Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Old-Timers have last Stardust fling; Orleans new host

The Stardust may be on life support, with the plug to be pulled Nov. 1, but that didn't prevent a record number of Las Vegans from enjoying the final Old-Timers' Day celebration at the 48-year-old resort.

Almost 1,000 people joined in the evening of annual reminiscing Sunday. Officials say the event usually draws between 800 and 900.

The record turnout may be because of the impending demise of the Stardust. Tony Cornero started construction on the $10 million project in 1954, but died under mysterious circumstances in 1955 while shooting craps with Moe Dalitz (to whom Cornero was heavily indebted). The casino was completed in 1958 by a group of mobsters that included Dalitz.

Boyd Gaming, which now owns the resort, announced earlier this year it was going to raze the property in 2007 and build the $4 billion Echelon Place.

The Old-Timers' Day won't be homeless; next year it moves to the Orleans, another Boyd property.

The idea for the event was hatched 11 years ago over breakfast at Bagelmania, said Realtor Ken Johann, one of the founders of the event. "A bunch of us guys would meet there every morning for bagels," Johann said. "It was one of those deals where everyone says, 'Have you seen Joe lately,' or 'Have you seen Mike?' so someone said let's have a party and invite everybody."

The first Old-Timers' Day was held at Arizona Charlie's. More than 500 people showed up, about all the meeting room could hold. The next year organizers looked for a bigger place, and casino owner Bill Boyd offered the Stardust. It has been held there since.

The reunions involve dinner and entertainment, but mainly it's about reminiscing.

"It's a chance to talk to your friends you might not have seen in a long time," said Thalia Dondero, who was a Clark County commissioner for 20 years and is a longtime member of the UNLV Board of Regents.

The event is never advertised. "It's all word of mouth," Dondero said.

Among this year's entertainers was Babe Pier, one of the world's great impressionists and the predecessor to such greats as Rich Little. Comedian, singer and pianist Peter Anthony, a Las Vegas resident for 44 years, hosted the entertainment portion of the evening.

When the Old-Timers' Day first began it was restricted to anyone who has lived in Las Vegas for 30 years or more. That rule has largely fallen by the wayside, although most of those who attend have been here for decades.

They come from all walks of life, from billionaire Kirk Kerkorian to retired nurses and casino workers.

"I like the humanity of it. When we first got here we didn't know anybody. As time goes on you meet one person, then another person. Before you know it there's a handful of people who enjoy you, and you enjoy them," actor Tony Curtis said. "That's what I like so much about the reunion. It has nothing to do with what you are, where you are and who you are. It has to do with your sense of living. All the people I've met here have a genuine sweetness about them."

In addition to entertainers such as Curtis, this year's guests included judges, attorneys, doctors, businessmen and politicians such as former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan and Danny Tarkanian, who's running for secretary of state.

"What makes it so wonderful is you just never know who is going to show up," Dondero said.

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