Observations by Pop Squires 1953-1954

LILLIS BUILDING

HENRY M. LILLIS was one of

the very first good carpenters

in Las Vegas. With Pat Sulli-

van and James Nimock work-

ing with him, several of the

best homes in Las Vegas were built,

including the John Park home and the

Chris Brown home on opposite sides

of Fremont at Fourth where the Ferron

Building and the Cornet Store now

stand, and the fine home of Delphine

and I on the lots adjoining the Cornet

Store.

Those men knew the building busi-

ness and did fine work in helping to

establish Las Vegas as a city of homes.

Lillis continued actively in the building

business until along about 1910 or 1912

when he entered politics and was elect-

ed justice of the peace.

He had no particular qualities of

learning to recommend him for the of-

fice except his basic honesty and sense

of justice, although some few thought

him a little too stern for the duties of

the office, which consisted mainly of

delivering lectures to a few drunks on

“the morning after” and imposing a

short jail sentence on the more flagrant

offenders against the law, and sitting

as coroner on the victims of our occa-

sional shooting scrapes.

By dint of much study and a lot of

good friends among the attorneys, Lillis

was admitted to the practice of the law.

He was a Mason and reached the high

position of master of Vegas Lodge No.

32, A.F. & A.M., for the year 1914, one

year ahead of me.

Things prospered for the judge and

he acquired some property, including a

couple of lots on the south side of Fre-

mont Street between First and Second.

When he announced through the Las

Vegas Age that he planned to erect the

best business block in Las Vegas on his

Fremont Street property I gave him a

well deserved boost in the paper and

things looked considerably brighter for

Las Vegas.

The shacks which covered the prop-

erty were removed and, by July of

1923, Lillis had the trenches prepara-

tory to putting in the concrete founda-

tions dug, about two feet wide all

around the site. And then the first dis-

aster to hit the proposed Lillis Building

hit.

On July 23, 1923, Las Vegas suffered

the worst storm in its history. A tor-

rential downpour of rain brought 1.98

inches of water down on us in the short

period of about 20 minutes.

Lightning struck many of the build-

ings in town, hitting the railroad shops

building in four places.

The Clark Building where the Las

Vegas Club now is was struck and

several prominent citizens hurt. The

rain was driven horizontally by the

terrific winds, but enough of it came

to the ground to fill the streets from

building to building. Every basement

and cellar was flooded.

But the spectacular disaster oc-

curred when the west wall of the build-

ing next to the proposed Lillis Build-

ing, the Oasis Confectionery, owned by

C. E. Pembroke, collapsed and the east

wall of the building owned by Will

Beckley, and occupied by the Charlie

Ball Grocery Store, collapsed and the

roof fell in bringing ruin to the entire

contents and narrowly escaping the

serious injury or death of its occupants

who were given warning just in time

to escape. The whole town was in a

mess.

The work of reconstruction began at

once and Lillis soon had the mud dug

out of his foundation trenches. After

that the building rose according to pro-

gram. Adcock & Ronnow moved into

(Continued on Page 29)

Double click to editHOLLYWOOD:

(CMtini»d from Pag* IP)

since the glamour girls have brought

their professional fights out into the

wide open press, but JOAN CRAW-

FORD and MERCEDES McCAM-

BRIDGE are certainlv grabing a lot of

space with their current tiff. . . . FER-

NANDO sent ARLENE DAHL 17-

count ’em—17 dozen red and white

roses for her opening in “Cyrano de

Bergerac” on Broadway. . . . Reported

talking it over not so long ago on this

column: RAY MILL AND and his wife,

the talk was a good one, they’ve recon-

ciled. . . . AVA and FRANKIE are on

the phones again. . . . JUNE HAVER

will continue her religious studies at

Loyola University in Los Angeles. . . .

An interesting twosome:ROBERT

TAYLOR and ELEANOR PARKER in

New York—Eleanor is receiving plau-

dits for her sparkling performance in

Paramount’s “The Naked Jungle” at

sneak previews—her co-star in this

stark adventure picture is rugged

CHARLTON HESTONThe gal who

gets the lead in Paramount’s film of

the life of the famed woman novelist

with the masculine name, George Sand,

might have the questionable pleasure

of puffing away at a large stogie—Miss

Sand enjoyed seevral cigars each day.

. . . We’ve just read that popcorn will

soon be sold in 13 flavors including

cheese, banana and LICORICE. . . .

JOHN BARRYMORE JR. says he has

quit Hollywood and films forever. . . .

Sign over the Monster’s Lair (the dress-

ing room of MARTIN and LEWIS at

Paramount): “The biggest quip joint

in town.” . . . BILL HOLDEN had to

dye his hair a reddish blonde color for

his role with AUDREY HEPBURN and

HUMPHREY BOGART in Billy Wild-

er’s “Sabrina Fair”—now he’s having

the same trouble that besets all who

give their hair a color rinse—his dark

brown roots are showing.

POP SQUIRES:

(Continued from Page 5)

the ground floor of the building with

their store and the Las Vegas Lodge of

Elks rented the upper floor as lodge

rooms.

The room was quite wonderful and

beautiful for Las Vegas and the Elks

boasted that the furnishings costing

more than $5000 were “almost entirely”

paid for.

In that room on December 21, 1923,

the Elks Lodge 1468 B.P.O.E. initiated

their first class of candidates, includ-

ing the following who still survive and

reside in Las Vegas:

H. H. Krause, Ed Von Tobel, A. Cor-

radetti, W. E. Ferron, Robert Griffith,

Sam Mikulich, Sam Lawson and C. P.

Squires, which to me personally was

no disaster.

During the past year or so there have

been three serious fires in the building

and now, after the terrific explosion

of Tuesday last, they are talking about

tearing the old Lillis Building down

and replacing it with a better structure.

How things have changed since 1923!

CHRISTMAS IN LAS VEGAS

PERHAPS Las Vegas has gained

the reputation of being an un-

Godly town devoid of churches

and religion. But I am writing

this to you boys and girls of

entertainment world to tell you that

this is not so. but that through concen-

tration here of the best talent in the

nation Las Vegas has become almost, if

not quite, the center of entertainment

in America

Las Vegas from its earliest days of

almost 100 years ago, when its history

began to be written, was the child of

religion. It was founded by a head of

missionaries of the Mormon faith, sent

here by Brigham Young with the sole

object of saving the souls and healing

the sick bodies of the Piaute Indians.

June 14, 1855, the first of the band of

missionaries sent out from Salt Lake

City on May 10, 1855, arrived in the

place called Las Vegas where there

were great springs of pure water and a

few hundred sick Paiutes hanging

around looking for the easiest way to

die.

It was the religious faith of Brigham

Young which first recognized Las Vegas

and brought it to the attention of the

civilized world.

They kept a detailed account of the

happenings every day in this strange

place and from their records I am giv-

ing you the account of the first Las

Vegas Christmas. t

That first Christmas, December 25,

1855, the day of Peace on Earth, Good

Will to Man, that first Christmastide on

which civilized men were in Las Vegas,

was observed and had its history writ-

ten as follows:

“This being the coldest morning that

the brethren experienced in Las Vegas,

the ground froze hard enough to hold

up a horse and rider in some places.

“During the night the Indians stole a

quantity of squashes, corn, etc., out of

Brothers Mitchell and Carter’s house.

They entered the fort at the unfinished

portion, took the loose adobes out of the

window and carried the squashes off

undiscovered by the guard.

“This being considered a licensed ho-

liday, the brethren mustered for a wolf

hunt on horseback. About a dozen went

out and after chasing around a few

hours returned without success.

“In the forenoon President Bringhurst

and Smoot went out and located the

Indian farm for the coming season on

a little stream two miles north of the

fort. Some of the brethren enjoyed

themselves at a game of ball in the

fort.”

The place selected for the Indian farm

later was the historic “Kyle Ranch,”

still later the home of John S. Park and

of later years the Boulderado Guest

Ranch.

We observe that the attempt at mak-

ing merry on that first Christmas was

rather a failure, but endured patiently

as part of their religious duties.

Down through the years of the 1880s,

after the Mormon missionaries aban-

doned the Las Vegas Mission, the old

ranch was owned by O. D. Gass, who

finally sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Archibald

Stewart. After the death of Mr. Stewart,

Mrs. Stewart carried on the ranch with

the aid of the Indians and every Sun-

day held such religious services as she

found possible in the old ranch house.

After Mrs. Stewart sold the ranch to

Senator Clark for his railroad, the in-

flux of adventurers numbered among

them occasional ministers of the gospel,

each of whom held services in a tent on

the banks of Las Vegas Creek.

After the townsite lot sale, the Meth-

odist people got together and emploved

an elderly gentleman whom we called

Dr. Bain to hold regular Sunday serv-

ices, which always were well attended.

(Continued on Pago 173)

POP SQUIRES:

(Continued from Page 3)

After that some of us who loved the

services of the Episcopal Church per-

suaded a young fellow named Harry

Gray to come to Las Vegas as the Epis-

copal rector. That was, as I remember

it, in the fall of 1905 or the spring of

1906.

Under Harry Gray we organized

Christ Church, Episcopal and of course

began as soon as possible to plan a

church building. The result was that the

Episcopalians financed and built Christ

Church, which still stands at the corner

of Second and Carson Streets.

The second church was the Methodist,

at the corner of Third and Bridger. The

original Methodist Church burned and

was replaced by the present fine buil-

ding. Then came in quick succession the

Catholic and the Church of the Latter-

day Saints.

The fine church bell was given Christ

Church by Peter G. Gray, of Boston,

Mass., father of Harry Gray. It has not

been rung of late for fear that it might

weaken the tower in which it hangs.

This church, since its completion in

1908, has been the church home down

through the past 45 years of a multi-

tude of people including Delphine and

me.

It has been open day and night and

has sheltered thousands of homeless

people from the chill of the night air.

Its rector has fed many people at the

rectory, next to the church, and now

our fine rector, T. Malcolm Jones, finds

it altogether too small for our needs

and is planning to erect a beautiful new

church building on the parcel of ground

donated by Mrs. Leigh Hunt on Mary-

land Parkway.

Plans are already made for a beauti-

ful and appropriate structure which

will cost much money.

I am writing this especially as an

appeal to you people of the entertain-

ment world to come whenever you can

to the services at Christ Church, be-

cause we want you all to share in the

comfort and happiness it has brought

to us down through the past 45 years.

And we are sure you would all enjoy

contributing a few dollars each to the

building fund and will find it a pleasure

and your pride.

Not that we think the Episcopal

Church is the only one!

We have great respect for all the fine

people who are carrying on the work of

the 30 or more church organizations in

Las Vegas.

But to the few of us of Christ Church,

to whom it has brought comfort, it

seems necessary to help build the new

church which is The Church of so many

great artists. You need The Church and

The Church needs you!

To You,

Your Family

and Your Friends

JAKE NEWMAN

HARRY "Yorkie" WEAVER

HALLIE" HALL

-casino-

graveyard SHIFT

Bennie Binion's

HORSESHOE CLUB

OBSERVATIONS

LAS VEGAS did not become an

incorporated city, with a

mayor and commissioners

with the power to tax us and

issue bonds to pay for a sewer

system and do for us the many things

we knew were necessary to make a

real city, until June of 1911. But I am

sure that one jolly fellow named Peter

Buol. who in June of 1911 was elected

first mayor of the incorporated City of

Las Vegas, had as much to do with lay-

ing the foundation upon which the

present Las Vegas is built as any other

person.

I met Peter Buol a day or two after

I first arrived in Las Vegas early in

February 1905. What brought us to-

gether was the fact that the little group

with whom I was associated were in-

terested in building materials with

which to build a town and we heard

that Peter and Frank Buol, brothers,

had established a brick yard near Las

Vegas and had already burned a large

kiln of brick suitable for building, so

when I met them they were anxious

to take Chris Brown, Frank Waters and

myself out to see their brick yard.

It was a bitterly cold day, with a

fierce wind blowing from the north and

driving sand and gravel viciously be-

fore it, when Pete and Frank Buol

called for us at Ladd’s Hotel. They

drove a team hitched to a platform

wagon with two high seats which ex-

posed, us to every blast.

The brick kiln and the residence of

the Buols was something like a mile

and one-half or two miles south of the

railroad “depot.” As we jogged along

a road following the railroad track

southward, I happened t6 see some

kind of an animal crouched under a

clump of brush. The driver stopped the

team and out of curiosity I got down

off the wagon seat and walked warily

toward the bush sheltering the animal.

Nothing stirred.

I saw the animal was a rabbit be-

numbed by the cold, and I reached

down, took him by the long ears and

lifted him up. He made only a very

feeble kick or two in protest, so I

snuggled him under my overcoat and

got back into the wagon.

Mr. Rabbit (one of the largest I had

ever seen) seemed comforted by the

warmth and shelter and made no pro-

test. Soon we arrived at the Buol cabin.

I took my friend Mr. Rabbit in with me

and set him down near the warm cook

stove after carefully closing the door.

After warming himself for a few

minutes our animal friend hopped

around looking the place over but

... by CHARLES P. "POP" SQUIRES

Scan from the Over50Vegas.com Collection — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — March 28, 1953 —

showed no fear of us humans. In fact

he seemed to enjoy being cuddled and'

stroked.

We went across the wagon road to

see the kiln. Sure enough, there was a

good sized brick kiln almost cool after

the burning. The finished bricks seemed

rather white-livered and soft but Pete

Buol assured us that they would

harden in the wall and would last for

many years, getting better with age.

A few months later (after the rail-

road auction sale of lots) Judge W. R.

Thomas bought practically all the

bricks in the Buol kiln and with them

built the “Thomas Block,” corner of

First and Fremont, where Bill Fer-

ron’s Las Vegas Pharmacy has been

for many years. I suggest that you run

your fingers over those walls, now

nearly half a century old, and see what

Buols’ brick yard did for Las Vegas.

We visited the Buol cabin a few

days after our first visit and found our

furry friend Mr. Rabbit as gay and

happy as could be. He objected not a

bit when we picked him up by the

ears and really snuggled up to us as

if we were his best friends — which

we were, we thought.

Pete and Frank were hospitable

souls and very congenial and when they

invited us out to dinner the next Sun-

day we were happy to accept, especial-

ly as we rather prized this additional

opportunity to play with Mr. Rabbit.

We arrived at the Buol cabin in due

(Continued on Page 32)

POP SQUIRES:

(Continued from Page 5)

time and, cheered by the steamy at-

mosphere carrying the flavor of suc-

culent food. I looked around behind

and under the stove and back of the

kitchen door for Mr. Rabbit but could

not locate him.

"Where’s Bunny?” I asked.

With a grave, almost sorrowful face,

Pete raised the cover of the boiling pot

and pointed in.

Of course the stew was excellent. I

imagine that the fine, friendly quali-

ties of Mr. Rabbit detracted nothing

from the appetizing qualities of Buols’

rabbit stew.

Just what effect that rabbit stew had

on the political career of Pete Buol and

made him mayor of Las Vegas some-

thing like seven and one-half years

later (June 1912) I cannot say.

This I remember — Peter’s ambition

knew no bounds when it came to pro-

moting Las Vegas. He believed in this

area completely when others went

around with sour-puss faces and com-

plained. Among other very fine enter-

prises, Peter Buol got control of a large

acreage of land south and west of Las

Vegas, went to London, England, at

his own expense, stopped at the best

and highest priced hotel where he suc-

ceeded in meeting Sir John Murray and

telling him about Las Vegas.

Sir John was interested and invested

a large amount of money in ‘The

Scotch Syndicate” which took over the

Vegas acreage. Pete came home quite

happy at his success and at once

started improvements by drilling ar-

tesian wells, starting a series of drain-

age canals (the remains of which may

still be seen).

There were some unsolved problems,

such as building streets, gutters, curbs,

sidewalks, etc., but the compelling is-

sue was construction of sewers.

We went through the formalities of

a bond issue by the county commis-

sioners as the governing body of the

Unincorporated Town of Las Vegas.

Peter went East and found a bond

house which agreed to buy the bonds,

but when the attorney for the bond

house came to Las Vegas he ruled that

the county board had no such author-

ity under the law, and the bond sale

flopped.

The need for sewers still existed —

in fact, was getting worse every day.

So we took the next year fighting a

campaign to incorporate the City of

Las Vegas. The incorporation special

election June 1, 1911, carried and Peter

Buol was elected the first mayor of

Las Vegas.

In spite of our thought that every-

thing would go swimmingly for Las

FABULOUS LAS VEGAS

Vegas from incorporation on down

through the years, we could not fore-

see that a strike of railroad shop work-

ers would close our great machine

shops, which just then were getting to

be very important to Las Vegas, and

that they would not operate normally

again for something like five years.

And we could not know that the First

World War, beginning in the summer

of 1914, would put an end to all pos-

sibility of financing by the “Scotch

Syndicate.” We did get our sewer sys-

tem before the world cataclysm but

not much else.

However, Peter Buol kept busy and

one great accomplishment was his

“grub stake” enterprise which resulted

in discovery of a great deposit of borax

which Peter and his partners in the

prospecting deal promptly sold to

“Borax” Smith for $200,000 — and got

the money in installments of $50,000

each.

Frank Buol has for more than 40

years been interested in development

of Pahrump Valley and has long out-

lived his brother Peter.

And just the other day I received a

letter from Mrs. Lorena V. Buol, widow

of our first mayor, who came here in

1904 and has been interested in Las

Vegas ever since — but has not seen

Las Vegas since she came to our 25th

anniversary of the incorporation of Las

Vegas.

RENO BEAT:

(Continuod from pogt IS)

dancing of JIMMY RAY, STERLING

YOUNG and his ORCHESTRA and the

TWELVE GORGEOUS GIRLS ... The

MAPES SKYROOM following a very

successful two weeks with RUDY VAL-

LEE and the BLACKBURN TWINS

with MARION COLBY, opened a new

show on Thursday the 26th, starring

BUDDY LESTER and singer SONNY

HOWARD, direct from the Copacabana

in New York. Rounding out the bill

will be the MAPES SKYLETTES and

the music of EDDIE FITZPATRICK

and his orchestra.

THE RIVERSIDE THEATRE RES-

TAURANT goes into the second week

of a real great show, topped by JANIS

PAIGE, a great singing star, with a

terrific sense of comedy and timing.

She has the audiences asking for more

. . . AL BERNIE. a brilliant young

comic making his first trip to RENO,

you can be sure that he will be back,

and before long ... A marvelous

dog act, EXCESS BAGGAGE, last seen

here with the SHRINE CIRCUS. The

lovely RIVERSIDE STARLETS and

BILL CLIFFORD and his orchestra . . .

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK . . . ART

STEAGALL.

* 32 «MARCH28,1953

DICK SHERIDAN'S

Strip Race Book

HI-WAY 91 (The Strip)

Results From All Major Tracks

Direct Bus Service From

Downtown

Comfortable Atmosphere

Shamrock Hotel

Dance every night

March 28, 1953

Don Ridley and the

Lucky Henry Trio Make you dance music for dancing in the Shillalah Room at the Shamrock Hotel. shillelagh

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — March 28, 1953

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — October 3, 1953

IN THE PRESENT unsavory

mess into which the United

States has managed to blunder

itself, there are but very few

ties which bind the two coun-

tries together. To find such ties we

probably must search back more than

50 years to the time when Korea (or

Corea as it was often spelled) was an

ancient nation with a type of civiliza-

tion and culture reaching back several

thousands years and had developed

much in the way of beautiful Oriental

art and architecture, but was quite ig-

norant about the things our western

civilization consider most important,

such as railroads, manufacturing ma-

chinery and mining equipment.

Instead of machinery, most of the

power used in that ancient empire was

that of the human hands of millions of

low-cast slaves into whose minds the

idea that they were as good as anybody

else had not yet entered.

Under the personal direction and

leadership of the Emperor, Koreans had

accomplished much of value and beau-

ty, especially in architecture, the palace

of the Emperor being a great and beau-

tiful work of art.

After traveling over much of the

world, making friends in many coun-

tries and a distinguished career as pub-

lisher of the newspaper Portland Ore-

gonian at Portland, Leigh -Hunt de-

cided to spend some time in the Orient,

looking for opportunities for develop-

ment. After spending considerable time

in China and Japan, Mr. Hunt with his

wife, Mrs. Jessie Noble Hunt, his young

son Henry and his daughter Helen went

to Korea, landing at Inchon, the port

for the capital city, Seoul.

There was no railroad connecting Inchon with the capital, but by means of

boats and sedan chairs carried by coo-

lies they made their way to Seoul. The

very first thing Mr. Hunt did in the

capital city was to seek an interview

with the Emperor. This was not easy

to accomplish but, with the assistance

of the United States ambassador to Ko-

rea, the matter was brought to the per-

sonal attention of the Emperor.

In due time, after the formalities of

the situation were performed, the Em-

peror caused invitations to be issued

inviting the visitors to a formal dinner

at the palace. With the aid of the U. S.

Ambassador the party were instructed

in the ways of the country and were

pretty well informed on the require-

ments by the evening of the banquet.

There were two tables for the Em-

peror and his guests. One table was set

on an elevated stage at which were

seated the Emperor, his high officials

and the guest of honor. The other table

set on the floor level several feet be-

low the Emperor’s table and was for

the women and children and the less

distinguished guests.

Mr. Hunt wore the customary eve-

ning clothes. Mrs. Hunt, on advice of

the Ambassador, wore the customary

evening dress with low neck and short

sleeves and was the subject of much

attention on the part of the ladies at-

tached to the Emperor’s train who

crowded around and in wonderment

felt the silken materials of the dress.

When the dining was concluded and

the more formal discussions were be-

gun, Mr. Hunt called attention to the

great advantage to the Emperor and the

nation if there were a railroad between

Inchon and Seoul, the capital, and

asked for a concession to build the

road. The Emperor was pleased with

the idea and promptly granted the con-

cession.

Continued on Page 33

POP SQUIRES:

(Continued from Page 5)

Thereafter Mr. Hunt, whose experi-

ence had not yet included railroad

building, was making contacts with

railroad people. He met a party of trav-

elers who had secured concessions for

operating some mining claims they had

secured.

It happened that none of the group

had ever had experience in mining,

while Mr. Hunt had assisted in develop-

ing some mining properties in western

United States. The outcome was that

the visitors were anxious to trade their

mining claim concession and a mill they

did not know how to erect and operate,

for Mr. Hunt’s railroad concession. The

exchange was mutually beneficial.

Mr. Hunt and family (Mrs. Hunt

dressed as a matter of safety in the out-

fit of a Chinese coolie) traveled by se-

dan chairs carried by coolies to the far

north of Korea not far from the Yalu

River and successfully installed the

mill. This was the first step in the ac-

quiring and operation of mining proper-

ties which brought millions into the

treasury of the syndicate he had

formed.

The most exciting incident of their

residence in Korea was news that the

United States Fleet under Admiral

Dewey had destroyed the Spanish Fleet

in Manila Bay and captured the Philip-

pine Islands.

Soon after the Spanish-American war

Mr. Hunt returned to America with his

family and in 1923 came to Las Vegas.

He found this climate so pleasant and

beneficial to his health that he settled

here.

Mr. Hunt and his associates acquired

many hundred acres of valuable desert

land in Las Vegas Valley which has

since, under the management of his son

Henry, become very valuable. The Las

Vegas Jockey Club racetrack is located

on some of the ground acquired by Mr.

Hunt and associates, through the enter-

piise of Henry Hunt.

Henry and his mother still reside in

the family home at 110 South Ninth

Street, acquired by Leigh Hunt soon

after his arrival in Las Vegas. Mrs.

Hunt is still enjoying life and welcomes

the calls of a few old friends.

I often wonder what memories come

to the minds of those who knew the

Old Korea of more than a half century

ago!

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At $10.00 Per Share

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LAS VEGAS

JOCKEY CLUB

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1104 CLARK ST.

HOUSE OF

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SAINT'S

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Picture Frames

2206 East Charleston, Phone 502

Wedding Corsages

Room Bouquets

"In Fact Everything in Flowers"

DOT'S FLOWERS

808 So. 5th St. Phone 811

BREAKFAST

LUNCH-DINNER

Swiss VILLAGE 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

RESTAURANT

- COCKTAILS -

116 N. 5th Street Hi-way 91

Snyder's slacks suits

Tailor Made to Your Measure

FOR MEN AND WOMEN

421 South 5th St. Phone 6644

NEVADA CHANGES —

When one has been familiar with

Nevada approximately half a

century, the changes in trans-

portation and the daily habits

and customs of the people make a fan-

tastic story, so strange and unreal that

one can hardly believe the truth.

For example, the largest part of our

people depend on mining for their

daily bread. In 1899 Virginia City and

the Comstock were still pouring out

streams of golden wealth. Tonopah in

1899 had just been discovered and its

stores of silver were amazing the

world. It put new life into the busi-

ness world. It seemed to prove to us

that our money had real value behind

it and that God was being good to

William Jennings Bryan and that “free

coinage of silver at the ratio of six to

one” would bring new prosperity to

the world, especially to this mining

state of Nevada.

But just at the critical moment pros-

pectors, who had been earnestly seek_-

ing new mines of silver, stumbled onto

more gold and the great camp of Gold-

field discovered by prospectors from

Tonopah, became a new bonanza and

wealth in gold began to flow out of

Goldfield and again the world was

amazed.

Prospectors by the thousand combed

the state for more rich ores and many

new camps were discovered, most of

which failed to fulfill, their early

promises. But we still thought of Tono-

pah and Goldfield as permanent cities.

How could they be otherwise with those

millions in gold just waiting for some-

body to take them out?

The wonderful Virginia City, whose

millions in gold built the great and

beautiful San Francisco, was still pro-

ducing wealth and, of course, would

never die.

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — June 5, 1954

Goldfield and Tonopah in the year

1905, when Las Vegas was being born,

were already rich. They were building

great cities and not cheap or shoddy

ones. They built of great blocks cut

from the very mountains which hid

their wealth. Only a few remember

the streets lined on each side with solid

granite buildings, indestructible, built

for all time. Where are they now? Only

shapeless heaps of rocks.

Las Vegas was a sickly young city

with no great gold and silver mines to

feed it — only hands of rugged men to

shape it. The railroad payroll was our

only food. But then we had our own

fever of mining. Searchlight and Eldo-

rado Canyon had had their day and

were no longer exciting. Goodsprings

and the Yellow Pine district for a few

ears had brought wealth to Las Vegas,

ut brought us no wealth from the

more wealthy part of the state.

I remember one time when I was a

guest at a Reno Chamber of Commerce

luncheon, I was introduced as from the

far-off town down in the southern part

of the state. I was a bit annoyed at

having Las Vegas belittled and ignored

and I admitted that Las Vegas at that

time was obliged to ask favors from

the north just as a boy asks them of

his father.

But, I reminded them, Las Vegas

will grow up and become bigger,

stronger than his father and Reno will

be glad to ask us of the south for

favors. It does seem that the day is at

hand when that is true. The Las Vegas

district is the metropolis of the state.

In 1906, when the Las Vegas & Tono-

pah Railroad was built, we thought a

great new state was created. That was

one of the great routes of travel and

we thought that it was permanent.

(Continued on Page 37)

FOR SECURITY FOR A GAMBLE U. S. BONDS

IT'S THE HORSESHOE CLUB DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS

The Biggest Little Casino

in the World

POP SQUIRES:

(Continued from Pag* 5)

Many a time Delphine and I took

the train at 10 in the morning and

jogged along past Indian Springs,

Beatty, Rhyolite and other towns to

Goldfield, where we arrived about 7

p.m. and stopped overnight at the

Goldfield hotel.

Next morning at 7 we continued our

journey through Tonopah, Mina, Hazen

and other towns to Reno. We thought

the railroad was permaennt, but about

1919 the rails were taken up and sold

to a British syndicate and used to build

a railroad in China.

Again our contact with the Reno

country was broken. It took us about

two days to get to Reno by automobile

and by rail by Barstow, Bakersfield,

Stockton, Sacramento and Truckee. We

missed our railroad, but hoped some

day would bring us paved highways.

Now most drivers take us to Reno in

10 hours or less. How times do change!

Now the great industries of the state

are still in its mines. Ely is at the head

of the list with its production of copper.

A great new copper camp representing

an investment of more than 40 million

dollars is being created near Yering-

ton. And at Nellis Field one of the great

flying schools of the world is being

created.

At Henderson an important city of

10 or 12 thousand people has been

created by the power from Hoover

Dam. Boulder City is a fine and as

permanent a city as we ever hoped

for. And the separate city of North

Las Vegas with something like 10

thousand people has grown up because

Las Vegas lots were higher in price

than those in North Las Vegas.

Flamingo

JUNE 10

ROSE MARIE

AND

LENNY KENT

INK SPOTS

Last Frontier

JUNE 21

PATTI ANDREWS

MARY KAYE TRIO

Sahara

Dennis Day

Martha ray

Thunderbird

Sunny Gale

Orson Bean

El Rancho Vegas

Sophie Tucker

Sands

JUNE 9

ZIEGFELD FOLLIES

FRANK SINATRA

Desert Inn

JANE FROHMAN

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — June 5, 1954

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — August 7, 1954

THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE —

When the lots of Clark's Las

Vegas Townsite were put on

the market, the fact that

blocks 37 and 38 were left

blank meant nothing to most of us who

were at the auction sale on May IS and

16, 1905. The corner of the "While

Forty" on which the Wardie Addition

was subdivided 10 or 15 years later had

no particular interest for us—there

were plenty of lots anyhow, and no-

body could imagine that more room

would ever be needed for our town.

So along about 1908 we had the idea

that we needed ample room for our

schools and the school board, of which

our old friend Charlie Ronnow was the

president, got the Las Vegas Land and

Water Company to turn over what

would have keen Block 37 to the school

board. That was the block between

Fourth and Fifth and Bridger and

Lewis.

School was then being held in a frame

building built where the Monte Carlo

Club now is on Fremont Street, and

moved later to the corner of Second

and Lewis streets where the Las Vegns

Land and Water Company building

now is.

In the summer of 1910 the school

board hired A. S. Henderson, district

attorney of Eureka County. Nevada, u.s

superintendent of schools. He was to

take over his new job in September of

1910 but was delayed by the necessity

of having his resignation as district at-

torney accepted by the commissioners

of Eureka County.

We were rather proud of our school-

house which, although a rather rough

frame shack of a building, had cost

quite a sum by the time it was moved,

remodeled and cut up into about two

neat little class rooms. The Las Vegas

Trading Company, of which I was the

secretary ana manager, set up a flag

pole and provided a flag to fly before

the building, and we all felt quite im-

portant in having a man coming to

take charge.

Professor Henderson, now Judge

A. S. Henderson, judge of the district

court, finally arrived in Las Vegas on

October 4, 1910 and immediately took

over his job with Miss Mathews, a

young lady from Brookings, S. D.; Miss

Bess McCormack of Reno and Miss

Florence Squires, our daughter (now

Mrs. C. C. Boyer) as teachers, and

everything seemed prosperous and

Strictly o. K., just like a regular city.

Then disaster struck us. In the early

morning of October 29, 1910 our school-

house suddenly broke into a mass of

roaring flames. We knew someone had

s.et It afire because the smell of burn-

ing oil filled the air. The children’s

books and everything in and around

the building was destroyed. It was a

shock, and presented serious problems.

Fortunately the Methodist Church,

then being built at Third and Bridger,

was far enough along so the basement

could be used. This and a couple of

small shacks belonging to Capt. James

H. Ladd, on the lots on Third Street

adjoining the church property. There

some of our children received part of

their education.

In the meantime the Las Vegas school

district had voted $30,000 in bonds to

build a fine school building. They

adopted plans and let the contract in

1910 to a Las Vegas lumber dealer, ap-

pointing an inspector who was not on

good terms with the contractor.

It is worthy of note that we had a

terrific fight to get bonds voted. To

some of the Las Vegas citizens it ap-

peared useless to build for the future.

The town, they said, had already reach-

ed its growth and the idea of building

a schoolhouse of 14 rooms to them

seemed preposterous.

“Fourteen rooms for schools! Never

in the world will so many rooms ever

(Continued on Pago 33)

DOT'S DASHES:

(Continued from Page 23)

parent about a marriage announcement

. . . VICTOR MATURE may wait out

his few months left of his 20th con-

tract on suspension.

Prince ALY KHAN will auction off

more horses while in this country . . .

GENE TIERNEY is in Connecticut, so

she and the prince will see each other

... Out here OLEG CASSINI is stay-

ing on with dates with GRACE KEL-

LEY . . . Marriage plans are rumored

lor GUY MADISON and SHEILA CON-

NOLLY . . . SZA SZA will not marry

until her divorce from GEORGE SAN-

DERS is final ..BeverlyHillshotel

manager HERNANDO COURT-

WRIGHT and SELENE WALTERS a

twosome to watch . . . BETSY DRAKE

sold another TV script and the proud-

est one is her hubby, CARY GRANT

. . . JANE FROMAN writes she will be

out here a month from today . . . It’s

denied that the SETH BAKERS have a

date with Sir Stork. She’s JACK BEN-

NY’S daughter.

There’s little doubt WALT DISNEY

has another Academy Award winner in

“The Vanishing Prairie,” for it’s bound

to please anyone of any age . . . KAY

STARR, who divorced VIC SCHOEN.

is making with the dates with her ex,

HAL STANLEY. (Hard to keep the

records straight!) . . . BOB MITCHUM

explains his RKO suspension with the

claim he hurried through to make an-

other RKO film before his contract ex-

pired but not to play an Indian in “Cat-

tle Queen of Montana." Hard to under-

stand ’cause I know many who'd like

to play Indian!SOLONG'

CRISWELL PREDICTS:

(Conlinuad from Pag* 11)

bounds pictures within the next 30

days! . . . Tom Mix: You will soon take

your place in the Hall of Fame! . . .

Indianapolis. Ind.: Your new memorial

park dedicated to the war dead of all

wars will be completed by January 1!

. . . New Orleans: You will plan a

world's fair for 1958! . . . Bob Hope:

You will cancel your film contracts for

television! . . . Miami Beach, Fla.: Pre-

pare for a light tourist season due to the

"no gambling” edict! . . . Thomas

Wolfe: You will win the American Lit-

erary Award for your novels! . . Phila-

delphia: Prepare for a most disastrous

fire in your history with a great loss

of life!

POP SQUIRES:

(Continuod from Page 5)

be needed!” they said. But the forward-

looking citizens won, and the contractor

built the building. But the inspector ap-

pointed by the board to oversee con-

struction would not approve the work

and for months the building stood prac-

tically finished but unoccupied.

After one of the worst squabbles in

the history of Las Vegas, during which

there was no end to the charges be-

tween the contractor and the inspector,

in the spi’ing of 1911 arbitration was

agreed upon. After some two weeks of

hearings the arbitration board found

on practically every point that specifi-

cations had not been followed and that

the building was defective. In spite of

that, the senool board had to pay and

the taxpayers got all the worst of it.

So in September of 1911 the new

building was occupied for the first time.

A. S. Henderson was principal in charge

of all the schools. The teachers were

Miss Florence Squires, who already had

taughl in the Las Vegas schools for two

years; Lenore Boomhower and her sis-

ler Sadie.

The architect of the building was

A. C. Smith of Los Angeles.

On the Fourth and Bridger street

corner of the building you may find the

cornerstone with the date of 1910. It

was dedicated by the Grand Lodge of

Masons of Nevada and in it were placed

many articles which will be of interest

to us when the old building is tom

down and which, according to appear-

ances, will be not later than a year from

now.

Duiing the 43 years of its use, other

structures have been built around the

old building. The block bounded by

Lewis. Clark. Fourth and Fifth was se-

cured for high school use. On that block

r very attractive high school building

was constructed. That building was

burned and the next high school was at

its present location and the plot be-

tween Fourth, Fifth, Lewis and Clark

turned over to the grammar school use.

DAVE BARRY:

(Continued from Page 7)

been married once. Every time we had

a child I sent it to my mother’s ware-

house. Finally my wife grew tired.

After three thousand children, she di-

vorced me.

When I finished my story, the doctor

helped me carry the couch out of the

office.

His mother has opened up a ware-

house for him and I am happy to say

that by getting rid of his couch I put

him back on his feet, and today he is

the happiest little psychiatrist you ever

saw!

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — August 7, 1954

Observations by Charles "Pop" Squires

Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine

1953 - 1954

Use the menu below to read columns for the years as noted.

THE FAILURE of the South-

west properly to support s

race track at Las Vegas to me

is a bitter disappointment.

Since the earliest days of the

poor, skinny little infant Las Vegas a

few of us have dreamed dreams about

racing.

That first Fourth of July in the year

1905 found us at low ebb. The spurt of

business activity following the auction

sale of the townsite lots had cooled off.

Our big advertisements in Los Angeles

newspapers had ceased to attract pur-

chasers. The world had passed us by

with a general "go to hell" salute and,

with all the dust and flies and heat, we

felt that we were well on our way.

But the Fourth of July came around

at the same old time of the year and

we did not, quite yet, feel that we had

fallen low enough to ignore our na-

tional holiday. So we prepared a cele-

bration, which was to include, in addi-

tion to a cool drink or two now and

then at Harry Beale's bar, a few foot

races and, the supreme attraction, sev-

eral horse races over a quarter of u

mile track down the creek below the

ranch, most of which we cleared after

we reached the ranch.

Our means of transportation then was

a foot path through the brush along

the banks of Vegas Creek, which then

was a fine, clear little stream. You can-

not find it today because it long ago

wus swallowed by the water mains of

the Las Vegas Land & Water Company

system. Our own two feet provided the

motive power for most of us. but we

did not mind the walk to the ranch be-

cause there we knew would be the

shade of green cottonwood trees, while

the only shade in this townsite was in-

side a shack or tent where the heat had

stored itself.

I remember the walk to the ranch

that morning because it just happened

that I found myself walking with a

rather dapper army officer in a new

uniform, who sorrowfully confided in

me that he was completely out of mon-

ey and must get enough to take him

to Walker Lake where he had govern-

ment checks awaiting him, etc., etc. So,

of course, I loaned him a little money

and I haven't ever since heard of my

military friend.

Arriving at the ranch we found quite

a crowd, maybe as many as a hundred

people. Near the bar a “bowery” had

been built where the young fellows

and the girls danced between drinks.

Most of the rest of us took what shovels

and picks we could find and went down

the creek to a plot of comparatively

level ground where we cleared, roughly,

a baseball diamond and a straight-

away race track which we guessed to

be a quarter of a mile.

We tried to play an inning or two of

ball, then came the big doings—the

horse races. Those of us who were there

will never forget the thrill of seeing

those cow-ponies struggle and smash

their way through the dust heaps, in

dead earnest. There was no make-

believe but serious struggle every race.

And perhaps it was that first Fourth of

July in the new Los Vegas that inocu-

lated the town with the love of horses

and of races.

Our next big races were on Labor

Day of 1905, along Main Street near

Fremont. The railroad company by that

time had done some street work. On

those blocks in the heart of town, some

of the streets such as Main and Fre-

mont had been graded, graveled, oiled

and curbs of 3xl4-inch redwood planks

built.

Again there were horse races this

time along Main Street. At the corner

of Main and Fremont we had a lot of

Nevada Club Las Vegas' Newest Club

BAROPEN24HOURSEVERYDAY

CAFE

CASINO

SLOT MACHINES

113 FREMONT STREET

foot-races for men, women and chil-

dren. The really big race, as I remem-

ber it, was the 100-yard free-for-all

foot-race.

I then had a new friend, Dr. Roy W.

Martin, just graduated from medical

college, who had picked Las Vegas as

the best place in the whole world for

him to settle. And so all his life Roy

Martin was our most enthusiastic boost-

er and the leader in about everything

attempted.

He had arrived in Las Vegas about

the middle of August and he entered

the 100-yard race on Labor Day. I had

thought it was foolish of him. fresh

from college, to compete with some of

our tough lads from the ranches, but

Roy entered the race and won. I asked

him why he had entered such a tough

race and he confided:

"Charlie, I had spent the last dollar I

had and I JUST HAD to win that $5

purse!” And after that we all looked

up to Roy as one of our best boosters

for any kind of a race, especially horse

racing.

When A1 G. Barnes, head of the wild

animal show and circus which came

this way occasionally, came to Las Ve-

gas to establish residence for divorce

purposes, he announced loudlv that he

had flhosen Las Vegas as the winter

quarters for his big animal show, bring-

ing a new and important enterprise

to Las Vegas. We welcomed him

warmly.

Soon after Al’s arrival a lovely little

lady with two smalL children arrived

in town and rented a cottage on Fourth

near Fremont. She drove a rather fancy

little car, on the doors of which was

painted the name "Jane.” Rumor had

it that she had formerly been a bare-

back rider in Al’s circus. The rumor

proved to be about right, because when

A1 called on Jane in the newly rented

cottage the children came running out

and called him “Poppy.”

The same day he received his decree,

Al married Jane and for a little time

they lived in the Fourth Street cottage.

Then they faded away and Al, at the

moment, had nothing further to say

about making Las Vegas winter head-

quarters for the circus.

But a few months later Al again ap-

peared in Las Vegas, this time estab-

lishing residence for the purpose of di-

vorcing Jane. He had quite a struggle

cutting loose from Jane and. when the

decree of divorce was granted, the case

was promptly appealed to the Supreme

Court. In the meantime Al again be-

came enthusiastic about making Los

Vegas winter quarters for his big cir-

cus, but nothing ever came of it after

he had his decree confirmed by the

Supreme Court.

Of D. G. Lorenzi’s efforts to estab-

lish horse racing in Las Vegas I wrote

recently in this column. Lorenzi made

a fine start and it took the great de-

pression starting in 1929 to stop him.

But for the mass of suspicions, jeal-

ousies and hatreds poured into the

minds of stockholders and all connected

with the great race track enterprise,

it would have been a success.

Perhaps the right way would have

been to start on a more modest scale

and gradually teach the people of the

Southwest to love Las Vegas and her

great racing plant.

There are now more than five mil-

lion people in Southern California, all

of whom would have been anxious to

see Las Vegas and enjoy her many fine

entertainments, including the race

track.

The whole thing has been unneces-

sarily made a bad mess from which

careful nurture and plenty of patience

can rescue it.

Bottle House

Floyd J. Cope Your Friendly Liquor Store

827 S. Fifth St 5th St.

"You'll Be the Belle of

Las Vegas"

RINGLETTE

WAVE SHOPPE

109 North 3rd S». Phone 553

Home of Silver Blondes

HAIR STYLIST

MAE PARKER

Former Education Director of

New Jersey

NOW APPEARING

Joe Mays and his Cordesman music maniacs

musicmaniacs back by public demand

Benito Pat Marino Moreno

sensational singing comedian

Ray Parker and pothole internationally famous

Ventriloquist

Joe Venuti and his swing violin

emoil gray trio intermissions

the million dollar golden nugget gambling hall downtown Las Vegas

Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine - October 24,1953

That's for Sure... by Jack Cortez

Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine - October 24,1953

BY NOW everyone is cognizant

j that October 24 has been pro-claimed UNITED NATIONSDAY. This is one holiday for which the world should be

eternally grateful. When the United

Nations was founded it meant a giant

step was being taken to establish solid

unity between many different coun-

tries. removing barriers that prevented

understanding between humans living

on opposite sides of the globe. Just as

the United Nations inspired the perfec-

tion of a method to combat the ancient

problem of language (the simultaneous

translation system), we pray they will

some day be able to offset serious

altercations in favor of the sensible

family type discussions. We are proud to salute United Nation's DAY . . . and that's for sure.

“Holiday” magazine photographers

are in town, busily snapping their

shutters, collecting many lens-images

to decorate their planned feature story

on the state of Nevada. Although the

tale will deal with our state, it will

dwell mostly upon the highlights of

our own Las Vegas. You’ll be able to

read about it in tneir July 1954 edition.

Currently enjoying a well-deserved

vacation is SI LIEN, coordinator of en-

tertainment at the HOTEL SAHARA.

Si is enjoying a reunion with his folks

and will celebrate his birthday October

25 with his parents in New York City.

The only blue note in his happiness is

the absence of his love, DONNA RAY-

BOLD. At the end of his vacation. Si

wouldn't surprise us if he headed

straight for Los Angeles, kidnapped his

lovelight and brought her back here

for a visit with the Preacher.

Time out to send a gigantic nod of

appreciation to ROY BABICH, pit boss

of the swing shift at HOTEL LAST

FRONTIER. Despite the many trying

episodes that Roy encounters in his

daily routines, he never fails to display

the patience and finesse that label him

a “gentleman.”

The FLAMINGO HOTEL is certain-

ly carrying out its policy of “every-

thing new." The management is having

a new air conditioning system installed,

containing chlorophyll.

Congratulations to WILBUR CLARK

and his associates on their recent pur-

chase of Hollywood’s EARL CARROLL

THEATRE. FRANK SENNES has been

contracted to produce the shows. Pa-

trons will be afforded the luxury of

Broadway productions and delicious

dinners at a very nominal cost.

The SILVER SLIPPER is unquestion-

ably the hot spot on The Strip. If you

wander around looking for celebrities

you’ll find them at this spot nightly.

Here you will see a greater collection

of star-studded personalities than any

other place (with the exception of

Hollywood, of coursfe). Casino Manager

JOHN DONAHUE has greatly en-

hanced the wonderful atmosphere of

the Slipper with his cordial attitude.

MAL CLARKE (co-owner of the

SANDS HOTEL) is bursting with en-

thusiasm. Stimulating Mr. Clarke's

gleeful attitude is the scheduled ap-

pearance of JANE WYMAN at that

spot. Miss Wyman is expected to be-

f!in her engagement immediately fol-

owing the JEANETTE McDONALD

show. Miss Wyman and Mai have been

friends for many years. During the

actress' last local visit she ana her

husband were regally hosted by the

Sands magnate.

The picture that is being talked about

by millions of movie goers will make

its local debut October 28. On that

date the FREMONT THEATRE will

present “From Here to Eternity,”

starring MONTGOMERY CLIFT, with

FRANK SINATRA in the role that

might bring him an Academy award.

In order to enable odd-shift workers

to see this specific film, PAUL SPERLING has announced that the first reel

will be run at 11 a.m. The last complete

performance will begin shortly after

10:30 p.m. You’ve asked for it. Las

Vegas, and here it is!

After noting the absence of her col-

umn in last week's magazine many

people inquired about VI TAYLOR.

Miss Taylor has been a victim of ill

health and was advised to limit her

activities for a few weeks. As a result,

her very entertaining column will not

be carried for a few editirns. However,

just as soon as Miss Taylor regains her

strength she will res'- ne her outstand-

ing contributions to ur readers. Please

be assured that v: -»re just as impa-

tient to have hr* retui' as you are.

(Continuod on Page 25

THAT'S FOR SURE:

(Cootiiwod from pago 9)

We would like to remind everyone of

the significance of November 3. On that

Tuesday the Las Vegas Opera Associa-

tion will present Bizet's "Carmen” in

the Las Vegas High School Audi-

torium. A symphony orchestra has been

engaged for this event. Tickets are on

sale from $1.65 to $6.60 per ducat. There

are 1533 seats available for music lovers

and we have been assured that the

acoustics are perfect for such a pre-

sentation. The finest opera artists will

perform. One of the guests of honor

will be JEANETTE McDONALD. The

association is also sending an invita-

tion to MR. and MRS. JAN PEERCE.

Our compliments to HARRY W.

PARKER JR., publicist and chairman

of the board of directors. Mr. Parker

has exerted a commendable amount of

effort in behalf of this affair and de-

serves sincere accolades for his ac-

complishments.

At HOTEL EL CORTEZ. MILT RAY-

MER, executive secretary of the

AMERICAN BOWLING CONGRESS,

took time out to rave about "the steaks

in the Pirates Den, the fabulous night

life in Las Vegas and the wonderful

bunch of kids.” The latter rave was the

result of the Junior Bowling Congress

Clinic he conducted at VEGAS LANES,

with hundreds of Las Vegas small fry

in attendance. Ravmer was assisted in

the clinic bv JIMMY PAYNE, nresi-

dent of the Southern California Bowl-

ing Proprietors. After the bowling

school the two were guests of Hotel

El Cortez for dinner, and the show.

Correct us if we’re wrong! About

four years ago the HOTEL EL

RANCHO VEGAS had a doorman,

SPENCER WILLIAMS JR. Today that

same fellow can be seen on television,

playing the role of ANDY BROWN in

the AMOS & ANDY series.

It looks as though BILLIE GELLER

has definitely decided to change her

name again. In the not too distant fu-

ture Mrs Geller will return to her

maiden nomenclature of SKOLSKY.

(She is the popular shutter-queen at

the HOTEL SAHARA.)

SAMMY KAYE’S closing show at the

HOTEL LAST FRONTIER on Sunday

evening promises to be one for show

business history. Previous to this writ-

ing Mr. Kaye has had no inkling of

anything unusual and we’re not going

to give any more Information here.

However, we guarantee that the "Swing

and Sway” gentleman will be wide-

mouthed with astonishment. (We love

surprises, too.) Incidentally, in the

short three weeks he has been here.

Mr. Kaye has accumulated a vast num-

ber of friends and will be sorely missed

when he bids us adieu.

Have you seen JACKIE KANNON

at the FLAMINGO HOTEL yet? If not,

you're missing a great bet. Jackie pre-

sents a parody with a background of

Rogers and fiammerstein music. His

words deal with the Kinsey Report and

they really are clever.

MR. CAHOON of the MOTOR-VU

THEATRE was very happy with the

turnout for his “Show People's Mat-

inee" last Tuesday evening at 1:00 a.m.

We want to remind you stayer-uppers

and late shift workers that this special

show will be presented every Tuesday

for your convenience. It's a good idea

and proved a wonderful way for us to

relax for a few hours.

MR. and MRS. JAMES CONWAY are

justifiably proud of their DUNES

MOTEL, located on Route 1. halfway

between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

So far. we've only been able to appre-

ciate the beauty of the place via photos

and comments from many friends who

have patronized this lovely motel. Be-

lieve us when we say those comments

have been raves. We only hope it won't

be too long before we get a chance

to take a reprieve from the office and

head for the Dunes for some comfort

and rest. Incidentally, telephoned res-

ervations are invited and we advise you

phone in advance to ascertain accom-

modations.

There have been a lot of huddles be-

tween CARL COHEN and GUY McAFEE of late. Could it be that there

is some sort of big business brewing

between these two gentlemen?

Just about two years ago MATT

MARTIN (one of the owners of the

GOLDEN NUGGET) was forced to

leave town because of ill health. He

went to his ranch in Lebanon. Ind.,

where he received the necessary quiet

and rest. We’re happy to report that

Mr. Martin is back in Las Vegas again

and is once more filling his post as

day shift casino manager at the Nug-

get. Her certainly looks like a healthy

speciment of manhood and ’twould

seem he has even shed a few years.

JOHNNY HARRELL, graveyard shift

boss of the SILVER SLIPPER, is strut-

ting around town, mighty proud of his

wife’s talents. TERRY has busied her-

self with copper craft and her hobbv

is proving that she has the professional

touch. Mrs. Harrell is creating some

lovely copper pictures which she plans

to put under the Christmas trees of

friends.

It certainly is good to see MORRIS

KLEINMAN back in town again. Mr.

Kleinmnn is one of the owners of the

DESERT INN. Here is a fellow with a

"get Lucky with Buckley"

Win a jackpot with any 3 of a kind at Buckley's

JACKPOT

CLUB

20 FREMONT STREET

— DOWNTOWN —

★

We've increased our 5c

Jackpot Payoff from $7.50

(as shown on photo)

$8.00 to $10.00

smile for everyone and a good selec-

tion of stories to warm your sense of

humor long before the CASABLANCA HOTEL

will begin its stages of creation. SAM

COHEN (owner of Florida’s CASA-

BLANCA and SHERRY-FRONTENAC

HOTELS) and IVA BLACKER are in

town, earnestly discussing the last-

minute details that usually precede

construction work on such a venture.

We doubt that there is any other

similar place that can offer you the

friendly and comfortable atmosphere

that is yours on a visit to the DAY

DREAM GUEST RANCH. Owners

RUTH and KENNETH DAY are just

wonderful to each and every person

who enters through their portals. PAUL

LADD and KEN DUNCAN are two

hosts who cannot be beaten for smiling

welcomes and top service. We per-

sonally enjoy the soft lighting system

and that cheerful blaze in the fire-

Filace. And — did you ever taste such

luscious “dreamburgers"? Man! That’s

the end!

NICK DONDOLAS was in town for a

few days and spent a bit more than

his time at the HORSESHOE CLUB.

He is now back in HOLLYWOOD, dis-

cussing a picture deal. HUMPHREY

BOGART is enterested in producing

the life story of our “Nick the Greek

and has shown a great desire in play-

ing the leading role himself. If there

is an agreement made, Nick may get

a down payment of $25,000 and 10

percent of the gross of the picture. We

are hoping that this # film proposition

does materialize. It would give Nick

that boost he needs and put him up on

the ladder again.

BETTY and HAROLD HIND (of the

HOTEL EL CORTEZ) are back home

again. The couple enjoyed a very pleas-

ant vacation in the East, marred only

by the world series defeat of their fa-

vorite “Brooklyn Bums.”

We certainly have a galaxy of visitors

to boast about. Among the out-of-

towners who find Las Vegas fascinat-

ing is TOMMY (Whistle) McDONALD,

co-owner of Chicago's SINGAPORE

RESTAURANT. Tommy came here to

spend a few days and is now going

into his ninth week as a “visitor.” It

looks as though Mr. McDonald is look-

ing around for some rich topsoil in

which to plant his roots. We would be

very happy if such was his decision.

He is a great person to know. If you're

ever looking for this chap, you can

trace him by his whistle, a habit that

is part of his make-up.

Another gentleman who has chosen

to spend his vacation in colder climes

is ED WILEY, host of the Casbar in the

HOTEL SAHARA. Mr. Wiley is so well

liked by his co-workers, the waitresses

combined forces and presented him

with a lovely cigarette lighter before

he left. Ed is going to meet AL WIN-

TER and MILTON HYATT in Portland

and the trio plan to get in quite a bit of

duck shooting. They should have won-

derful results because Mr. Winter owns

three lakes that are favorites of these

web-footed birds.

We greatly regret the necessity of the closing of the gates of the Las Vegas Racetrack. But our hope is that this will be but a temporary

measure. Although our town is growing

constantly, some folks claim there just

weren’t enough people here to support

such a venture. We don’t know the true

cause that instigated this move. It’s just

an outright shame that such a place of

beauty is now being pointed out as a

“white elephant."

KATHERINE and BEN RUTTMAN

(of Denver) are visiting her brothers,

JACK and JOE POCRAS. (Jack is a

doorman at the FLAMINGO HOTEL

and Joe works in the HOTEL LAST

FRONTIER Casino.) The Ruttmans are

planning a visit of a few weeks—but

from their astounded attitudes we

wouldn't be surprised if they remained

beyond their proposed limit

CAPTAIN WOODWARD of the Sher-

iff’s Department was still wearing a

glazed expression when he related a

very confounding experience to us.

Seems that our friend “Woody” was

traveling along the highway, peacefully

making certain that motorists were

keeping in line with the law. Suddenly

"Woody” almost choked on his own

breath. A car passed by and our hero

was incredulous over the appearance of

its driver. This happy tourist was non-

chalantly piloting his chariot at 30

miles an hour. That was perfectly

legitimate for he was in a 35-mile zone.

But everything else he was doing was

quite unorthodox. The cheerful fellow

was steering his car with the toes on

his left foot, freeing his hands to strum

a ukulele and was singing gaily. (Did

anyone ever investigate the champagne

qualities in the Las Vegas ether?) When

“Woody” told him to pull over, the

grinning tourist asked him if he had a

special tune he wanted to hear. Know-

ing "Woody,” we can just imagine his

being close to the bursting point. He

couldn’t make an authentic arrest so he

had to resort to a polite lecture and the

removal of the ukulele. Oh. well! Guess

it’s all in a policeman’s line of duty!

New York certainly sends us some

terrific gaming enthusiasts. MRS.

ALICE KAHAL of that great metropoli-

tan city and her daughter, beautiful

TONI, spent 28 consecutive hours just

traveling from one place to another,

trying to see all they could of Las

Vegas. The lovely ladies refused to take

time out for slumber and looked as

fresh at the end of that period as any-

one else would after that many hours

df sleep..

It’s always a pleasure to buy your

favorite cigarets from SUE PEARL at

the HOTEL EL RANCHO VEGAS. Miss

Pearl never makes an appearance with-

out her infectious smile and warm

greeting. However, when she gets seri-

ous, she confesses she misses her mother

and is hoping that Mrs. Pearl will ar-

rive for another lengthy visit soon.

Our congratulations to HARRY WIL-

LIAMS for the wonderful results he is

achieving with the VILLA VENICE.

Although he never had any previous

experience in the field. Mr. WiHiams

appears an accomplished restaurateur.

He can be justly proud of the script

neon sign over the establishment, read-

ing: "Harry Williams’ Villa Venice.”

Another booking triumph for the

HOTEL EL CORTEZ is the signing of

LYNN CARTER and his FOUR CAR-

TIERS. This is the sensational nightclub

act featuring a terrific impersonation of

KAY THOMPSON, complete with four

pseudo WILLIAMS BROTHERS. They

recently completed a record 12 weeks

at CHARLEY FOY’S.

JOE RIGGIO, box anan at WILBUR

CLARK S DESERT INN, brought a lot

of happiness to his wife KAY when he

surprised her with a birthday party last

week. Actually it was a dual celebration

because the RIGGIOS reached their

second wedding anniversary mark. Pre-

sent for the festivities were Mr. R’s

brother and sister-in-law and MR. and

MRS. KARL MAIER. During dinner

Kay’s proud husband presented her

with a beautiful diamond wrist watch.

It proved to be a memorable occasion

for a lovely lady.

Here’s very good news for the dam-

sels of Las Vegas. Pretty soon Milady

will be able to shop around the clock.

That’s a feature that should appeal to

the late workers who cannot find time

or opportunity to patronize the shops

that close in the late afternoon. MR.

N. T. CHORMAN will soon open his

MARIANNE'S shop, specializing in ap-

parel for women. You ve probably seen

it on our Highway 91. As soon as all of

the fixtures arrive Marianne’s will have

its gala opening.

Visiting from South Orange, N. J.,

were MR. and MRS. GEORGE BERSCH.

(He is vice prexv of BAMBURGER’S

DEPARTMENT STORE.) Don’t be too

amazed if you hear that this well-

known outfit decides to install a branch

here.

When we hear of all these vacations

we wistfully wish we could indulge in

one also. But when you have to work

you have to work. Another recruit for

the vacation lists is BILL KOZLOFF,

assistant general manager of the

HOTEL LAST FRONTIER. Bill has

headed for the East where he will spend

all of his time telling his family and

friends of the wonders of Las Vegas.

LANNY IRWIN is having a grand

time cajoling his grandmother into sub-

mission. MRS. JESSIE FISHBEIN flew

in from New York to spend some time

with her daughter RUTH and son-in-

law. STAN IRWIN. Unless we’re

grossly mistaken, Mrs. Fishbein looks

as though she’d like to take Lanny

home with her, just so she con baby-sit

with him for tho next ten years or so.

SHELLEY WINTERS (currently star-

ring at the FLAMINGO HOTEL) was

explaining a fight she had with hubby.

VITTORIO GASSMAN. She admitted

having an argument and being so angry

she was practically crying. The couple

shouted at each other. "But,” Shelley

says, "we were just having a stimulat-

ing, emotional discussion on whether

the movies are an art form.”

Aside from being a very handsome

fellow, YALE STOKES is one of the

nicest persons any guy or gal could

hope to meet. He is fioorman on the

graveyard shift of the HOTEL SA-

HARA. You can tell he's tops by the

amount of friends who would do any-

thing for him.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK, who will

direct “The Rear Window," says no two

people are alike—and both are glad

of it.

Here's another one for your Texas

Guinan books. As we all know, lawyers

are intelligent, clever people. But even

they are caught off guard at times. A

very smooth con artist talked his way

into the confidence of three local at-

torneys. This experience should be

noted and remembered by all lawyers

in the state of Nevada. The distin-

guished gentleman of whom wc speak

approached his quarry, explained that

he was from some distant city and

asked the attorney to file his applica-

tion for divorce. Throughout the course

of conversation the husband made sad

remarks about maintaining his love for

(Continued below)

the little woman but "This was the

only thing left to do." When the lawyer

had all the information required, the

“client" stood up and prepared to leave.

Then he suddenly remembered the sub-

ject of money. The lawyer named his

fee of $300. *1110 "client” unaweringly

took out a checkbook and made out a

check in the full amount. A couple of

days later the “client” returned ond

explained he had a long distance tele-

phone reconciliation with his mate. So

naturally he had no need for a divorce.

When the subject of the fee was dis-

cussed. the "client” told the lawyer to

keep $100 for his troubles and just write

a check for the balance. Of course, the

lawyer was duped because his check

was good. However, the “client’s” check

came rolling merrily back a month

late, marked “unknown—payment re-

fused.” What a sweet racket! Heading

the list of our local attorneys to fall foil

to this gimmick is our own HARRY

CLAIBORNE. We’re glad to see that

Mr. C. can get a chuckle out of his

experience. (That was a chuckle, wasn’t

it, Harry?) So—beware all of you Ne-

vada barristers. To what P. T. Barnum

had to say, we can only add . . . and

that’s for sure.

Happy Birthday TOM McGINTY

OCTOBER 17,1953

PLACE:WILBURCLARK'SDESERTINN

Photo above shows a few of the many who turned out for the Gala Occasion:

Standing, left to right: Val Ernie, co-owner of El Patio Hotel. Palm Springs,

Fla.: Wilbur Clark. Tommy McDonnell, co-owner of Singapore Restaurant.

Chicago, 111.; Tom McGinty, co-owner of Desert Inn; Jack Goldman, owner

of the Clover Club. Miami, Fla., and a co-owner of the soon-lo-be-built

Casablanca Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Front, center, beaming from ear to

ear. Billy McCann, life-long friend of Mr. McGinty.

Pirates Den Joe Capo

Hector & His Pals Jill Webb

Eddie Skrivanek's Sextette from Hunger

El Cortez Hotel

Observations by Pop Squires — Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine — October 24, 1953