Pioneer Las Vegas gaming figure Stein dies at 87

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

Danny "Noisy" Stein, who became one of Las Vegas' most colorful characters after coming to town as a floor man for Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel for the mobster's opening of the Flamingo hotel in December 1946, died Thursday, four days shy of his 88th birthday.

Stein was a brash pool hustling kid from the streets of Chicago who went on to play a role in the growth of the Strip's biggest casinos during the formative decades -- the Sands in the 1950s and Caesars Palace in the 1960s.

"My father gave many of today's casino executives and longtime Strip workers their first jobs," said Cary Stein of Nevada City, Calif.

"He was always proud that he was in Las Vegas at a time when every decision that was made made a big difference in the outcome of the town. And he was proud of the role he played in that."

Born Noah Steinberg on June 7, 1916, in Chicago, Danny Stein was the youngest child of house painter Jacob Steinberg and the former Katie Glikman.

Stein dropped out of school in the fourth grade and became a pool hustler. He later served in the Army.

After his stint in the military, Stein returned to Chicago and met millionaire Virginia Hill, who introduced him to her boyfriend, Siegel. Cary Stein said the two of them hit it off and Siegel brought Stein with them when he came to Las Vegas in 1945.

Siegel then muscled into the ownership of the Flamingo after Hollywood Reporter founder Billy Wilkerson, a heavy gambler who was building the resort, sought financial assistance to complete the $6 million project.

Stein worked as a dealer and floor boss when the Flamingo opened and remained employed at the resort until shortly after Siegel was gunned down at Hill's Beverly Hills home on June 20, 1947.

In the early 1950s, Stein went to the Sands as a pit boss and later was a shift boss. He returned to the Flamingo for a short time in the early 1960s before going to Caesars in 1964 to prepare it for its 1966 opening and serve as one of the casino managers.

Stein's claim to Las Vegas fame was not just the result of his business activity. He was also known for marrying and divorcing nine showgirls or dancers during that time.

Stein, an avid sports fan who bet on boxing matches, retired in 1972 and left Las Vegas for Australia. He didn't move back to the United States until the late 1980s. He lived the remainder of his life in California.

"He last visited Las Vegas 15 years ago and didn't like it -- it was not the same place he had left," Cary Stein recalled. "My father always believed in the old ways of Las Vegas, taking care of the customers.

"He said you have to give the customers the best service because it is the least (you can do) to give back when you are taking so much (money)."

In addition to his son, Stein is survived by two grandchildren, Kate and Cody Stein, both of Nevada City.