On this site was also a house that the Detra family lived in, with a second smaller building furnished as a bedroom for an occasional visitor. Rumor has it that the "occasional" visitor was usually one of Al Capone's men and other mob members.

On July 4, 1931, the Pair O' Dice opened as a public nightclub.

It advertised that it was artificially cooled by a washed air cooling system. The drinking fountains were made by General Electric and installed by H.E. Saviers & Son, Inc. George D. Clark was credited as builder, and the refrigerators were made by Frigidaire, and installed by C.E. Pembroke & Fred Rumph. Lumber was provided by Woitishek Lumber Company, and all floor coverings and draperies were provided by Las Vegas Mercantile.

On February 3, 1932, the Pair O' Dice announced that construction to enlarge the club had begun that morning. The enlargement would accommodate up to 150 people. Harvey Bymen stated that the club had been handicapped by lack of room to handle large parties, and the club should be completed by February 6, 1932.

On April 2, 1932, Dice put an ad in the paper apparently denying rumors that it was closing. It stated "That's a lot of hooey, Big Boy! We are NOT Going to Close Up the Pair O Dice." Entertainment was provided by Jeanne Raye/Billy Barron. On April 30, 1932, Dice advertised dinners at $1.00, and the entertainment was provided by The Howard Sisters, headliners of radio, stage and screen. H.H. "Red" Switzer was the manager.

On January 4, 1933, the Pair O' Dice closed. Switzer said that lack of sufficient patronage failed to pay expenses to keep the club operating. The club reopened on April 8, 1933, under the management of Oscar Klawitter and Howard Jones.

Since prohibition was in effect, liquor was banned from clubs. In July of 1933, Dice was served with temporary abatement papers for serving liquor.

After the abatement, the Detras had a grand opening on December 16, 1933, featuring Francis Beck & his Orchestra, and international dancers Marguerite and Roland. Italian and American dinners were $1.00 and $1.50 with no cover charge.

In February of 1934, Dice was offering free transportation, and catering to private parties and banquets. Jimmy Callahan was meeting guests at the bar.

Dice celebrated Thanksgiving on November 27, 1935, by offering $1.00 for a full course Italian dinner of turkey or chicken. Guests danced to the music of The Pair O' Dice Boys with entertainment being provided by Babette Burke, who previously appeared at the Palomar Hotel in Hollywood, California.

After selling the club (date unknown), Detra moved to Reno and died in 1984.

For a short time around May of 1936, the club went under the name Ambassador Night Club, and listed its phone number as 359. It offered dining, dancing, and games, with entertainment being provided by 3 Sharp Sisters.

In January of 1939, former police captain and commander of the vice squad, Guy McAfee, bought the club, renovated it for approximately $20,000, and renamed it the 91 Club. McAfee's plans for this club was a swank resort designed to cater to the fashionable gambling trade from Southern California. Plans showed construction of a number of bungalows on the property adjacent to the club, and an airplane landing field nearby.

On March 15, 1939, 91 Club opened with Fred L. Kreiger as manager and Harvey Bymun was in charge of gaming. Club 91, whose phone number was 91, offered no cover charge, dinners for $1.00 consisting of shrimp, fruit or tomato juice, soup, half chicken, trout, pork chops, salad, potato, vegetables, coffee and desert. For $1.50, one could receive the Dinner de Luxe of celery, olives, shrimp, fruit or tomato juice, soup, spaghetti, T-bone steak, New York sirloin, filet Mignon, boneless stuffed squab, wild rice, salad, potato, vegetables, coffee and desert. Music was performed by the Famous 91 Club Orchestra.

R.E. Griffith, a theater magnate, and his architect nephew, William J. Moore, saw the El Rancho Vegas in 1941, at the beginning of the three mile desert road accompanied by some bars and decided there was more than enough room for another western themed resort. They proceeded to purchase five acres of land for $1,000 an acre including the 91 Club. Griffith put Moore in charge, but Griffith was the driving force behind the construction. Moore, a 1936 graduate in architecture from Oklahoma A&M;, had designed theaters in Oklahoma and Texas.

R.E. Griffith William J. Moore

This being during World War II, finding building materials was a job in itself. They decided to incorporate the 91 Club into their plans. They bought a few mines so they could take the electrical wiring and other materials, and since food was being rationed, they bought a few ranches and raised cattle for food and milk to be served at their resort. Woitishek Lumber Company once again provided lumber for the property. Moore designed a sprawling ranch on 5 acres of the total 175 acres they owned.

Moore had built the El Rancho Hotel/Theater for Griffith in Gallup, New Mexico, but they couldn't use that name in Las Vegas. The hotel's slogan, "The Early West in Modern Splendor" was taken very seriously. The moniker reflected Griffith's notion that Las Vegas was the last frontier, where freedom and the Western spirit abounded. The architect for this project was Richard R. Stadelman.

During the building of the resort, the residents were against it stating "The town just can't stand another [hotel]".

On October 30, 1942, 18 months after the El Rancho Vegas opened, the Strip's second casino hotel resort and R.E. Griffith's dream, Hotel Last Frontier opened. Moore was Manager, Bill Walshe was Managing Director, Maxine Lewis was the entertainment director/floor show producer, Joe Schramm was the bar/cocktail manager, Evelyn Harris was the dining room hostess, Mabel Smith was the cocktail lounge hostess, "Doc" Ladd was the chef, Ralph Stoughton was Casino Manager, Ballard Barron was Stoughton's assistant, Harold Hines was the casino cashier, George Sweeney was chief clerk and Senor Clato was bell captain.

Opening night entertainment was provided by Gus Martell & his Fifth Ave. Orchestra, Bert Wheeler, Kenneth Karpf, Carlos Malla, Will Aherne, Diana Del Rio, Darby & Ardelle, and Will & Gladys Aherne. Dinner for opening night was $3.50.

"I'll never forget opening night, all the town's leading citizens attended, stepping over the rugs as the carpet men were putting down the last tacks. I also will never forget the crowd shaking their heads and saying it would never be a success as the hotel was too big and plushy for Las Vegas.

My show budget at that time was $1,000 for three acts. Advertising for the show consisted of just two pictures of the stars, and they were always dressed in Western style. The ads I ran in the Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety consisted of the hotel personnel on horseback going for the mail and all sorts of gimmicks such as meeting guests at the train or plane with a stage coach or any other Western vehicle I would find." - Maxine Lewis, 1988

Where El Rancho rambled like a motor court, the Last Frontier was a single sprawling building. Several distinct but connected segments gave the appearance of a main street from an Old West town.

This scan was donated by Jeff Cross.

The lobby portion was the tallest, with a broad shingled roof and a porch stretching across its front. It was made principally of stone blocks with a huge double fireplace as the center of interest. The stone work was created by Zuni Indians under the direction of a master from Italy who supervised the work. Pancho Villa's saddle and a collection of guns used by famous and infamous characters were exhibited throughout.

The balcony leading from the lobby had stairs of split logs. The wooden railing of the stairway was sanded down which bore the marks where hundreds of hands held fast.

The 600 seat Ramona Room, the resort's main showroom and dining room, contained flagstone and large wooden beams. The stage was shake roofed with big logs to support it out over the dance floor. When the room first opened, it contained a sound system of organ music that played "Ramona" all the time.

In creating this room, Navajo Indian artisans, skilled in stone masonry, were brought in from Gallup and Santa Fe, New Mexico to craft the flagstone. The stone itself was gathered from the Southwest as well.

South of the Ramona Room, faced in stone, with French doors that led out onto a patio ringed in wagon wheels which held 600 seats was The Carrillo Room. Named for actor Leo Carrillo, the Cisco Kid's sidekick, this room was the octagonal tower that had been part of the 91 Club. In this room hung a large picture of Carrillo dressed in his outfit and astride his horse.

The Gay 90s Bar next to that had a porch held up with natural logs. The two-story room wings contained the 107 rooms which had doubled-loaded corridors and covered garages for 400 cars.

Other features included the Canary Room for breakfast, lunch and banquets, and the 21 Club Casino. It advertised the patio, terrace, swimming pool, sun deck, stage coach rides, horse back rides, and pack trips.

The Trophy Room contained mounted animals on display. In many respects, this room resembled a sportsman's lodge.

The gift shop was owned by Moore's sister. It contained unusual Indian and Mexican jewelry, and western costumes for both men and women.

The rooms had furniture specially designed. The beds had head and footboards of dyed saddle leather, and window valances and mirror frames to match.

Each room had a three-in-one cabinet which was a dresser, a desk and a dressing table all in one piece. Stream-lined upholstered chairs in harmony with drapes and bedspreads were provided. Each room had a separate air-conditioning/heating unit, controlled by the guest. These units were connected directly with the big power plant which was part of the hotel. Each room had a private bath, tiled about the tub and on the floor. The color scheme harmonized with the theme of the bedroom.

The Frontier also drilled a new deep well and erected a large water storage tank. Almost a mile of tunnels were dug at the hotel to lay utility pipes. The engineer lived in a house on the back of the property. For fire protection, hose boxes were installed every 50 feet inside and outside the building.

There was a 238 foot sundeck leading from the second floor rooms on the north wing. Rooms from the west wing lead onto a small porch which had stairs going down to the area where a 250-foot patio garden was being planted. Badminton and tennis courts was in the process of being built.

It was reported that 3,700 trees, plants and shrubs were placed around the grounds.

Aerial View of Hotel Last Frontier Village

Front and center, right on the highway was the pool, which was the hotel's best advertisement to road-weary drivers. Surrounded by a split rail fence, the pool was contained in a corral that linked it to the hotel's theme. Also placed at the pool were pretty girls to further entice travelers to stop.

Moore gathered authentic pioneer day furnishings from all over the West. Griffith and Moore purchased many items from existing downtown casinos, such as an antique 40 foot mahogany bar with French beveled glass from the Arizona Club on downtown's Fremont Street which once housed Las Vegas' most fashionable house of prostitution. The bar and its fittings had been rescued and installed in the Horn Room where it was the center of attention. The bar had a bunch of old stuffed animals on top. The barstools were saddles with the stirrups still on them. The ceiling of the Horn Room featured the large wooden beams that were found throughout the resort as well as light fixtures in the form of wagon wheels which were suspended on heavy chains. Customers sat in comfortable booths that ran the length of the room. The carpeting was of a floral design and was done in blues and deep reds. The decor of this room was representative of the western flair that the entire resort expressed.

Stagecoaches picked up guests at the airport, packed trips could be arranged, and a stable stood out back. In spirit if not size, the resort rivaled the great rustic park resorts of the West - the 1904 Old Faithful Inn by Robert Reamer in Yellowstone, the 1926 Ahwanee by Gilbert Stanley Underwood in Yosemite, and the 1934 Bright Angel Lodge by Mary Colter at Grand Canyon.

The Frontier also provided guests with a sea vessel for charter on Lake Mead.

Moore also utilized his connections with the movie theatres in bringing celebrities to their resort.

When Moore raised Entertainment Director Maxine Lewis' budget to $5,000, she signed on Sophie Tucker. Tucker didn't know where Las Vegas was located when first contacted. Lewis and the town's Fire Chief picked her up at the railroad station and sat her on the hook and ladder truck, where Tucker was overwhelmed. Tucker who loved firemen and all accouterments, said it was the biggest thrill she had ever experienced.

One of the times Moore wanted Tucker to perform at the Frontier, she had been staying at a hotel in Reno when Moore phoned her. He asked her to come to the Frontier and play a two-week engagement. She responded "I've got a problem. I owe the hotel here in Reno $1,500, I've got eight trunks full of costumes and I'm flat busted." Moore stated "I told her I would send a station wagon to pick her up and that the driver would have enough money to pay off her debts to the hotel. Whatever the cost would be her fee for performing, plus she would get a room and free meals." Tucker accepted and duly played her two weeks.

On April 20, 1942, Frontier hosted a war bond banquet. This was a stag affair with cocktails in the Canary Room and dinner in the Ramona Room. The ads stated "All Red Blooded Men Invited as Guests - Bring Your Men Friends That Will Agree to Buy Not Less Than a $1,000 Bond". A note on the ad from the Frontier stated "We of the hotel feel that $250,000 is the least amount to expect. That's our quota - watch us go over it."

After dinner, Maxine Lewis was introduced by master of ceremonies Bill Moore, who sang two patriotic songs. Otto Underhill, chairman of the bond drive for Clark County paid high tribute to Griffith for his part in the bond drive and Griffith thanked the people of Las Vegas "who made this affair the huge success that it is." Olvie and George, the midgets performing at the Frontier, stepped up on the banquet table and marched all around the hall, on top of the table calling out the pledges as they were made.

"The fundamental reasons we must buy war bonds, speaking bluntly, are to save our necks, to accelerate our victory over barbarism, preserve the lives of our military and return to our peaceful way of life." - L.E. Hyland, chief engineer for the Bendix Corporation

The 165 guests raised more than $400,000. Some guests that were invited were contact men for companies. Because of this move, the following donations were made: Standard Oil Company - $75,000, and Sears-Robuck - $50,000. In addition, P.J. Goumond and Dick Clough pledged $10,000 a piece, Jake Kaufman, manager of a local store pledged $750 on behalf of the store's employees, Guy McAfee pledged $7,000, and J.T. Watters pledged $5,000.

The rest of the contributors were Jake Coffman, Walter Harness, Al Tiffany, Floyd G. Behner, J.D. Porter, William Mendelsohn, Cliff Leonard, Jack Albright, E.D. Hickman, D.C. Sutherland, George Parry, A.A. Schaeffer, Halley Stewart, Max Kelch, Tim Harnedy, C.B. Eisenberg, D.K. Edwards, Blaine Johnson, Dr. R. Agatewood, J. Ensley, F. Wilson, S.M. Paher, C.D. Breeze, Marion Earl, S.L. Gelber, Paul Hogan, C.T. Isley, Ed Ciliax, L.A. Woitishek, Nevada Auto Parts, Arthur T. Webb, A.J. Adams, Harvey Perry, Harvey Luce, Sam Friedman, Leo McNamee, Louis DuBois, A.S. Henderson, O.K. Gragson, Homer Riney, J.C. Grayson, M.B. Hicks, Arthur Anderson, S.L. Butterfield, James Sill, M.L. Aranoff, Nate Mack, L.R. Schway, Harry Allen, Reed Whipple, J.R. Lewis, Ted Porger, Ed Spitzer, Harry Mack, A.C. Grant, G.D. Blaine, C.G. Fallwell, P.J. Goumond, A.B. Witeher, James Powers, Terry Cowan, Chas. DeArmond, Sam Duidi, Kenney Searles, B. Hoover, Sebastian Mikulich, H. Manente, Carrol Beckley, James Cashman, Jo Cardinal, Sal McCoy, L.O. Hawkins, Louis Pisetta, Ed W. Clark. Dr. E. Winter, A.E. Cahlan, Art Ham, Dr. Hale Slavin, Jams Bilbray, A.P. Rubidoux, Phil Cummings, E.A. Honrath, J.W. Wilson, Doc Ladd, Culinary Workers Union, Lloyd H. Tritle, Paul Rapoport, Edgar McCullum, M.H. Gordon, A.J. Wood, F.F. Garside, C.S. Wengert, P.O. Silvagni, Alfred Swartz, R.J. Kaltenborn, M.W. Davis, W.J. Rhoads, M.W. Ohman, Frank Wallace, James Martin, H.P. Marble, A.L. Riddle, Fred Alward, D.S. Smarr, O. Udell Call, T.F. Ball, George H. Norris, Lawrence DuHamel, E.O. Underhill, A.H. Harrington and Fred Neilsen.

On December 27, 1942, Frontier hosted a parade and Rodeo with all proceeds going to the USO. The barbecue was free for all contestants. This charity rodeo included a ladies musical chair event, wild cow milking, and steer riding. The prize money was $1,000, and the sponsors besides the Frontier were Bead City Drug, Modern Food, Batlett Brothers, Sal Sagev Bar, Mayor Howell C. Garrison, El Cortez Hotel, Fred Gilman, Otis Smith, Isley Saddle Shop, J.C. Penny, Ullow's Studio, Silver State News, Jerry Crow, Clive Leonard, Jim Cashman, Roy Cram, Motor Supply, Lou DuBoise, White Spot Cafe, Boulder Drug, Spic & Span, White Cross Drug, Las Vegas Hardware, Fanny's Dress Shop, Bill Connell, Poolly Jean's State Cafe, and Christensen Jewelry. Individual event sponsors were: Calf roping by Guy McAfee, bareback riding by R. J. Kaltenborn, burro roping by local business men, bronc riding by El Rancho Vegas, and bull dogging by the Boulder Club.

On April 23, 1943, Frontier showed its first Big Prize Fight. The main event was "Sheik" Rangel v. Max Hutchinson. It also hosted an Easter egg hunt for all kids 2 to 8 years old in Clark County.

On September 8, 1943, Frontier hosted another war bond charity event. The headlines declared "Axis Pay-Day. Back the Attack With Bonds." The Victory Parade started at the Sal Sagev Hotel, down Fremont to Colony Club then ending at the Frontier. Anyone who bought a $500 bond would be treated to four hours of music, two hours of big entertainment, shows from all four hotels, an Army show including the Army band, as well as displays by airplanes, tanks, and guns.

Griffith died at 2:15pm, on November 24, 1943, of a heart attack at the Beverly Hills Hotel, a little over a year after the Last Frontier opened. Moore carried out his dream by overseeing and promoting the resort, as well as the projects Griffith had begun at Mt. Charleston, Hidden Valley and Warm Springs. An ad was posted in the November 27, 1943, Las Vegas Evening Review-Journal paying tribute to this visionary.

In a 1940s brochure, it is plain that Moore not only advertised the resort with humor, but made sure to include all activities for the tourist. Set One: #1 - Ride Horseback night or day - under the desert moon or on mountain trails. Join guest parties for picnics, steak-frys, wiener roasts and desert clam-bakes at nearby Dude Ranches or at picturesque pine, spruce and fir shaded Mount Charleston; #2 - Swim year 'round - our pools, Lake Mead beach or icy Colorado river. Stroll through fifteen acres of beautified grounds over 20 blocks of driveways and walks. Bask in the desert sun on numerous sundecks and private solariums adjoining shady, rambling ranch porches; #3 - Nevada's Famous Ramona Room - Dine and dance in the picturesque, rustic Ramona Room to the music of famous orchestras. See and hear your favorite entertainers of stage, screen, radio and nightclub fame. A snack or lunch on Wagon Wheel Terrace - breakfast or brunch in the modern Canary Room, both adjoining the Ramona Room; #4 - Club "21" Casino - The Caliente of Nevada. Your favorite game of chance (legal in Nevada only) from noon till ---? Vegas has dozens of hotel, nightclub and downtown casinos for variety. You see woodsman, sportsman, miner, rancher, movie star, divorcee, artist, writer, real cowboys and dud wrangler, pioneer, doctor, lawyer - the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker, all mingling at various night spots. Set Two: #1 - Splashed in the sunshine of your desert dreams . . . Hotel Last Frontier recaptures the glories of the Golden West in the spirit of now. Located in the last frontier town where something is doing every minute. Come as you are - relax as you will - for this is truly America's own - The Hotel Last Frontier; #2 - The Little Church of the West, on the grounds of Hotel Last Frontier, though new is becoming the West's most famous marriage chapel. Open 24 hours a day. Organ music. Horse-drawn wedding coach to drive bride and groom through the town. Arrangements to have church and altar banked with flowers; #3 - Fishing - no closed season. Lake Mead, world's largest man-made lake above Boulder Dam, and the icy Colorado river below. The best fresh-water fishing in U.S. Bass from 6 to 12 lbs., trout from 2 to 4 lbs., caught daily. Our hotel holds annual monthly tournament, the Fishathon, with $5,000 in awards to daily, weekly and grand award winners; #4 - Duck, Dove and Quail hunting from our Dude Ranch or Hunting Lodge. 2,500 acres of private hunting grounds and private lakes two hours from Hotel. Fishing nearby between bag-limits. Deer hunting from camp or pack trips two hours from Hunting Lodge. Our sportsman correspondent will give details on request.

Moore was one of the first people who hired planes to fly the entertainment as well as gamblers to his resort. He decided to book flights with a small airline owned by Kirk Kerkorian, the future owner of the International and MGM Grand.

The "Little Church of the West" was on the Frontier grounds. A quaint and romantic spot amid dramatic western surroundings, where many famous marriage ceremonies had been performed. Religious services of special occasions were conducted here. The only building on the Strip to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was the brainchild of Moore. Moore and one of the best photographers in Las Vegas thought the chapel would be a nice touch to add to the Strip. With its redwood interior and cedar exterior, the Little Church, which has been photographed countless times over the years, has evolved into one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Strip. This church was built of California redwood and was an authentic replica of a little church built in a pioneer town in California.

The Little Church of the West saw its share of weddings both real and in the movies. The Little Church witnessed the real weddings of Harry James and Betty Grable in 1943, and Judy Garland and Mark Herron in 1965, as well as the weddings of Arlene Dahl and Fernando Llamas, and Deanna Durbin and Felix Jackson. It also witnessed the weddings of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mickey Rooney, Robert Goulet, Bob Geldof, Dudley Moore and Mel Torme. Included in its make-believe weddings was Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret's wedding in the 1964 film, "Viva Las Vegas", which was actually filmed in 1963.

In the early 1940s, there weren't any freeways as they exist under today's standards. Every time it would snow on the mountain passes, all traffic would stop. Moore used to go around and tell the employees to park out in front of the hotel as he went to the second floor to turn on the lights in some of the rooms so it would look like people were in the resort. The Frontier would be deserted but they made it look like there were people staying there.

A story of the Frontier centered around the World War II. During the war, the resort had an arrangement with the military to take care of groups of officers and soldiers suffering from battle fatigue. One time, an admiral sent a group of about 50 officers, soldiers, and seamen to the Frontier and directed the hotel's management - "Don't shoot off any weapons of any kind near these men. They are very sensitive." The group was staying there during the city's annual Helldorado celebration. As a stunt, deputy Sheriff C.D. Stuart, in spite of Moore's pleading not to do it, rode his horse right into the casino and started firing his six-shooter, loaded with blanks. The boys went crazy and squared off against anyone near them when they heard the shots. One customer was knocked clear across a crap table.

Another story was there had been a run on the Frontier's casino of $1 million in only three day's time. With the bankroll nearly exhausted, Moore called Farmer Paige who operated the Pioneer Club downtown asking for help. Paige told Moore to go down to the Pioneer's cashier's cage and take whatever he needed. Moore counted out $500,000 and wanted to give Paige an IOU which Paige refused to accept stating a gentlemen's agreement would be fine. Moore made sure the money was returned within one week.

The Frontier had only one security guard who worked part time. The reason for this was that the dealers carried concealed guns in their shoes or on their hips.

Frontier was to be the mainstay for the world famous aviator Howard Hughes whenever he went to Vegas. Rumor has it that his love for Vegas was born and grew during his frequent stays at this resort.

In December of 1943, Frontier hosted The Christmas Story of Bethlehem in the Little Church of the West. All children were invited, free of charge, to the life-size outdoor reproduction of the biblical scene of the manger in Bethlehem. Narrations were performed by the Reverend F.C. Carpenter. The show also featured Spillers Trained Seals in the swimming pool.

Click Here for a picture taken of Sophie Tucker appearing at the resort in 1944.

In January of 1945, the Frontier hired Art O'Donnell, former assistant manager of the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, as manager of the resort. Burt King had left to pursue personal business ventures. The Assistant Manager was Don Thomas and Moore's assistant was Joe Schram.

On January 14, 1945, a rodeo was given in the Frontier's 3,000 seat El Corral Arena. Trick Rider Bob Rooker and his Palomino Silver Bow was the main attraction and clown Frankie Chitwood and his "Horse Whirligig In a Circus of Laughs". Sheriff Glen Jones challenged his deputies to a roping event and participants could win cash purses for "Bronc Riding", "Bull-Dogging", "Wild Brahma Steer Riding" "Bare-Back Riding", and "Steer-Roping". The judges were Fire Chief Harold Case, and Pete Person, and Doc Ladd was the Master of Ceremonies. Sponsoring this rodeo along with the Frontier was General Auto Parts and Yellow Cab Co. The concession was run by the Women's Ambulance Defense Corps with $1.20 for general admission, $.90 for anyone in the military and $.60 for children.

For President's Birthday on January 30, 1945, Frontier was offering a celebration with Jimmy Joy & his Orchestra, Milton Douglas, Priscilla, song-stars of Spike Jones' City Slickers Nilsson Twins and juggler on wheels Ray Royce in its Ramona Room. A replica of the White House was made and was auctioned off to benefit the Infantile Paralysis Fund. The slogan was "a piece of cake will help to make some child walk again".

In February of 1945, Frontier transformed its Ramona Room for its new show "George Arnold's Spectacular Ice Revue". This show starred George Arnold, Ice Follies Star Jeanie Sook, Icecapades Starring The Brinkman Sisters. Included were the segments The Four Ice Cube-ettes and Musical Fantasies On Ice.

On May 17, 1945, Frontier hosted a "Buy War Bonds" party themed "Circus Bond Party". Dale Evans and Diana Lewis attended the benefit with the entire hotel personnel dressed in circus costumes.

Research has shown that the Hotel Last Frontier was the first actress on the Strip. She made an appearance in the 1946 movie Heldorado.

In July of 1946, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel stayed in Room 401 at the resort while purchasing Billy Wilkerson's property which would later be known as the Flamingo. The FBI placed wiretapping at the resort and Siegel's room to trace Siegel's actions.

On September 17, 1946, Siegel had parked his vehicle in the Frontier's parking lot. His girlfriend, Virginia Hill, accidently depressed the accelerator causing the car to lurch forward. In bringing the car under control Siegel hit his face on the steering wheel, causing a jaw injury. Siegel was treated by his brother Dr. Maurice Siegel, who stated his injury was slight.

It was reported that in 1946, Frontier started the first lounge act with the Mary Kaye Trio.

In 1947, the Frontier's address was just Los Angeles Highway, and its phone number was simply 1800. Yellow Cab Company outlined the front waiting for riders. Their phone number was 4.

During this era, Frontier combined swimming and gambling.

The Last Frontier Village conceived by Moore in 1947, was also part of the hotel's complex. Robert "Doby Doc" Caudill, a millionaire gambler, started collecting Nevada antiques in 1914. Doc had stored more than 900 tons of relics in 1,700 packing boxes in two warehouses in Elko, Nevada. Mechanical pianos, guns of all types, lamps, chamber pots, Indian artifacts, a complete printing press, and even a worn-out bustle from one of the mining camp's most prominent madams were part of Doc's treasures. Doc moved his treasures to the Last Frontier Village which cost $37,000 in freight charges. I do not know whether Doc or Bill Moore paid the freight charges. Doc was often seen at the village talking with people, acting as curator, regarding his collection.

Robert "Doby Doc" Caudill

By private contract, this massive collection was incorporated into the Last Frontier. It included several authentic buildings as well as a mining train he acquired in 1934 which was originally a part of the Pioche-Pacific Railroad. This engine saw service between Rabbit Hole and Pioche, a distance of 13 miles. The engine was of a cog-wheel type, capable of climbing a 45 degree grade, a type of engine seldom seen. With it were two box cars and a caboose from the Nevada Central and Central Pacific roads.

In addition to this train, the train exhibit consisted of anything from a quarter-pound spike to a complete narrow gauge passenger train with its engine, baggage car and two coaches. One of the most photographed trains was a combination of Eureka and Pallisades, and Union Pacific engine, a baggage car and two coaches.

The baggage car of this train was reputed to have carried over $30 million in gold, silver, and lead bullion from the rich Eureka mining area to Palisades on the Central Pacific railroad. Construction of the Eureka and Palisades railroad was started in 1873 by W.L. Prichard who had operated a wagon freight business but in 1875, the railroad was still 36 miles away from Eureka. Darious Ogden purchased it for $1.5 million and then completed the final 36 miles which linked Eureka to the Central Pacific at Palisades. The first locomotive named Tybo puffed into Eureka on October 22, 1875. When mining fell off in 1883, the railroad saved Eureka from a ghost town fate. Eureka then served the whole central part of Nevada.

The last coach of the train was among the first used by the Union Pacific. In this coach was a replica of the gold spike which was driven at Promontory Point, Utah, when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads met to span the continent.

The exhibit also held box cars and a caboose from such railroads as the Nevada Central which linked Battle Mountain to Austin, the Eureka and Palisades and the Central Pacific.

Another exhibit consisted of covered wagons with prairie schooners or Conestoga wagons dating back to 1845. These wagons crossed the continent from New England to Missouri to Fort Levenworth along the immigrant trail across Nevada to California. The name Conestoga is derived from the town in which it was manufactured in Pennsylvania.

Vintage automobiles occupied another section of the town. This collection included a 1911 Stutz Bearcat and 1904 Stoddard Dayton which was used by an early Nevada country doctor.

A replica of an old San Francisco cable car picked up visitors and brought them around the Village.

Moore procured entire buildings taken from older towns, including the Tuscarora Jail, and a Joss house for the Chinese who worked on the railroad. The Joss House was reported to be the oldest Chinese house of worship in the United States and was used by thousands of Chinese. History of this house of worship dated back to the 1860s when it was constructed in Elko, Nevada. It was reported that every article and symbol of religion and fraternity were made and blessed in China, then brought to this country. During the building of the first transcontinental railroad, the structure served as a worshiping place for Chinese laborers employed in the construction of the rail artery.

Actually, Elko was, at that time, the Chinese capital of the West. It was the engineering ingenuity of these Chinese that resulted in the first water system in Elko, a part of which is still in use today. The unique project involved the driving of tunnels in the mountain to tap veins of water, then the fashioning of home made wooden pipes to bring the precious water to the town.

The peculiar architectural design of the church is significant. Chinese students pointed out that sevens and twelves are characteristic units of worship. The main church building had seven rafters or supporters, and the rising sun flag in front of the building had the twelve points.

The Joss House had names of the church members painted on its walls. It also contained a shrine of band carved in teak wood. Chinese worship robes were hung in the building. A similar building was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake. The portrait that hung on the shrine was of Kwan Ti, God of Marital Virtue, which according to available information, was painted during the Ming dynasty. It was contributed to the church by Hi Loy, a respected citizen of the early Elko Chinese colony. The teakwood plaques with gold leaf borders, the silk standards and vestments, all hand made and embroidered with real gold threads to represent religious characters and symbols, the urns and candle sticks and other religious paraphernalia, blended into the charm of this shrine.

The original lamps, which were lit by electricity, were kept burning with Tung oil shipped from China. Inside the foyer were ceremonial spears, reportedly only permitted to leave the church for funeral processions.

Two smaller rooms, one on either side of the main room, contained many interesting symbols and articles. One room was for the custodian and the other for visiting priests. A visit to the custodian's room reminded one of the story handed down to Elko Chinese. The position was considered of great importance and highly sought. It was won when an enormous paper balloon was released into the air carrying an inscribed ring of office. Hundreds of Chinese pursued the flight until the balloon descended. The lucky ring finder then became custodian for the interval until the next Chinese New Year.

Also incorporated into the Village was the Frontier Museum & Saloon. This museum bar contained the $100,000 antique rifle and pistol collection of Caudill and Harry Mann. There were unique specimens dating back as early as 1400AD, ranging in size from an 1844, 25 pound elephant rifle carried in the Stanley-Livingston expedition to dainty pearl-handled ladies' muff pistols. Among the "freaks" were a seven-barrel goose gun, cane guns, Arabian chieftains' guns, a six foot long camel rider's rifle which had a five foot long barrel, and several early whaling guns. An exceptional piece was a gold plated 1860 Henry "sixteen shooter" once owned by Texas Ranger Captain Sam King. This type rifle was described colorfully by a Confederate solider as "the damn Yankee rifle that loads on Monday and shoots 'til Friday." The gun was once loaned to Paramount Studios for use in the picture "Arizona."

Juke Box

The museum also contained relics that ranged from per-historic Indian artifacts to a propeller from the first mail plane downed in Nevada, with all years in between represented. Items included one of the first manufactured baby carriages shipped over land by wagon train, a surveyor's transit used to make the first state public land survey, antique juke boxes, doll collections, early maps, currency and cancelled checks.

On the property was also the Village Playhouse. This playhouse was built in 1905 as a warehouse and store by the Ed W. Clark Forwarding Company, handling all the freight by mule to Searchlight, Goodsprings, Rawhide, Beatty, Goldfield and Tonapah. One play which appeared at the playhouse was Ladies in Retirement.

Haven foro the weary traveler was this old Toll House, which stood in Elko County, NV, in the 1860's. Payment for use of its facilities usually consisted of articles for which the traveler had the least need. Travelers heading east paid off in gold nuggets or small bags of gold dust.

The Frontier also contained the fire bell which played a vital role in the history of the early west. Harbinger of both good and bad tidings, the bell was cast by W.T. Garrett and Company of San Francisco in February 1890. It was unique in that 600 silver dollars were cast with the brass and bronze to give the bell a more beautiful tone. The $600 was collected by the Elko citizenry from local saloons and gambling houses. According to history, the bell rang for disastrous fires, deaths of celebrities, and celebrations.

In the Dance Hall there was a mural of the old west that covered an entire wall.

Throughout the village guests would see life-like papier mache figures of Flat Rack Jack, Rabbit Sam, Sheriff Bill McGee, Poker Pete and a chinaman, all created by Bob Loden. Drawing only upon his mental picture of what type characters would be found in the early days of Nevada, he created these figures.

Sheriff McGee used to stand guard outside an old school house which stood on Kerns Ranch in Elko County approximately 100 years before that was donated by singer/actor Bing Crosby. Loden also created all the signs that were found throughout the Village.

The Village contained a Leather Shop which was owned and operated by Joseph E. Heillgers which sold wallets, purses, belts, moccasins and the like. The items were created locally as well as in Kingman. There was also a candy shop owned and operated by Katy and Don which specialized in old-time candies brewed to coincide with the theme of the Village. Other shops in the Village were Wood's Maple House, and Fanny's Clothes.

Children were not ignored on the Frontier. A childrens' playground area included a merry-go-round, pony rides, miniature train rides, small electric cards and other amusements.

A completely modern gas station was created as an early western fire house of 1856, by Texaco which was operated by William "Andy" Anderson. On display was a hand-pulled fire engine. The carriage was supported by four large wood-spoked wheels and had a revolving drum in the center of wood, brass and nickel. Showers were available to tourists. What attracted the greatest number of visitors was the brillant neon-light sign over the gas station canopy. It depicted horses drawing a pumper, even to smoke belching from the stack, with two firemen aboard.

A horse-drawn pumper stood at the front of the building. This was the first ppiece of fire equipment west of the Mississippi and was hauled piece by piece in covered wagons to Virginia City. It cost $4,000 and dated back to 1893. After service in Virginia City, Reno, and Fallon, it was purchased by the Frontier Village.

Also on display was an early Tompkins hand-drawn hose cart which dates back 130 years. The carriage was supported by four large wood-spoked wheels and had a revolving drum in the center trimmed in hand-engraved German silver.

The Village had more than 30 stores in its complex as well as casinos like the Silver Slipper which housed the town's first convention facility on the second floor.

In 1947, the annual Helldorado parade took place. Photographers had a field day at the Frontier taking pictures of the celebrities who congregated at the Frontier, including Alice Faye and her husband Phil Harris, Clara Bow and her husband Rex Bell, Chester Lauck (Lum of the famous radio team Lum 'n Abner), and Roy Rogers. They also took pictures of Frontier President William Moore and the float of the Little Church of the West in front of the real thing. Click Here to see the pictures.

Week of March 25, 1949

April, 1949, Scan donated by Dolores (Dee) Alwes

In the late 1940s, Frontier held her own different kind of beauty contest.

Herb McDonald, who worked at the El Rancho Vegas, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Club Bingo, and Sahara stated that for just $2.00, a dinner was served with a New York steak, huge salad, and Shrimp cocktail. McDonald also stated that since there were only two hotels on the Strip then, the resorts would hire people to work part time such as carpenters, school teachers, construction workers, and other non-casino professions.

In the late 1940s, Little Church of the West had two functions - one was for religious, and the other was the studio for the radio show Lum n' Abner.

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