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Aladdin Las Vegas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Number of rooms | 2,600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Theme | Arabian Nights | |
| Gaming space | 100,000 ft² | |
| Permanent show(s) | The Fashionistas | |
| Signature attraction(s) | Desert Passage | |
| Notable restaurant(s) | Elements Tremezzo Spice Market Buffet Zanzibar Cafe |
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| Owner | ObBiz | |
| Date opened | 1966 | |
| Casino type | Land-Based | |
| Major renovation(s) | April 27, 1998 | |
| Previous name(s) | Tally Ho (1963) King's Crown (1964) |
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| Casino website | Aladdin Casino & Resort | |
The Aladdin is an Arabian Nights themed hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hotel has 2,600 rooms, a performing arts theater, and a 475,000 ft² (44,000 m²) shopping arcade called the Desert Passage.
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The Aladdin was originally opened in 1963 as the Tally-Ho. It was later called King's Crown in 1964 and failed after six months when it was denied a gaming license.
In 1966, the King's Crown was purchased by Milton Prell, and the hotel got a $3 million renovation, including a new 500 seat "Bagdad Theater" showroom. Prell turned the English-themed hotel into an Arabian Nights theme, but kept the original Tudor room wings. A serrated canopy and a $750,000 15-story Aladdin's Lamp sign were also added.
The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966, with flower petals pouring from the ceiling and onto guests as they entered the hall. One guest was composer-pianist Warren Richards. The opening entertainment included comedian Jackie Mason, the "Jet Set Revue," a musical review that showcased The Three Cheers and the Petite Rockette Dancers in the Bagdad Theatre.
Prell introduced an innovative main-showroom policy by offering three completely different shows twice nightly with no cover or minimum charges.
The Aladdin contained a golf course, 9 hole par 3.
A little after a year it was opened, the Aladdin was host to Elvis and Priscilla Presley's wedding.
In August of 1969, the Aladdin completed a $750,000 makeover including renovations to the Sinbad Lounge which became enclosed and leveled above the casino floor with Arabic motif.
Also in 1969, Parvin Dohrmann Corporation took over the Aladdin and in 1972, using the name Recrion Corporation, sold it to Sam Diamond, St. Louis politician Peter Webbe, Sorkis Webbe, and Richard Daly for the price of just $5 million. Under the Webbes, a $60 million face lift was conducted including the addition of a 19-story tower, and the new 7,500 seat Performing Arts Center replacing the golf course, which was $4 million over budget.
A $250,000 porte cochere continued the tower's arabesques. The Aladdin also added a new $300,000 140-foot blockbuster sign with little neon, huge attraction panels and none of the arabesque of the Aladdin's original sign.
The Aladdin had a grand re-opening in 1976 with singer Neil Diamond being paid $750,000 for two shows.
Wayne Newton was a part owner from 1980 to 1982.
The Aladdin closed on November 25, 1997. On April 27, 1998, the Aladdin was imploded[1].
The scheduled opening of the Aladdin was on August 17, 2000, at 6:00pm, with fireworks at 10:00pm. The opening was delayed while the Clark County Building Inspectors completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. This left thousands of Aladdin visitors leaving in disappointment as well as opening night hotel guests wondering where they'd spend the night. Many high-rollers waited out on the sidewalks in front of the Aladdin for hours. Most were unable to even get to their luggage, since the hotel had been locked down for testing. Aladdin employees tried to arrange alternate accommodations for the guests with Paris and Bellagio.
Meanwhile, the Desert Passage mall was opened with I Dream of Jeanie star Barbara Eden opening the doors to let the large crowd in.
The Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 A.M. 100 members of Culinary Local 226, as well as an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 other workers were marching on Las Vegas Boulevard to protest the Aladdin opening without a union contract. Barbara Eden's speech as well as the other festivities were drowned out by the bullhorns and the rest of the protest.
The casino was in financial trouble from the start and was sold on June 20, 2003, to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The casino was supposed to undergo a massive renovation in 2005 to become the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas casino. These plans have been pushed back several times, however, due to difficulties obtaining full financial backing and in scheduling construction crews for the rebuilding. The latest schedules report a late-2006 schedule for completion of the renovations, but that projection was delayed as well.
Footage of the implosion of the original structure was used in the closing credits of the film The Cooler.
This casino was used in the filming of Going in Style.
The A&E Network show Criss Angel Mindfreak sometimes takes place at the Aladdin.
The Aladdin was the site for the 2006 and 2007 Miss America pageants.
Current plans will turn Aladdin into a Sheraton Hotel. Changes are also planned for the Desert Passage, the Aladdin's attached shopping center. The theme is set to change to what is described as "Los Angeles" and will be renamed "Miracle Mile" [1]. As of August 12, 2006, changes to the shopping center have begun, with a small expansion and a "Miracle Mile" information kiosk located at the Las Vegas Boulevard entrance to the shops. Construction on the outside facade are still in progress as of 2007. Most of the Middle-Eastern motif that appears on the facade have been removed.
Meanwhile, renovations of the interior continue, with a majority of the casino renovated into a newer, more "Hollywood" theme. Rooms in the hotel portion of the property have had several upgrades, including the addition of Hollywood-style art pieces, such as framed movie posters, snapshots from the set of various movie productions, and reproductions of props used in major motion pictures.
- Aladdin Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Travelog. Including tens of photos.
- History of the Aladdin
- Implosion pictures and video of old Aladdin
| Las Vegas Strip | ||
|---|---|---|
| South end | Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign |  |
| West side | Mandalay Bay · THEhotel at Mandalay Bay · Luxor · Excalibur · New York-New York ·Monte Carlo · Project City Center (2009) · The Cosmopolitan (2009) · Bellagio · Caesars Palace · The Mirage · Treasure Island · New Frontier · Echelon Place (2010) · Slots-A-Fun · Circus Circus · Stratosphere | |
| East side | Tropicana · MGM Grand · Aladdin (Planet Hollywood) · Paris · Bally's · Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) · Flamingo · O'Sheas · Imperial Palace · Harrah's · Casino Royale · The Venetian · The Palazzo (2007) · Wynn · Riviera · Sahara | |
| Transportation | Las Vegas Monorail · The Deuce | |