Tuesday, April 28, 1998 | 2:16 a.m.
After 32 years as a South Strip landmark, the Aladdin hotel-casino ended in a violent crash as the 17-story hotel was imploded at 7:32 p.m.
In an implosion that seemed to catch bystanders by suprise, the Aladdin was rocked by an explosion and then crumbled from west to east. A gigantic cloud of dust immediately rose up and drifted across The Strip, which was closed directly in front of the implosion site.
"That was very, very scary," said 9-year-old Andrea Zamorano, who watched the implosion with her family. Andrea, like many of the people who were watching the implosion from the Make-A-Wish Foundation's tent, donned a full protective outfit of goggles, dust mask and rain slicker.
For several minutes the Strip and nearby Bellagio hotel-casino were shrouded in a dust blanket. The haze cleared as the wind slowly dispersed it.
The implosion included a short, 10-minute fireworks demonstration and anchored an exclusive $250-per-person celebrity and invited guest fund-raiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada.
The 800-person charity event was conducted in a tented arena at the southeast corner of the 36-acre Aladdin property, a safe distance from the implosion.
"This is wonderful," said Karla Jacobson, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "They have assured us $50,000. Our average wish cost is $5,000. This means we will grant at least 10 wishes for children with illness."
Richard Goeglein, president and chief executive officer of Aladdin Gaming, said the exclusive fund-raiser was more than an entertainment event for a good cause -- it will also serve as the unofficial christening of the planned $1.3 billion re-developed Aladdin hotel-casino, scheduled to open in the spring of 2000.
Despite the implosion of the tower, and the removal of everything except for the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Jack Sommer, chairman of the Aladdin Gaming Corp., said the mystical atmosphere of the new Aladdin will only be enhanced.
"This is the kick off the new Aladdin," Sommer said, after the implosion. "And the new hotel will be a wonderful property. The new Aladdin will be a marvelous experience."
Themed after the classic "1001 Arabian Nights," the resort will feature 2,600 rooms as well as a high-limit gaming salon developed by joint venture partner London Clubs International.
Another joint venture partner with Aladdin Gaming is Planet Hollywood International that plans a $250 million, 1,000-room music-themed property with a 50,000-square-foot casino and a nightclub.
Wrapping around the entire complex will be Desert Passage, a nearly 500,000-square-foot retail, restaurant and entertainment complex that will be managed by TrizecHahn Corp. of San Diego, which owns and manages many shopping centers throughout the nation including the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas.
Goeglein said the resort, which will employ 7,000 people and will contain its own power plant, will become one of the South Strip's most popular destinations.
"We think we're on the premiere piece of real estate on the Strip, and this resort will be a must-see property," Goeglein said. "You can't get a better combination than that."
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