Stardust memories

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006 | 7:48 a.m.

Photographs by Tiffany Brown | Quotes compiled by Jerry Fink

Almost 1,000 people attended the annual Old-Timers' Day celebration last month at the Stardust. It's the last reunion that will be held at the aging landmark, which will close Wednesday and be razed early next year. Some of their memories:

"I hate to see the old places go down. Sure, they say they're going to build something bigger and better in its place, some fabulous building that will cost 87 trillion dollars or something. But so what? What about the entertainers? When I think of a place, I think of the people who played in the showrooms and lounges."

- Joe Darro, entertainer

"Not only are we old-timers on our way out, but now the Stardust is on its way out. This is the thing about the old-timers' reunion. I look around and see people I've known for 45 years - and we all remember the Thunderbird, the Desert Inn, the Dunes, and all of a sudden they're gone. And when they go, I think a part of us goes, too."

- Peter Anthony, comedian and pianist

"My sisters and I were playing at the Desert Inn, which is now the Wynn Las Vegas, when the Stardust opened in 1958. That night after our performance we ran across the street and came to the first showing of 'The Lido.' I was so glad we did - we had never seen anything like it."

- Phyllis McGuire of the McGuire Sisters

"We tried to buy the Stardust. We were going to buy it. But someone in Washington, the head of the Anti-Trust Division, said if Mr. Hughes bought it, it would give him control of over 200 or 300 more rooms than they said he should have. I said I would close 500 rooms, until he said it was all right to open them, but they didn't get back with us Every Friday night I used to come here for lobster."

- Bob Maheu, personal assistant to Howard Hughes, who bought the Desert Inn, Castaways, Frontier, Landmark, Sands and Silver Slipper during his reclusive stay in Las Vegas from 1966 to 1968