Quick Fact – Oasis in the Desert

Casino History, Did You Know?, Gambling, Gambling History, Gaming History, Las Vegas--Nevada, Nevada, Quick Facts, Sands (Las Vegas, NV), United StatesLeave a comment

1950 Las Vegas spent $750,000 a year on advertising (about $7.5 million today). The Chamber of Commerce promoted the town as: “An oasis for the harassed refugees from artificial restraints and laws of other states.“ Photo from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University Libraries’ Digital Collections

Golden Rooster: Advertising or Art?

Casino History, Casinos / Gambling Saloons / Card Clubs / Slot Routes / Wire Services / Hotels / Racetracks / Racinos, Dick Graves, Gambling History, Gambling: Art: Golden Rooster, Gaming History, It Really Happened, Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit, Nugget Motor Lodge / Dick Graves' Nugget / John Ascuaga's Nugget (Sparks, NV), Sparks--Nevada, United StatesLeave a comment

1957-1962 Perhaps it was a bird-brained idea, perhaps not. In 1957, Dick Graves, the owner of the Nugget, in Sparks, Nevada, commissioned a handcrafted, solid gold rooster for display in one of his hotel-casino restaurants, the Golden Rooster Chicken House, then under construction. The final product was 9 inches tall and embodied about $40,000 worth…