The Landmark is a hotel and casino located in Paradise, Nevada, east of the Las Vegas Strip and across from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The resort includes a 31st floor tower, inspired by the Space Needle tower design in Seattle. Frank Caroll, the original owner of the project, purchased the property in 1961. Fremont Construction began working on the tower in September, while Caroll opened the adjacent Landmark Plaza shopping center and Landmark Apartments by the end of the year. The completion of the tower was expected for early 1963, but due to lack of financing, construction was discontinued in 1962, with resorts about 80 percent complete. Until 1969, the tower above it was the tallest building in Nevada until the completion of the International Hotel across the street.
In 1966, the Central Teamster Pension Fund provided $ 5.5 million in construction loans to complete the project, with ownership transferred to a group of investors including Caroll and his wife. Settlement and opening The Landmark is delayed several more times. In April 1968, Caroll revoked his request for a game license after he was charged with attacks and batteries against the project's interior designer. The Landmark was put up for sale that month.
Billionaire Howard Hughes, through the Hughes Tool Company, bought Landmark in 1969 at a cost of $ 17.3 million. Hughes spent about $ 3 million to add his own touch to the resort before opening it on July 1, 1969, with 400 slot machines and 503 hotel rooms. In addition to the 14,000 square foot (1,300m) ground floor casino, the resort also has a second smaller casino on the 29th floor; it is the first high-rise casino in Nevada. In addition to the second casino, the five-storey dome at the top of the tower also features a restaurant, lounge and nightclub.
During the 1970s, Landmark became famous for its performances by country music artists. The resort also hosts famous celebrities such as Danny Thomas, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. However, the resort is having financial problems after opening and undergoing some ownership changes, none of which result in success. The Landmark, unable to compete with the new megaresorts, closed on August 8, 1990. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority bought the property in September 1993, and then destroyed the resort in November 1995, to add 2,000-room parking spaces to the convention center.
Video The Landmark Hotel and Casino
History
In 1960, Kansas City builder Frank Caroll (also known as Frank Caracciolo) and his wife, Susan, decided to build a casino-hotel and shopping mall in Las Vegas. Caroll received the game license that year. The following year, Carolls bought 22 acres (8.9 ha) of land on the northwest corner of Convention Center Drive and Paradise Road in Paradise, Nevada, about half a mile east of the Las Vegas Strip and across from the Las Vegas Convention Center.. Aside from the gas station, the property was empty.
Construction (1961-68)
Commencement
The Landmark was originally planned as a 14-storey hotel with a casino, although the number of floors increased during the project. Fremont Construction, owned by Louis P. Scherer of Redlands, California, began construction of the tower at the end of September 1961, under a $ 1.5 million contract. Caroll Company, Caroll Construction Company, also works in the tower. At the start of construction, the tower covers 20 stories, while completion is planned for early 1963. The tower is built on five-foot-tall concrete and steel, measuring 80 feet in diameter and resting on a caliche bottom that drops 30 feet to the ground. Consolidated Construction Company is a concrete subcontractor for towers.
In December 1961, Caroll opened a two-storey Landmark Plaza shopping center, built with an L-shape at the base of the tower. The Landmark Apartments, with 120 units, were also built near the tower and operated in late 1961. In 1962, a bar known as Shannon Saloon and a western music radio station, KVEG, began operating at Landmark Plaza. In addition to the studio, KVEG also has offices in shopping centers.
In February 1962, the tower was planned to cover 31 floors, making it the tallest building in Nevada. Starting that month, while plans for separate hotel structures are being made, the concrete for the tower is poured on a continuous 24 hour schedule, averaging 11 meters per hour. Pour concrete is done by slip forming method. At the beginning of pouring, it is expected that 21 floors will be added to the tower over a 12 day period. Construction of the tower is expected to reach the 24th floor at the end of the month. In March 1962, at the request of Caroll, Clark County Commissioner removed the restriction stipulating that the game license could only be issued for the base level casino, as Caroll wanted to open a casino on the second floor of the Landmark shopping center. That month, Caroll received a $ 450,000 loan from Appliance Buyers Credit Corporation (ABCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation.
Construction had reached the 26th floor at the end of April 1962. After finishing the floor, work began in the dome of the tower bubble. In June 1962, ABCC borrowed an additional $ 300,000 to Caroll, who reached the $ 3 million loan limit with the company. Caroll eventually owes ABCC a total of $ 3.5 million. In August 1962, the Landmark tower was designated as a civilian shelter, with a capacity to accommodate 3,500 people upon completion. That month, work is underway on steel frame bases for tower glass bubble dome.
In September 1962, the landmark tower was nearly completed and had become the tallest building in Las Vegas and the state, which is visible from 20 miles away. At that time, many stores in Landmark Plaza had been closed due to falling debris including welding sparks, steel, tools, rivets, and cement. The postponement of construction occurred in September 1962, when steel shipments for the dome of the tower were deemed inadequate and the crew had to wait for new deliveries. Construction expanded rapidly in the dome of the tower during October 1962, with steel and concrete still being added to the tower. The settlement is still scheduled for early 1963. The Aluminum Division of Apex Steel Corporation Limited is contracted to install $ 40,000 of undershine aluminum in the tower dome, to provide a maintenance-free and clean look to the viewers in the field. Crews use scaffolds and hoists to reach areas where aluminum sheets need to be placed. Everyday, it takes 18 minutes to be picked up. Because of strong winds, it takes a two-month crew to stick aluminum. Due to wind, aluminum fitting often ends in a few days. Installation is not possible on a few days.
Delay
In December 1962, the construction of the tower was stopped when ABCC refused further funding and alleged that Caroll and his wife had failed in payment. The planned opening of the tower was delayed until April 1963. The 31-story tower was over and the resort was about 80 percent complete, with $ 5 million already spent on the project. In May 1963, ABCC planned the sale of unfinished apartments, shopping malls and towers on June 22, 1963. Carroll and his wife filed a $ 2.1 million damages claim against ABCC and tried to stop the sale. The Carolls lawsuit alleges that ABCC stopped construction and refused to pay the contractor. An order against foreclosures was given in June 1963, but was subsequently dissolved in August 1964.
In October 1964, the sale of the tower was approved for later that month, after being asked by ABCC, who still owed $ 3.5 million by Landmark Plaza Corporation. Until then, the tower has been assessed several times and priced between $ 8 million to $ 9 million. Ownership then changed, as did the resort design plan.
In August 1965, Maury Friedman was working on an agreement with RCA Victor to turn the tower and the Landmark apartment building into an office space. The following month, Inter-Nation Tower, Inc. - a Beverly Hills-based company - is negotiating with RCA-Whirlpool to develop adjacent towers and land as an international market, an idea supported by local retailers and resorts. In December 1965, architect Gerald Moffitt said that the design of the Landmark had gone through many revisions and that its design plan had been confiscated by the court; a spokesman said there were no plans to continue development any time soon. It is estimated that an additional six months is required to complete the tower.
The unfinished tower becomes a bad sight for visitors to the nearby convention center. During the vacuum, people noted that the building appeared to be slanted, similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa; experts claim that this is an illusion caused when the building is seen with nearby power poles, which are determined to tilt rather than the building itself. Locals call it the "Las Vegas Leaning Tower", "Leaning Tower Plaza" and "Frank Folly." Moffitt said, "It's not tilted, there's only a three-by-two inch diameter difference from top to bottom." In May 1966, initial negotiations were made with prospective Landmark buyers.
Resumed
In July 1966, a new design plan was submitted to the county for the completion of the tower. Scherer plans to purchase additional properties for use as a parking lot to accommodate a redesigned project. In August 1966, the Central Teamster Pension Fund awarded a $ 5.5 million construction loan for the project. At the time, ownership had been transferred to Plaza Tower, Inc., consisting of several investors, including Frank Caroll and his wife Sue Caroll, and L. P. Scherer, whose construction company was awarded a $ 2.5 million contract to complete the Landmark tower. Due to legal issues involved with the project, the acquisition of property rights requires more than 5,000 legal work hours and the completion of more than 40 lawsuits. Construction is scheduled to continue on August 22, 1966. Construction equipment is being prepared two days later, and construction is under way again in early September 1966, with an expected completion in early 1967. The shops and shops of Landmark Plaza are closed, and the shopping center destroyed, so that the land around the tower can be used to build casinos, hotel lobbies, offices, and new shops. The nearest gas station is also destroyed. The adjacent Landmark Apartment should be converted into a hotel room for a new resort.
In November 1966, Caroll planned to install two slot machines in the Landmark Coffee Shop, which sells food to construction workers from within the temporary structure that will become the permanent building site in the end. Caroll's plan was rejected because his game license did not apply to coffee shops. At the time, Caroll was also accused by sheriff Ralph Lamb for being uncooperative with police officers looking for a criminal in Landmark Apartments.
The Landmark was scheduled to open on September 15, 1967, but its opening was further delayed due to construction problems. In October 1967, a new opening date of November 15 was announced, with an official opening to be held on December 31, 1967. In early November 1967, Scherer was awarded a $ 2.2 million contract for the final construction phase of the Landmark. The construction crew works 24 hours a day for each day of the week during the final phase to have a showroom 650 seating showroom ready for the planned New Year's Eve opening. Also included in the final stages are clothing and jewelery stores, as well as a recreation area with pool and 20 foot waterfall.
By the time of opening of the planned New Year's Eve, the tower was nearing completion, with the opening now scheduled for mid-January 1968. In December 1967, two groups - Plaza Tower Inc., group of property landlords; and Plaza Tower Operating Corporation, a casino operating group - submitted a game licensing request to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which investigated licensees and top casino employees before issuing game licenses. Landmark opening does not happen on schedule.
During February and March 1968, the Landmark was declared complete, although in the following year it was mentioned that some construction works were still unfinished. By the time the settlement was declared in 1968, a total of 200,000 hours had been spent on the project, which used 100,000 yards of concrete and 100 tons of steel. The tower occupies 8.21 hectares (3.32 acres) of property, and remains the tallest building in the state.
Next development (1968-69)
Game license
In February 1968, the latest list of top casino employees was sent to the game control board, which has up to 90 days to make decisions regarding game license issuance. The opening date of mid-April 1968 was considered possible. In March 1968, the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended against the issuance of game licenses due to "inadequate financial and resource capabilities of the operating companies and major investors," referring to Caroll. However, the Gaming Committee of Nevada has the Gaming Control Board re-evaluating licensing applications.
On April 5, 1968, Las Vegas media was given a tour of the Landmark. During the event, Caroll defeated interior designer Landmark, Leonard Edward England, for allegedly teasing Caroll's wife. Caroll was arrested on April 17, 1968, on charges of assault and battery against the British. On April 22, 1968, Caroll revoked his request for a game license, a decision approved two days later. The company then plans to receive new financing and finally submit a new game application. About 600 people are expected to be employed in the Landmark at its opening. The Landmark was put up for sale in April 1968, and the accusations against Caroll were dropped two months later on condition that it did not renew its game license application.
Plane crash
On the night of August 2, 1968, 39-year-old Everett Wayne Shaw, a mechanic depressed by the breakup of his month-long marriage, stole the Cessna 180 plane as part of a real suicide attempt. Shaw flew the plane into the Landmark tower and paused just before crashing into it. The plane touched the top of the tower before crashing into the Las Vegas Convention Center across the street, about 200 yards away. Shaw was killed in the accident, which did not harm anyone. Airplane debris was found on the roof of the Landmark and at its base, but the accident was not believed to have caused damage to the building.
Financial issues
In May 1968, the Teamsters Pension Fund filed a notice of breach of a trust deed, stating that Caroll, Plaza Tower Inc. and Plaza Tower Operating has failed to pay loan payments since October 1967. In late August 1968, the Las Vegas-based Supreme Mattress Company filed a lawsuit stating that it only received $ 4,250 in payments for the $ 25,505 bedding material sold to the Landmark on December 1967.
On August 29, 1968, a joint petition was filed to declare that the Landmark went bankrupt. The petition was filed by Vegas Valley Electric, Inc., plumbing contractor, and Landmark architect George Tate and Thomas Dobrusky. At that time, the Union Club Pension Fund agreed to delay the foreclosure until the property was sold. At the same time, Sylvania Electric Company intends to seize the property due to an unpaid $ 3.7 million bill relating to electronic equipment installed in the Landmark. The joint petition prevented Sylvania from taking possession of the property.
Sales negotiations and Howard Hughes
In July 1968, there were five companies interested in purchasing a Landmark, which is expected to sell for $ 16 million to $ 17 million. One company, Olla Corporation, withdrew purchasing considerations that month, while the announcement of the resort's sale is expected within days. Some companies made bidding purchases that were eventually rejected, including Rosco Industries Inc., based in Los Angeles. On October 12, 1968, Carroll denied reports that the Landmark would be leased to Royal Inns of America, Inc. and operate without a casino. At that time, negotiations were underway with three companies interested in buying the resort.
On October 23, 1968, billionaire Howard Hughes reached an agreement to buy the Landmark through Hughes Tool Company for $ 17.3 million, having previously denied a report in March 1968 that he was interested in purchasing the project. As part of the sales agreement, Hughes' Hotel Properties, Inc. will receive responsibility for approximately $ 8.9 million paid to Union Teamster, as well as about $ 5.9 million in other debts and $ 2.4 million balance for Plaza Tower, Inc. At the time of the agreement, Hughes also has five other hotel casinos in Las Vegas. The US Department of Justice then launched an antitrust investigation into Hughes's purchase proposal, having previously investigated its attempt to purchase Stardust Resort and Casino, a transaction that was blocked from completion for antitrust reasons. As part of the investigation, the Justice Department sought to determine if there were other potential buyers for the Landmark.
In December 1968, while the Justice Department continued its investigation, negotiations were underway with several companies interested in purchasing landmarks, which included a $ 20 million offer from Tanger Industries, a parent company based in El Monte, California. It was reported that the purchase of Hughes's experiment will be rejected by the Justice Department, despite his offer to convert the building into office space.
Purchase and preparation of Hughes opening
On January 17, 1969, the Justice Department approved Hughes's plan to buy Landmark as his sixth Las Vegas resort. Later that month, a $ 1.5 million lawsuit was filed against Hughes Tool Company by Pennsylvania resident James U. Meiler and New York brokerage firm John R. Roake and Son, Inc. Meiler and the brokerage firm stated that they were entitled to a $ 500,000 brokerage fee for previously arranging the sale of Landmark to Holding Investor Company, which had to pay between $ 15.3 million and $ 16 million for the resort until Hughes Tool Company agreed to buy it. Meiler and the brokerage firm alleged that when the Hughes Tool Company agreed to buy the Landmark, it "deliberately and deliberately led to restraint of interstate commerce," referring to a $ 500,000 fee.
In late January 1969, Hughes's spokesman stated that some of the resort's developments were never finished; that some system maintenance has not been installed; and that some improvement is required. Hughes also plans to update some hotel rooms. Due to additional work, the resort was not expected to be opened until at least July 1, 1969. Approximately 1,000 to 1,100 people are expected to be employed in the Landmark. The Landmark was the only casino that Hughes had taken before it opened. As a result, Hughes is deeply involved in details about the project. Hughes spent about $ 3 million to provide luxury design interiors and add other touches to the resort, while the outside of the Landmark building was left unchanged.
In March 1969, Hughes filed an agreement to operate a landmark gambling operation with a tentative opening date of 1 July 1969. Hughes planned to operate the casino through his Nevada company, Hughes Properties Inc., overseen by Hughes executive Edward H Nigro. Hughes planned for the resort including 26 table games and 401 slot machines. Hughes's land purchase was not complete at the time, and his representative stated that the sale would not be completed unless the gambling and liquor licenses were issued by the state. In April 1969, Hughes received approval from the Gaming Control Board and from the state.
Hughes plans to personally oversee the major landmark opening plans; Robert Maheu, who has worked for Hughes since the 1950s, said, "I know from then on that I'm in trouble, he's really incapable of making a decision." Across the street from the Landmark, Kirk Kerkorian plans to open his International Hotel on July 2, 1969. Hughes and Maheu - who have never met each other in private because of Hughes's closed lifestyle - have strong arguments about the landmark opening date that lasts for months. Maheu believes that the Landmark will open on July 1, but Hughes does not want to commit on a definite date for various reasons. Hughes wants a major landmark opening event to be better than Kerkorian, but worries that the opening night will not go as planned. Hughes also did not want the opening date to be announced publicly too soon if postponed; Hughes wrote to Maheu: "With my reputation for unreliable guarding involvement, I do not [sic] want this event to be announced until the date is really solid."
In addition, Hughes wrote to Maheu: "I do not like to see Landmark open on July 1 and then watch International open a few days later and make the opening of the Landmark look like a small potato by comparison." Maheu became worried, because it was difficult to plan the grand opening without knowing the date. As the tentative opening date approaches, Hughes becomes concerned with another event scheduled for July 1969 - such as the Apollo 11 lunar lunar moon - which may distract from the opening publication of the Landmark. In mid-June 1969, Hughes still has not given a definite opening date, which is still tentatively scheduled for July 1st, though Hughes wants the Landmark to open sometime after the International Hotel. A few weeks before the temporary opening, Hughes obsessively made repeated changes to the guest list for the opening night of the resort. As to who should be invited, Hughes has a complicated specification for Maheu to follow. Maheu must finally decide on his own guest list.
On June 16, 1969, Sun Realty filed a claim against Plaza Tower, Inc., thus delaying the purchase of Landmark by Hughes and threatening his opening plan. Sun Realty alleged that he owed him $ 500,000 to find Hughes as a buyer. The case was dismissed on June 25, 1969. On June 30, 1969, Sun Realty appealed the decision but was refused that day for not being able to post a bond that would pay a claim worth $ 5.8 million filed by about 120 other creditors after the Plaza Towers Inc. enters bankruptcy. Hughes's $ 17.3 million Hughes Landmark establishment, through the Hughes Tool Company, was completed on July 1, 1969, the day after Hughes issued checks to three different entities to complete the purchase: $ 2.5 million for Plaza Towers; $ 5.8 million to fully pay unsecured creditor; and $ 9 million to pay off Union Teamsters.
Opening and operating (1969-1990)
The Landmark opened on the night of July 1, 1969, the day before the International Hotel. The resort was first introduced to 480 VIP guests before the public opening, which is scheduled after 9 pm. Apollo 10 astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene Cernan attended the opening, and were the first to enter the new resort. Other guests include Cary Grant, Dean Martin, Jimmy Webb, Phil Harris, Tony Bennett, Sammy Cahn, Steve and Eydie, and Wilt Chamberlain. Nevada's Governor Paul Laxalt, as well as senators Alan Bible and Howard Cannon, were also present at the opening. Three Los Angeles Rams members were also present: Jack Snow, Lamar Lundy, and Roger Brown.
Local, national and international media are also present for the opening, described by Las Vegas Sun as resembling Hollywood premiere. A closed-circuit television camera recorded a celebration in the Landmark on the opening night, with footage shown to guests at other Hughes, Sands and Frontier hotels. Hughes - who lives in a secluded penthouse at the nearby Desert Inn-Casino hotel - did not attend the opening. For the opening night, comedian Danny Thomas was the first to appear in the Landmark theater showroom. Hughes had previously proposed a Rat Pack reunion or a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby reunion as an opening, both considered impossible.
The television advertisement for the resort states: "In France, it's the Eiffel Tower.In India, it's the Taj Mahal.In Las Vegas, it's a Landmark." Dick Parker, executive vice president for Landmark, has declared during the previous year that the International and nearby Las Vegas Convention Center will not harm the Landmark business. The landmark reportedly lost $ 5 million in its first week of operation, and although close to the convention center, the resort failed to make a profit during its subsequent years of operation. In October 1969, Sun Realty filed a lawsuit against Tools Hughes and Plaza Tower, Inc., alleging that the two companies conspired to avoid paying the realty company for a $ 500,000 searcher fee. Aside from the search costs, Sun Realty is also seeking an additional $ 5 million for damages. In February 1971, the Nevada high court rejected the lawsuit, which had requested $ 3 million at the time. In December 1971, Hughes paid a little over $ 1 million to buy 9.86 hectares (3.99 ha) of adjacent land located west of the Landmark. Hughes had previously rented the property, which he used as a parking lot for the resort.
In January 1973, ownership of Landmark was transferred to Hughes's Summa Corporation. That year, Landmark rewarded $ 25 million in property valuations. In 1974, William Bennett and William Pennington made an offer to buy a Landmark, but Hughes raised the price several times, from $ 15 million to $ 20 million; they bought the Circus Circus resort instead. In January 1976, Landmark began offering foreign language video games for German, Japanese and Spanish hotel guests, who often restricted themselves to playing slot machines rather than table games due to language barriers. Summa general manager E. H. Milligan said, "As far as we know, we are the first hotel in Las Vegas to serve this service in this way." The hotel and casino briefly closed in March 1976, as part of a hotel worker strike consisting of nearly 25,000 employees, affecting 15 Las Vegas resorts. The strike lasted two weeks before ending in late March. Hughes died of kidney failure the following month. James Wadsworth, general manager for Landmark, resigned on January 9, 1977, so he could rejoin his personal law firm. Perry Lieber, an employee of Summa who had served as general manager of Landmark, was chosen to replace Wadsworth.
In May 1977, Summa was struggling financially; that month, Merrill brokerage firm, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & amp; Smith recommends that Summa sell its various holdings, including Landmark. According to the brokerage firm, Landmark "has proven to be highly inefficient for hotel/casino operations and, in the opinion of Summa Corporation's management, does not guarantee further investment."
Gas and fire leaks
On July 15, 1977, shortly after 4 am, a water pipe burst under the tower, two floors below ground level. Two meters of water flooded the basement and retracted the main power panels, thus cutting off electricity for the resort just before 17:00. Additional electrical generators provide lighting for the resort. However, phones, air conditioners, and four of the five tower elevators were left to fail due to major power failures. Carbon monoxide, freon and methane, all derived from additional generators, infiltrate the tower through the ventilation ducts, forcing the evacuation of buildings. Between 9 am and 11 am, the crew from Southwest Gas Corporation inspected the building with firefighters and found no traces of gas again, allowing guests and employees back into the building.
The second evacuation was ordered at 2:30 pm. after another power failure, which makes the elevator unable to operate again. During the blackout, 21 table games stay open by using emergency lights, while the bar provides free drinks. Power is restored at 6:45 am, even though the phone still can not operate. Guests are given the option to stay at one of Summa's other hotel properties. Regardless of the incident, hotel executives stated that the resort maintains 95 percent of the occupancy. Investigations of the cause of gas leak could not be started that day because of the smoke in the basement.
During the incident, a news reporter and cameraman for the local KLAS-TV news channel - also owned by Summa - was beaten and forced out of the hotel lobby by Landmark guards armed with clubs and flashlights. Damaged in a fight is a record unit for a $ 37,000 camera owned by CLAS. Other local news crews were allowed to stay on property to cover the incident. The order to remove the CLAS was given to the guards by the hotel management, who had been troubled by recent CLAS news relating to the Summa property, including a story stating that negotiations were being made to sell the Landmark to an Arab investor.
A total of 138 people were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gases; they were treated at four local hospitals. Among the hospitalized were nearly 100 hotel guests, and several firefighters and ambulances; most patients were released from the hospital within three days of the incident. A 55-year-old man is the only victim in the incident. Investigation of the cause of gas leakage ended on July 19, 1977, and found that a damaged drain on one of the emergency generators was responsible. Lines have been installed during the construction of the hotel. John Pisciotta, director of the Clark County Building Department, does not believe that he or anyone else will be able to determine how the line becomes damaged. Summa took the company that installed the system to fix it.
On October 23, 1977, at 3:44 pm, two alarm fires were reported in the hotel room on the 22nd floor, after a bartender in the 27th floor lounge smelled of smoke. The whole room was burning from a cigarette. The fire was extinguished with the help of 45 firefighters, who extinguished it within five minutes of their arrival. However, the fire caused thick smoke to permeate the entire hotel and the ground floor through the elevator pit. The entire hotel was evacuated, and hundreds of guests and employees were allowed back inside about 15:15, after the smoke cleared from the inside of the resort. Floors 22 through 27 have moderate smoke damage. Five hotel guests were treated for smoke inhalation, but no one needed hospitalization.
Potential buyers
At the end of September 1977, Summa began negotiations with a group of Chicago investors interested in purchasing a Landmark, which had about 1,200 employees at the time. The group - composed of Las Vegas doctors, lawyers and dealers - operates several fast-food restaurants and medical establishments in the central-western United States, and is led by lawyer Myron Minuskin.
In October 1977, Summa was negotiating to sell a $ 12 million Landmark to Nick Lardakis, a shop owner who lives in Akron, Ohio. At the same time, Summa also held discussions with Scott Corporation - a group of downtown Las Vegas entrepreneurs led by Frank Scott - who wanted to buy a resort for nearly $ 10 million. The acquisition of Landmark Lardakis was rejected that month because he was unable to raise the necessary funds to make the purchase; according to Summa, the term Lardakis is "unrealistic."
On October 17, 1977, the Chicago group offered $ 11 million in cash for the Landmark, but the group was rejected by Summa, who sought $ 12 million for the resort. The group made $ 12 million offering cash the next day. However, the Summa board of directors supports a $ 10 million offer by Scott Corporation, which has no down payment and includes a 20-year pay period, while the Chicago group is opposed to long-term mortgage agreements with Summa. The Chicago group noted that Summa officials repeatedly refused to let the group inspect Landmark property valuations in 1973. Other offers came from Las Vegas heiress JoAnn Seigal and Beverly Hills management consultant Charles Fink, who both offered $ 12 million for the resort. Seigal also complains that Summa will not give him a property appraisal to base his negotiations.
On October 19, 1977, the Beverly Hills Acro Management Consultant made a $ 16 million cash offer for Landmark, the highest bid of the five offers so far offered for the resort. Summa spokesman Fred Lewis said that Acro's offer was considered "more of an investigation" than a serious offer, a belief that was later disputed by Acro's vice president Leonard Gale, who also said, "We realize that Landmark is the world's largest lime. we have a sensational program and we know we can change that place. "On the day when Acro's offer was made, Summa announced that no decision was made on the sale of the landmark, reportedly due to differences of opinion within the company. William Lummis, Hughes's cousin, has been appointed chairman of the Summa council earlier this year. Lummis wants to sell all of Summa's unprofitable properties, while chief operating officer Frank William Gay, citing the wishes of Hughes supposedly, wants to expand and modernize such properties. The Chicago Group then offered to pay all Landbills and land debt for the last 60 days of the 90-day escrow period.
Summa officials held a meeting on 3 November 1977, but the company made no decision to sell the Landmark, which lost an average of $ 500,000 per month. At that time, Scott's Company stated that it would likely withdraw its offer to buy the Landmark due to its inability to obtain long-term financing. In December 1977, it was stated that if the Landmark remained Summa property, the company would add six outdoor tennis courts to the resort, as well as 10 indoor fields that all Summa hotel guests in the Las Vegas area would be able to use.
In January 1978, Summa announced that the Landmark would be sold to Scott Corporation, with reported selling prices ranging from $ 10 million to $ 12 million. Until then, the resort reportedly lost $ 15 million since it opened, despite numerous attempts to boost business. Experts believe that the Landmark suffered financially as a result of the low space-count (486 guest rooms at the time) and its location across the street from Las Vegas Hilton (formerly International), which was the largest hotel in the world at the time.. Frank Scott has a downtown in Las Vegas, Union Plaza Hotel, which has become one of the city's most successful casinos, and he says the same management chief used at Union Plaza will be applied to the Landmark.
Gambling is a very unique business - and a well implemented and followed policy will result in a successful operation. We are facing a strong challenge in making Landmark one of the best casino-hotel operations in Las Vegas, and we look forward to achieving this goal.
Scott intended to change the name of the resort, with "The Plaza Tower" as a favorite among several names under consideration at the time. Scott plans to take over the operation after the sale gets the approval of game officials Summa, county and state, and the court that handles Hughes's property. Landmark purchases by Scott Corporation ultimately did not happen.
Ownership change
Zula Wolfram bought a Landmark from Summa Corporation in March 1978, using the $ 14.3 million that her husband, Ed Wolfram, embezzled from her brokerage firm, Bell & Beckwith. Faye Todd, Landmark Entertainment Director and Corporate Executive Assistant, primarily oversees Landmark operations for Wolframs, who lives in Ohio. Wolframs is a high roller who often stays at the Desert Inn resort when visiting Las Vegas. Todd met Wolframs while working for Desert Inn as Special Events Coordinator, and he became close friends with Zula Wolfram, who had planned to buy a Las Vegas hotel with her husband. Gary Baldwin, a former investigator for the Nevada Boardroom Controls, was the general manager and casino manager of Landmark in July 1979. That month, the gambling control board recommended that Baldwin be approved in his request to receive a five per cent pre-tax operating profit from Landmark.
In 1982, architect Martin Stern Jr. hired to design a massive expansion of Landmarks. Revenues for landmarks exceeded $ 26 million that year, although the resort lost $ 500,000 during November 1982. Until then, Landmark has lost an average of $ 3 million every year since its opening.
Federal researchers shut down the Wolfram company on February 7, 1983, after they found $ 36 million in lost money in six accounts run by him and his wife, leading eventually to his discovery of embezzlement. On February 23, 1983, the court allowed Patrick McGraw, Bell & amp; Beckwith trustee, the ability to operate the Landmark until it can be liquidated. The expansion designed by Stern was canceled, and Ed Wolfram was found guilty of embezzlement later that year after claiming to use the money from his company to pay for businesses, with the most expensive landmarks. Zula Wolfram, who has owed $ 5 million to Summa since he bought the Landmark, was forced to sell its majority stake in the resort.
The Landmark was caught in a Toledo bankruptcy court in July 1983, where Bill Morris, a Las Vegas lawyer, began planning to buy the resort. Morris is also a member of the Las Vegas Authority Convention and Visitors Convention (LVCVA) and previously owns the Holiday Inn Center Strip casino hotel, as well as the Riverside Resort in nearby Laughlin, Nevada. Morris also previously represented Plaza Tower, Inc. at which time Hughes completed his purchase at the resort. In August 1983, the Nevada Gaming Control Board suspended Morris's purchase agreement from the resort until its offer could be renewed to include a $ 5 million payment for Summa - as part of a $ 18.4 million bid for the resort - to cover what Zula Wolfram paid to the company. At that time, two minority shareholders in Landmark were attempting to stop Morris buying at the resort. Morris bought the Landmark for $ 18.7 million, and took ownership on October 30, 1983. The troubled resort had a lucrative month in November 1983 under its new management. Morris works 18 hours a day to ensure landmark success.
The Landmark was never really given a fair chance. First, there is never management in hand on day after day. Secondly, all operators try to make properties do something that is not meant to be done. They try to compete with superstar production, and a lot of money is lost in the competition. This property is ideally situated to serve the convention authorities, and our operational drive will be in that direction.
Morris spent nearly $ 3.5 million on landmark renovations, which were underway in early December 1983. The resort remains open during renovations. At the time, the casino offered its Blackjack Single-Deck Tournament, at a $ 57 entry fee. Casino manager Ron Nadeau said, "We think it's the kind of game that will happen here." It's priced in a range that anyone can use to join in action. " Morris said that the Landmark will compete with rivals with "budget prices and good service." At the end of 1983, Morris intends to take advantage of the resort's location with an expansion plan that will feature three 15-storey towers with 1,500 hotel rooms, accompanied by a large vaulted family entertainment center. The expansion will be built west of the Landmark on 11 acres (4.5 ha) of vacant land Morris bought along with the resort. The expansion did not take place, and the Landmark fought throughout the 1980s.
In May 1985, the casino offered "Craps Tournames Over $ 100,000". In June 1985, Morris was negotiating a $ 28 million loan to pay for the repair and renewal of fire safety for the resort, which had failed to comply with fire safety standards; Clark County officials are considering taking action against the resort because of its failure to comply with the standards. On July 29, 1985, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filed $ 2.1 lien against the property, due to Morris's failure to pay the withholding tax and payroll for the employees of the resort over the previous six months. Two days after the lien was filed, Landmark filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to prevent the IRS from seizing assets like casino coop money. The resort stays open despite filing for bankruptcy, and the casino has enough money to keep it operating. The landmark has a debt of $ 30.6 million, while it has $ 30.6 million in assets.
In January 1986, Morris said he had to cancel his bankruptcy reorganization plan and lay off 700 to 800 Landmark employees if a bankruptcy court did not allow the resort to abandon its union contract. Part of Morris's reorganization plan involves an employee wage cut of 15 percent, including his own annual salary of $ 145,000. A pay cut will provide an additional Landmark of $ 6,500 per month, which will allow the resort to make its mortgage payments. Morris hopes that the Landmark will be free from the bankruptcy of Chapter 11 on March 1, 1986. Morris also hopes to increase the number of hotel rooms after the resort's emergence from bankruptcy, with additional financing from the hotel chain of national franchises.
In January 1987, a small fire broke out in the resort's showroom, which is next to the casino. Five employees were evacuated, and no injuries. Customers at the casino were unaware of the fire, which was quickly extinguished by the local firefighters. The fire is likely to be caused by an arsonist. In July 1987, Landmark began offering poker tournaments at the Nightcap Lounge every nightday. To help bring in customers, two cash drawings are held during each tournament.
By January 1990, Landmark had entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy, while $ 43 million to $ 46 million had been paid to various creditors. The game license Morris ended that month after the resort failed to pay $ 500,000 in taxes and fines. Richard Davis, a Las Vegas real estate executive and a funeral home owner, was appointed by the court that month to temporarily operate the resort. On February 21, 1990, the Nevada Gaming Commission extended the game license and allowed the resort to remain open for at least an additional two weeks while its financial problems were analyzed by state experts. At that time, the hotel had $ 562,000 in cash, including $ 175,000 in revenue that had accumulated in the previous six weeks. In June 1990, Landmark was still struggling.
Closing and unloading (1990-95)
The Landmark, with 498 rooms at the time, could not compete with the new megaresorts, and closed on August 8, 1990. In December 1990, the property was bought by Lloyds Bank of London for $ 20 million to protect the $ 25 million loan provided to Morris in 1988. In June 1991, the hotel's content was liquidated through public sale in place of NCL/National Content Liquidators, Inc.
In July 1993, representatives of Lloyds Bank had approached LVCVA about the possibility of buying a Landmark. LVCVA is interested in the proposal, with plans to use a 21-hectare Landmark property for either parking or expansion. In September 1993, LVCVA bought Landmark for $ 16.7 million. The year-round debate follows LVCVA about the fate of an old and ruined hotel. Some want to make the necessary improvements and reopen them to the home convention participants. Others wanted to destroy buildings to add 2,000 much-needed parking spaces to the Convention Center. After much protest, it was finally decided that the Landmark would be destroyed after only three of the fourteen LVCVA board members chose to save the building.
LVCVA pays $ 800,000 for asbestos pickup in the tower. Central Environmental Inc. hired to remove asbestos, while AB-Haz Environmental, Inc. is an asbestos removal consultant. In mid-1994, AB-Haz Environmental began removing asbestos insulation from Landmark. The deletion, scheduled for completion in August 1994, took nearly six months. In October 1994, it was announced that the Landmark would be destroyed the following month to pave the way for a 21-hectare parking lot. The demolition of the tower was postponed until December 1994, before being delayed again until January 1995, to allow for the removal of additional asbestos. At that time, Clark District Health District had proposed a penalty against the asbestos company.
In February 1995, AB-Haz had twice stated that the Landmark was asbestos free and safe to destroy, although Clark County officials found that some floors of the hotel still contained 90 percent of the original asbestos. Until then, LVCVA has paid a total of $ 1 million to asbestos companies to remove asbestos from nearby hotels and apartment complexes, enabling its demolition. The Clark County Air Pollution Control Division recommends a $ 450,000 fine against AB-Haz for failure to remove asbestos, while LVCVA must spend an additional $ 1 million for further asbestos removal. AB-Haz was eventually cited for violating air emission standards during the asbestos removal, and signed a settlement in which the company agreed to pay a $ 18,000 fine. The Environmental Center removed the asbestos from the tower in August 1995. Due to earlier delays, LVCVA officials have given up to set the demolition date until all asbestos is released.
Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) were employed to destroy the resort. No blueprints can be found for the tower, which according to CDI president Mark Loizeaux is considered unusual. The demolition crew found the secret staircases in the tower, and Loizeaux said, "We have learned everything as we have done It is a very strange, very unique structure." A week before the Landmark tower was destroyed, the crew removed the remaining asbestos from a low structure and then knocked them down. The crew then spent the last days of demolition by drilling in the tower to weaken and prepare it before the planned explosion. Less than 100 pounds of dynamite are placed in specific locations across the first four floors of the tower.
At 5:37 am on November 7, 1995, the Landmark tower was destroyed in 17 seconds through the explosion. After the explosion, the northwest half of the tower was lowered, followed by a second half, surrendering to itself, followed by a cloud of dust rising 150 feet into the air. Most of the material from the crushed structure must be recycled and used in other construction projects. The 31-story tower is the highest reinforced concrete building ever destroyed in North America, and the second tallest building in the world to be destroyed. Frank Wright, curator of the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, said: "I hate to see it fall, it still represents what the Stratosphere represents, the biggest and the highest." The property will be occupied by 2,200 parking spaces, expected to be ready by March 1996.
The property houses 2,948-space parking for the Las Vegas Convention Center. One of the landmark landmarks, with gold and blue fluorescent curtains, was restored by the Neon Museum and installed in the parking lot.
Maps The Landmark Hotel and Casino
Architecture
The Landmark Tower was designed by architects Gerald Moffitt and Ed Hendricks. The uniquely designed Landmark Tower is the first of its kind to be built in Nevada; its design was inspired by the Space Needle tower located in Seattle, Washington. When construction ceased in 1962, the project consisted of 127,614 sq ft (11,855.7 m 2 ) of floor space, and included two underground spaces 30 feet deep. The height of the tower was measured 297 feet, while its diameter reached 60 feet. The tower dome has a diameter of 141 feet. In 1966 - the year when redevelopment - architects George Tate and Thomas Dobrusky were hired to design new parts of the resort, including a casino on the ground floor.
Height
The Landmark Tower is billed to have 31 floors, though it passes through floors 13 and 28. The Landmark Tower is the tallest building in the state from 1962 to 1969. In 1967, the rotating neon sign "L" was installed at the top of the tower. Excluding its roof, the tower stands 297 feet (91 m), seven feet taller than the Mint hotel in downtown Las Vegas.
Conflict number has been given for the total tower height. According to Scherer, the mark is 40 feet (12 m) in size, and the tower measures 328 feet (100 m), including the mark. At the time of opening, the landmark tower is billed to have a height of 346 feet (105 m). At that time, the 30-story International Hotel has become the tallest building in the state at 375 feet (114 m). When destroyed, the tower was reportedly standing 356 feet (109 m). According to Emporis, the tower stands 331.50 feet (101.04 m) from the ground to its roof, while its tip raises its height to a total of 364 feet (111 m).
Features
When opened, the Landmark has a total of 400 slot machines. The ground floor casino is 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m 2 ), while the second casino, consisting of 3,000 sq ft (280 m 2 ), is located on the dome on the 29th floor; it is the first high-rise casino in the state. At the time of opening, the ground floor casino features red and black, while the upper casino uses orange dye and wood. The hotel features 476 rooms and 27 suites with a total of 503, a small number compared to other Las Vegas resorts, which typically have 1,000 rooms. The tower includes 157 hotel rooms, while other units are located on the ground. By 1977, the number of rooms had risen to 524, before being lowered to 498 by the time of closure in 1990.
Landmark interior designer is a resident of Las Vegas, Leonard Edward England, who designed the ground floor to incorporate colorful and primitive Incan themes, which gradually transformed into the Space Age theme on the next floor. The interior includes $ 200,000 light fixtures, glowing, red Incan masks, and a glossy metal wall sculpture that represents the launch of Cape Kennedy. The interior also includes 65 tons of polished black and white marble, as well as carved mahogany from Mexico. The interior also includes a mural depicting the eight Wonders of the World, which include a landmark tower. The interior, including the casino, is widely considered.
After Hughes agreed to buy the resort, he owns an island built in the center of a 240-foot hotel pool, which costs $ 200,000 and is the longest in the world. Landmark pools include waterfalls and three carpeted bridges leading to its central island, featuring palm trees. For the hotel, Hughes replaced the 72-inch bed with an 80-inch bed and color television built into the walls of each room prior to the opening of the resort.
The second floor of The Landmark is used for offices. The tower domes include five floors, although the 26th and 30th floors are used by employees for maintenance equipment, elevator equipment, and changing rooms. The shape and strength of tower bubble dome is maintained by pearlite concrete and steel beams. The Landmark includes high-speed exterior glass elevators - located on the west side of the tower and overlooking the Las Vegas Strip - which takes people into the dome of a five-story alcove. Elevator Services is hired to install the exterior elevators Landmarks, which are capable of moving 1,000 feet per minute, allow people to go from the ground floor to the 31st floor in 20 seconds. It is the fastest elevator in the western United States. Hughes biography Michael Drosnin states that lifts are susceptible to constant malfunctions, and that the Landmark AC system "never really works." The dome provides views of the city, and is able to accommodate over 2,000 people. The dome includes a lounge and nightclub, as well as a high-rise casino on the 29th floor.
At the opening of the Landmark, Cascade Terrace's showroom and coffee shop is located on the first floor, while the gourmet steakhouse and seafood restaurant known as Towers Restaurant is located on the 27th floor. The Chinese Restaurant, Mandarin Room, operates on the 29th floor.
In April 1971, plans were announced for a $ 750,000 expansion that would include luxury suites on the 29th floor, the highest in Las Vegas at the time. Also planned is the renovation of the casino and lobby, and the expansion of the coffee shop. The Skytop Rendezvous, piano bar and dance floor upstairs tower, reopened as a discotheque on February 3, 1975, specializing in the middle of street music. The Landmark is the only major hotel in the state that has a disco. When the Morris renovation began in December 1983, the tower contained 150 rooms, a number expected to be reduced as the room would be enlarged and upgraded to first class standards. Other plans include changes to coffee shops, new casino carpets, and redesign and rename the 27th floor restaurant as Anthony's Seafood and Prime Rib Room.
The existing structure was renovated with financing from Valley Bank of Nevada. New red lines are also added along the tower-ridden windows and the roof is painted red to be matched. The entrance has a red-lit outriggers added and a new side door added to the casino. The Love Song Lounge operated upstairs during the mid-1980s, before and after Morris renovations, and offered dancing. During 1985 to 1987, the resort also operates the Sunset Room on the 27th floor, offering piano-bar music and fine cuisine, with an emphasis on steak and seafood. The Poolside Room operates at ground level. Nightcap Lounge opened at Landmark in 1986, and offered comedy shows.
Reception
In 1962, the Los Angeles Times called the $ 6 million project, "By far the most spectacular project", from several Las Vegas resorts under construction; The paper further writes that the Landmark "is destined to become Mark Hopkins from Las Vegas." The following year, the Reno Evening Gazette argues that the Landmark has "the most unusual exterior architecture in Nevada." In 1966, Billboard wrote that the mushroom-shaped landmark tower has the "most spectacular design" of all high-rise structures in the city. In 2002, Geoff Carter of Las Vegas Weekly wrote that the destroyed Landmark was "the coolest building of Vegas and the real shrine for the 'Googie' architecture of the 1960s."
Show
During 1971, Landmark became famous for his performances by country singers, including Kay Starr, Jimmy Dean, Patti Page, Bobbie Gentry and Danny Davis with his Nashville Brass band, and a four-week show starring Ferlin Husky and Archie Campbell. Frank Sinatra also performed at the resort. Elvis Presley often visits the Landmark, where Bobby Darin made one of his last public appearances.
In early 1975, The Jim Halsey Company started Country Music USA , an event in the Landmark featuring a different country music headliner every two to three weeks. The show is usually sold out. Roy Clark and Mel Tillis made their debut in Country Music USA, as Freddy Fender did. The Oak Ridge Boys make their Las Vegas debut at Country Music USA . Leroy Van Dyke performed at the show during 1975, with Fender as the opening act. Van Dyke returned to Landmark in the 1970s, with Sons of the Pioneers as his opening act. Other artists featured in Country Music USA include Barbara Fairchild, Johnny Paycheck and Tommy Overstreet, as well as Jody Miller, Roy Head, and Hank Thompson. Country Music USA lasted for two years, until 1977.
In October 1982, Landmark debuted Spellcaster , an 80-minute family-oriented show featuring country-western singer Roy Clayborne. Spellcaster , a production show with dancers and stage girls, featuring 15 songs of Clayborne songs. Spellcaster is named after one of the Wolframs racing horse, and is produced through Las Vegas production company Zula Wolfram, Zula Productions. The event was designed and directed by Larry Hart, the 1979 Grammy Award winner, and lasted about eight months. At the time of the debut of Spellcaster , Danny Hein and Terri Dancer also began performing at the resort's Galaxy Lounge. Hein and Dancer had four different shows consisting of various costumes and decorations, and was accompanied by five musicians supporting the duo.
In 1987, the Landmark showroom hosted a small action and was considered small compared to other Las Vegas resorts. In May 1988, Landmark began hosting Melinda Saxe magicians in a family-friendly magic show, known as' 88 Follies Revue and renamed Follies Revue '89 the following year. The Saxe show in the Landmark closed in late 1989. During the early 1990s, the main showroom featured the Fascinated, a magic show consisting of two illusionist teams. Dick Foster is the show's director and producer.
In popular culture
The unfinished tower briefly appeared in the 1964 movie, Viva Las Vegas . In 1971, Sean Connery and his stuntmen climbed on top of the Landmark exterior elevators as part of filming for a scene in the James Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever . In the 1980s, Landmark appeared on the television series Vega $ and Crime Story . In October 1994, the Landmark exit entrance was lit for one night so it could be used for outdoor shooting as a fictitious Tangiers casino, featured in the 1995 film, Casino .
Landmark demolition was filmed for use in the 1996 film, Mars Attack! . In the film, the Landmark is described as a fictitious Galaxy Hotel, which is destroyed by foreign spacecraft. While buildings are usually gutted to prepare for disassembly, power lines and lights are allowed to remain. As part of the film's special effects, the lights at The Landmark were before and during the explosion. Fireworks are installed at the base of the tower to simulate the impact of the explosion of an alien laser. Landmark demolition also appeared during the closing credits of the 2003 film, The Cooler .
See also
- The Drew Las Vegas, the tallest building in Nevada since 2008; scheduled to open in 2020 after construction delays
References
External links
- Landmark photo slideshows
- Landmark disassembly video
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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