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April 2, 2024 9 mins
From Showgirls to Stadiums: The End of an Era for the Tropicana Las Vegas
Las Vegas, the city of bright lights and fleeting fortunes, bids farewell to another iconic landmark. The Tropicana, a hotel and casino with a rich history dating back over six decades, is scheduled to close its doors in early April 2024 to make way for a new Major League Baseball stadium. This article explores the storied past of the Tropicana and the bittersweet circumstances surrounding its closure.
A Mid-Century Oasis
The Tropicana opened its doors in 1957, a time of post-war optimism and a burgeoning interest in Las Vegas tourism. Designed by famed architect M. Tony Sherman, the hotel embraced a Polynesian theme, complete with lush landscaping, cascading waterfalls, and a sense of tropical escape. The resort's 300 rooms, each adorned with bamboo furnishings and tropical decor, transported guests to a far-off paradise in the heart of the desert.
The Tropicana's grand opening was a star-studded affair, with celebrities like Jayne Mansfield and Mickey Rooney in attendance. The hotel's unique theme and luxurious amenities quickly established it as a destination for A-list celebrities and soon became a popular spot for entertainment acts. The Tropicana's success paved the way for other themed resorts in Las Vegas, such as the Stardust and the Dunes, which further solidified the city's reputation as a one-of-a-kind tourist destination.
Showgirls, Scandals, and Stars
The Tropicana's legacy is intertwined with the golden age of Las Vegas showmanship. The hotel's elaborate revues, featuring dazzling costumes and talented showgirls, were a major draw. The "Folies Bergère," a Parisian-style cabaret show, debuted at the Tropicana in 1959 and became an instant sensation. The show's mix of glamour, comedy, and risqué performances set the standard for Las Vegas entertainment for decades to come.
Legends like Liberace and Frank Sinatra graced the Tropicana stage, solidifying its reputation as a hotspot for entertainment. Liberace, known for his flamboyant style and virtuosic piano skills, performed regularly at the Tropicana throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His extravagant costumes and elaborate stage sets were a perfect match for the hotel's over-the-top aesthetic. Frank Sinatra, who epitomized the cool, sophisticated side of Las Vegas, also made frequent appearances at the Tropicana, drawing crowds of adoring fans.
However, the glamorous facade sometimes masked a darker reality. The Tropicana, like many Las Vegas casinos in its early years, had ties to organized crime. In the 1970s, the hotel was briefly owned by the Kansas City mob, who used the property to launder money and conduct other illegal activities. The Tropicana's association with the underworld was not uncommon in Las Vegas at the time, as the city's casinos were often financed and controlled by criminal organizations.
Despite these unsavory connections, the Tropicana remained a popular destination for tourists and celebrities alike. The hotel's reputation for top-notch entertainment and luxurious accommodations continued to draw visitors from around the world. The Tropicana's showgirls became iconic symbols of Las Vegas glamour, gracing the covers of magazines and appearing in films and television shows.
Evolution and Adaptation
Las Vegas is a city that constantly reinvents itself, and the Tropicana was no exception. As the city grew and evolved, so too did the hotel. The Tropicana underwent renovations and expansions over the years, adapting to changing tourist preferences and the competitive landscape of the Las Vegas Strip.
In the 1980s, the hotel's original Polynesian theme gave way to a more modern aesthetic. The bamboo and thatch decor were replaced with sleek, contemporary furnishings, and the hotel added new amenities like a fitness center and a spa. The Tropicana also expanded its convention facilities, recognizing the growing importance of business travel to the Las Vegas economy.
The 1990s brought further changes to the Tropicana. The hotel's showroom was renovated and renamed the Tiffany Theater, in honor of the famous jeweler. The new theater hosted a variety of acts, from classic Vegas showgirls to contemporary pop stars. The Tropicana also added a new tower, the Island Tower, which increased the hotel's room count to over 1,800.
Despite its efforts to stay relevant, the Tropicana eventually faced competition from newer, larger resorts that offered a wider range of attractions. The hotel's aging infrastructure and relatively small size made it difficult to compete with the likes of the Bellagio, the Venetian, and the Wynn. The Tropicana's ownership changed hands several times in the early 2000s, as investors sought to modernize the property and keep it competitive in the ever-evolving Las Vegas market.
The Final Curtain
The announcement of the Tropicana's closure in early 2
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
From showgirls to stadiums. The endof an era for the Tropicana Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, the city of brightlights and fleeting fortunes, bids farewell
to another iconic landmark. The Tropicana, a hotel and casino with a rich
history dating back over six decades,is scheduled to close its doors in early
April twenty twenty four to make wayfor a new Major League Baseball stadium.

(00:21):
This article explores the storied past ofthe Tropicana and the bittersweet circumstances surrounding its
closure. A mid century oasis,the Tropicana opened its doors in nineteen fifty
seven, a time of post waroptimism and a burgeoning interest in Las Vegas
tourism. Designed by famed architect M. Tony Sherman, the hotel embraced a
Polynesian theme, complete with lush landscaping, cascading waterfalls, and a sense of

(00:46):
tropical escape. The resort's three hundredrooms, each adorned with bamboo furnishings in
tropical decorps, transported guests to afar off paradise in the heart of the
desert. The Tropicana's grand opening wasa star studded affair with celebrities like Jane
Mansfield and Mickey Rooney and attendance.The hotel's unique theme and luxurious amenities quickly

(01:07):
established it as a destination for alist celebrities and soon became a popular spot
for entertainment acts. The Tropicana successpaved the way for other themed resorts in
Las Vegas, such as the Stardustin the Dunes, which further solidified the
city's reputation as a one of akind tourist destination show girls, scandals,
and stars. The Tropicana's legacy isintertwined with the golden age of Las Vegas

(01:33):
showmanship. The hotel's elaborate reviews featuringdazzling costumes and talented showgirls, were a
major draw. The foles Bergaire,a Parisian style cabaret show, debuted at
the Tropicana in nineteen fifty nine andbecame an instant sensation. The show's mix
of glamour, comedy, and risqueperformances set the standard for Las Vegas entertainment

(01:56):
for decades to come. Legends likeLIBERACEI and Frank Sinatra graced the true Tropacana
stage, solidifying its reputation as ahotspot for entertainment. Liberaci, known for
his flamboyant style and virtuosic piano skills, performed regularly at the Tropicana throughout the
nineteen sixties and nineteen seventies. Hisextravagant costumes and elaborate stage sets were a

(02:16):
perfect match for the hotels over thetop esthetic. Frank Sinatra, who epitomized
the cool, sophisticated side of LasVegas, also made frequent appearances at the
Tropicana, drawing crowds of adoring fans. However, the glamorous facade sometimes masked
a darker reality. The Tropicana,like many Las Vegas casinos, in its

(02:38):
early years, had ties to organizedcrime. In the nineteen seventies, the
hotel was briefly owned by the KansasCity mob, who used the property to
launder money and conduct other illegal activities. The Tropicana's association with the underworld was
not uncommon in Las Vegas at thetime, as the city's casinos were often
financed and controlled by criminal organizations.Despite these unsavory connections, the Tropicana remained

(03:04):
a popular destination for tourists and celebritiesalike. The hotel's reputation for top notch
entertainment and luxurious accommodations continued to drawvisitors from around the world. The Tropicana's
showgirls became iconic symbols of Las Vegasglamour, gracing the covers of magazines and
appearing in films and television shows.Evolution and adaptation. Las Vegas is a

(03:27):
city that constantly reinvents itself, andthe Tropicana was no exception. As the
city grew and evolved, so toodid the hotel. The Tropicana underwent renovations
and expansions over the years, adaptingto changing tourist preferences and the competitive landscape
of the Las Vegas Strip. Inthe nineteen eighties, the hotel's original Polynesian
theme gave way to a more modernaesthetic. The bamboo and thatch decorps were

(03:50):
replaced with sleek, contemporary furnishings,and the hotel added new amenities like a
fitness center and a spa. TheTropicana also expanded its convention facilities, recognizing
the growing importance of business travel tothe Las Vegas economy. The nineteen nineties
brought further changes to the Tropicana.The hotel's showroom was renovated and renamed the

(04:13):
Tiffany Theater in honor of the famousjeweler. The new theater hosted a variety
of acts, from classic Vegas showgirlsto contemporary pop stars. The Tropicana also
added a new tower, the IslandTower, which increased the hotel's room count
to over one thy eight hundred.Despite its efforts to stay relevant, the
Tropicana eventually faced competition from newer,larger resorts that offered a wider range of

(04:35):
attractions. The hotel's aging infrastructure andrelatively small size made it difficult to compete
with the likes of the Bellagio,The Venetian, and the win. The
Tropicana's ownership changed hands several times inthe early two thousands, as investors sought
to modernize the property and keep itcompetitive in the ever evolving Las Vegas market.

(04:56):
The final curtain. The announcement ofThe Tropicana's closure in early twenty twenty
four came as a shock to many. The news highlighted the ever changing landscape
of Las Vegas, where even iconicproperties are not immune to the demands of
progress. The hotel's owner, Bally'sCorporation, revealed plans to demolish the Tropicana
and replace it with a state ofthe art baseball stadium, which will be

(05:17):
home to a new Major League Baseballfranchise. The decision to close the Tropicana
was met with a mix of sadnessand nostalgia from longtime patrons and former employees.
Many shared stories of memorable moments atthe hotel, from seeing their favorite
performers on stage to celebrating milestones likeweddings and anniversaries. The Tropicana's closure represents

(05:41):
not just the end of a belovedhotel, but the end of an era
in Las Vegas history. The demolitionof the Tropicana will pave the way for
a new chapter in Las Vegas entertainment. The baseball stadium, which will have
a seating capacity of thirty two thousand, is expected to bring a new level
of excitement to the Las Vegas Strip. The stadium will feature state of the

(06:02):
art amenities, including luxury suites,premium seating options, and a retractable roof
to allow for year round events.The new stadium is expected to generate millions
of dollars in economic impact for thecity and create thousands of new jobs.
While the prospect of a major leaguesports team is exciting for many Las Vegas
residents and visitors. Others lament theloss of another piece of the city's history.

(06:27):
The Tropicana's closure is part of alarger trend in Las Vegas, as
older properties are demolished to make wayfor newer, more modern attractions. The
city's skyline is constantly evolving, withnew hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues
seeming to appear overnight. A legacyendures. The Tropicana's closure marks the end
of an era, but its legacywill endure. The hotel's story reflects the

(06:49):
evolution of Las Vegas itself from amid century playground for the rich and famous
to a global entertainment destination. Thememories of show stopping performance, legendary guests,
and a bygone era will undoubtedly liveon in the hearts of those who
experienced the magic of the Tropicana.For many, the Tropicana represents a time

(07:10):
when Las Vegas was a more intimate, more personal experience. The hotel's relatively
small size and unique theme created asense of community among guests and employees alike.
The tropicanas showgirls who were the heartand soul of The hotel's entertainment offerings
were more than just performers, Theywere family. Many of the showgirls lived

(07:31):
on the property and formed close bondswith each other and with regular guests.
The Tropicana's legacy also extends beyond itsphysical walls. The hotel's influence can be
seen in the many themed resorts thathave come and gone in Las Vegas over
the years. The Tropicana's success demonstratedthe power of theming and immersive experiences in
attracting tourists and creating a unique brandidentity. The hotel's Polynesian theme, while

(07:57):
perhaps dated by today's standards, wasa ground breaking concept in the nineteen fifties
and paved the way for other iconicLas Vegas properties like The Mirage and the
Luxer. As Las Vegas continues toevolve and reinvent itself, it is important
to remember the pioneers like the Tropicanathat helped shape the city's identity. The
hotel's story is a reminder that evenin a city built on change and impermanence,

(08:22):
some things endure. The Tropicana's legacyof entertainment, luxury, and escape
will forever be a part of LasVegas history, even as the city moves
forward into a new era. Inthe end, the Tropicana's closure is a
bittersweet moment for Las Vegas. Whilethe loss of such an iconic property is
undoubtedly sad, it is also anopportunity to reflect on the city's rich history

(08:46):
and the role that hotels like theTropicana played in shaping it. The Tropicana
may be gone, but its spiritwill live on in the memories of those
who experienced its magic and in theenduring allure of Las Vegas itself. As
the Tropicana's final curtain falls, webid farewell to a true Las Vegas icon.
The hotel's legacy will forever be apart of the city story, a

(09:09):
testament to the power of entertainment,the allure of escape, and the enduring
appeal of the desert oasis that isLas Vegas. While the future may be
uncertain, one thing is clear.The Tropicana's place in Las Vegas history is
secure, and its memory will continueto inspire and captivate for generations to come.
Thanks for listening to Quiet. Pleaseremember to like and share wherever you

(09:30):
get your podcasts.
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