Monday, Feb. 13, 2006 | 4:54 a.m.
The word "Nostalgia" is not often incorporated into a description of sports betting, but there was a melancholy mood early Super Bowl Sunday at an otherwise busy Stardust race and sports book.
Sunday marked the last Super Bowl for the history-laden Stardust sports book, which opened amid much fanfare in 1975 (a priceless photo of a pair of showgirls pulling a horse through the hotel to mark that occasion is nailed to a wall near the men's room). By the end of this year the Stardust, which opened in 1958, will be closed; in its place eventually will stand the $4 billion Echelon Place.
Celebrity athletes and actors ranging from Jim Brown to Jimmie "J.J." Walker have graced the Stardust book over the years. But its enduring legacy will be that it helped spark the advent of sports-betting shows on AM radio. The Stardust Line debuted on KDWN 720-AM in 1978 and, boosted by 50,000 watts of power, was heard in 12 states at a time when sports-betting was a largely underground practice.
"It was the only show that focused on sports betting, and it was a pretty brave move because no one had put sports betting out for mass audiences before. It was kind of frowned upon," said Stardust sports book director Bob Scucci, who will move on to an administrative position at Borgata in Atlantic City once the Stardust closes. "But it paid off for the exposure."
Longtime Stardust frequenter Stan Wayne, who has regularly made horse wagers at the sports book since moving to Las Vegas from New York in 1981, was asked for his favorite Stardust moment.
"I hit a pick-6 at Hollywood Park about a year ago," Wayne said, pulling his gaze away from a betting form. "I won about $158,000. That was a good day."
NoteMart
A ceremony of a different theme: The winning couple in First Friday's "Rocky Horror Picture Show"- themed wedding was Charles and Lynn Marko, who renewed their vows on a stage at Colorado Avenue and Casino Center Boulevard. The couple have been married for 33 years; organizers were impressed that grandparents (the Markos' grandchildren were on hand) were such big fans of "Rocky Horror" ...
Love me Blue: Venetian headliners Blue Man Group recorded their latest album at the hotel over the weekend. To best describe the percussive music pounded out by the Blue Men, imagine the soundtrack to a really long chase scene ...
Oh, duels: The Del Mar Dueling Piano Bar at South Coast opened last week, and it's a good-for-nothing (free admission) evening starring John Jones, Billy Ryan and Lucky Lee Hendler. A special atta-boy to Jones, who managed a credible version of "Maybe I'm Amazed," on Thursday, admitting afterward, "I faked it." ...
Toy story: Harrah's headliner Mac King continues to expand his miniempire. The comic-magician-author now has a line of magic tricks, which will be sold at toy stores across the country ...
Steve McQueen fan?: On the back of a green Mustang, a 2002 or 2003 model: BULLITT.
Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. John Katsilometes can be reached at 259-2327 or 812-9812, or at [email protected].
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