Dick Taylor has died

March 11, 2011

He came to Las Vegas to help get the Hacienda off the ground. As its first General Manager, he helped put the struggling casino on the map and became good friends (and right hand man) to owner, Warren "Doc" Bailey.

He loved Las Vegas and became a historian who kept the history of the Hacienda, Bailey, the Moulin Rouge and much more alive.

Thanks to Doc's vision, the homes in Mt. Charleston became a reality over fifty years ago. Dick was one of its first residents and became its official historian.

He was one of the first people we interviewed as part of the "Classic Las Vegas" Archive Project and his interview is available on DVD at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. We did the video oral history at his mid-century modern home adjacent to Rancho Bel-Air. He had a palm tree shaped like a tiki god in his front yard. As I drove up to his drive-way, I knew we would be good friends.

Over the years, I have gotten used to every few months getting a letter with clippings, pictures and more from Dick, all related to Las Vegas history.

When I was doing the "Untold Stories" series at the Springs Preserve, Dick was a frequent guest (driving down from the mountain) and an occasional speaker. I will always be grateful.

He was a passionate about Las Vegas history and his lady friend, Terry.

Word came just few minutes ago that Dick Taylor passed away in his sleep last evening.

Rest in peace, good friend. I will always be thankful for your friendship and for the history you fought so hard to preserve.

God speed.

Calling it Quits

March 11, 2011

It was announced this morning, the venerable Sahara Hotel, one of the last of the original ladies of the Las Vegas Strip still standing (the Riv and the Trop the other two), is closing May 16th.

Once home to the swinging sounds of Louie Prima, Sam Butera and Keely Smith, the Sahara was where not only Louie and the gang hit the big time and ushered in the era of the "Las Vegas Lounge" but Buddy Hackett and Don Rickles also got their start. Johnny Carson used to headline the Congo Room.

The Beatles would have played there but, by 1964, Beatlemania was in full bloom and the concert had to be moved to the larger Las Vegas Convention Center's Rotunda. But, John, Paul, George and Ringo stayed at the Sahara during that concert weekend.

Built by one of the Strip's best visionaries, Milton Prell and with Stan Irwin as the Entertainment Director, the Sahara was the happening place on the Strip for all of the 1960s.

But that was then and this is now. Time and various owners have not been kind to the regal lady of yore. For the last ten years, she has struggled to find her footing on the changing north end of the Strip. Wynn and Encore provided a striking body blow that the Sahara has never really been able to recover from.

But, if you remember the old girl as fondly as I do, then you can read about the history of the Sahara here.

Any one remember the Club Bingo?

Yeah, I thought you might.