:48, sYnOnYx added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Jan 6 09 at 21:00, sYnOnYx updated gallery Historic Photos
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.History of this hotel.strike30029422/20/2018 5:32 AM by sYnOnYx
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