Page 54 - Emag_FebMarch2020
P. 54
(972)931-1123
Plano, TX 75093
5000 Old Shepard Place
Lease now.
Reduced rates.
RSVP for these events by calling 972.931.1123
Buffet! Cocktails! Prizes Galore!
Buffet! Cocktails! Prizes Galore!
and so much more!
black jack, Slots, roulette
MARCH 26th | 5PM - 7PM
MARCH 26th | 5PM - 7PM
Preston Place and Out&About with celebration present
Preston Place and Out&About with celebration present
the message of faith, hope and love through beautiful music.
olympics, will provide Preston Place Guests with a special live performance and bring
Multi-denominational “The Joshua Experience by God’s Big Band” seen at the london
The Joshua Experience by God’s Big Band!
The Joshua Experience by God’s Big Band!
February 25th | 7PM-8PM
party
big band
The Story of The Sands Hotel - Las Vegas February/March Events at Preston Place!
by Jeffrey Stafford
he Sands hotel was established in 1952 by Jake end of Sinatra's engagements because he was considered
Freedman, who had established restaurants in Las to be good for business-bringing the hotel more monetary
T Vegas years earlier. Construction began on Sands value than the worth of his gambling losses.
Hotel in early 1952, built to a design by Wayne McAllister.
Freedman had initially intended naming the hotel "Holiday
Inn" after the film of the same name starring Bing Crosby, Infuriated by the new policy, Sinatra began what The
but after noticing that his socks became so full of desert Los Angeles Times describes as a "weekend-long tirade"
sand he decided to name it Sands. The Sands hotel was against the "hotel's management, employees and security
opened on December 15, 1952 as a casino with 200 rooms. forces". The FBI report says the incident began when
The opening was Mia Farrow lost $20,000 at the
Sands casino. Sinatra bought
widely publicized, $50,000 in chips and made
and the hotel was an attempt to win the money
visited by some back. He lost this sum within
12,000 people within a short period of time. Sinatra
a few hours. Each then asked for credit, which
and every guest was was denied. This culminated
given a Chamois bag when Sinatra reportedly drove
full of silver dollars a golf cart through the window
when they entered the of the coffee shop where
casino that opening casino manager Carl Cohen
day and Sands ended was seated. Sinatra reportedly
up losing $200,000 punched Cohen, a heavily built
within the first eight man, who responded with a
hours. smack in the mouth, bloodying
In the late 1950's, Sinatra's nose and knocking
(then) Senator John two of his teeth out. As a result,
F. Kennedy was Sinatra never performed at
occasionally a guest of Sinatra at the Sands. Sands again while Hughes owned it.
In the 1960 the Sands attained iconic status, with regular In its final years, the Sands became a shadow of its former
performances by Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis. Jr., self, a throwback to the old days, and it ultimately could
Red Skelton and others, who performed regularly in the not compete with the newer and more exciting mega-
hotel's world-renowned Copa Room. The Sands hotel's resorts that were being built on the Strip. The decision
biggest claim to fame was a three-week period in 1960 was eventually made by its final owner, Sheldon Adelson,
during the filming of Ocean's 11, after which it attained to shut it down and to build a brand new resort. The last
iconic status. During that time, the movie's stars Sinatra, dice in the casino was rolled by Bob Stupak just after
Dean Martin, Davis, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford 6:00pm on June 30, 1996. On November 26, 1996, it was
performed on stage together in the Copa Room. The imploded and demolished, much to the dismay of longtime
performances were called the "Summit at the Sands" and employees and sentimentalists.•
this is considered to be the birth of the Rat Pack.
Howard Hughes purchased the hotel in the mid-1960s
for $14.6 million and he soon added a 500-room circular
tower, which opened in 1967, making it a true Las Vegas
landmark.
Howard Hughes was particularly annoyed every time
the Rat Pack were in his hotel, due to a hatred of Frank
Sinatra which stemmed from the fact that he had been in
love with Ava Gardner in the 50's and she had run off to
marry him. Hughes plotted to get rid of Sinatra from the
Sands for good, and drew up a plan shortly after the new
hotel opened in 1967. The hotel imposed restrictions on
how much Sinatra could gamble in the casino, just $3000
a night. Under previous management, Sinatra had no limits
on the amount of credit extended to him by the Sands
casino. His I.O.U.'s, chits or "markers" were torn up at the
page 52 | www.celebrationmagazine.com