#apache hotel

1932, with signs installed at Apache Hotel.

Timeline

'05: Property bought by W.R. Thomas, begins building a hotel in ‘10, abandons the project, leaving exposed open basement through the 20s.

'31: P.O. Silvagni buys the property, begins building with new plans. A.L. Worswick, architect.

Apache Hotel era:

'32: Mar. 19 - Apache Hotel opens. The hotel opened with air conditioning, and an elevator. Apache was leased to R.R. Russell for 15 years. Silvagni opens a series of clubs in the basement in ‘32-34 - Apache Indian Village, Kiva Club, and ‘Pache Club. "Hotel Apache" neon sign added to the Fremont St side of the building above the 2nd floor some time in 1932.

'32: Oct. - Apache Casino, a separate business, opens on the ground floor by Pop Houskey, T. Thebo.

'41: New Western Casino on the ground floor in Jul.; closed Spring ‘42.

'42: Forester Jewelers on the ground floor (10/1/42-7/28/44).

'45: S.S. Rex Club on the ground floor, opened 3/3/45. Partners include T. Cornero, Silvagni, W. Alderman. Sign by Nevada Outdoor Advertising. City orders partners including owner/landlord Silvagni out in Jun; G. McAfee licensed to take over the club in Jul. The "S.S." was dropped from the club name on paper post-Cornero, but the signs never changed.

'46: Rex Club sold to M. Bernstein in Feb; M. Sedway as manager; casino becomes Eldorado Club in Aug, Sedway continues as manager.

'47: Apache Hotel rooftop sign installed (c. late ‘47), and the 1932 sign is removed. Arthur Rozen and Ed Moss take over management at Eldorado Club.

'50: Eldorado closed in Dec. The club reopened as Clover Club circa Jan.-Feb ‘51 with Eldorado sign in place.

'51: May, Benny Binion buys and closes Clover Club. Eldorado sign removed from marquee that month as renovations to the club begin.

Horseshoe Club era:

‘51: Horseshoe Club opens on the ground floor 8/14/51.

‘52: “Benny Binion” name added to the Horseshoe sign c. May, after Binion is licensed.

‘53: Binion loses license in Dec. after federal conviction; casino is owned, on paper, by new partners Joe W. Brown, W. Dorsett, Robert “Doby Doc” Caudill; Binion name removed from the sign in late ‘53 or early ‘54.

'54: Apache Hotel expands for the first time with an annex building on North 2nd St. An alley separates the main building and the annex.

‘54: Dec. 10, Grand opening of Horseshoe's Million Dollar Display, and a new restaurant and bingo room in the annex building.

'57: Mar. 17, Binion released from prison, returns to Las Vegas.

‘58: Horseshoe Club leases Apache Hotel. Rooftop sign removed, replaced with a sign that says "Hotel," and the Apache name retired until 2019. Brown’s stake sold to Ed Levinson & Fremont Hotel partners, Levinson becomes president of Horseshoe.

‘59: Million dollar display removed, currency belonging to Joe W. Brown estate.

‘60: Jack Binion, age 22, approved as 2½% owner of Horseshoe

‘61: Neon facade installed on the building and expansion onto former Boulder Club property.

‘62: Parking garage addition, McAllister & Wagner, architect.

‘64: Binion family becomes sole shareholders of the Horseshoe, and "Binion's" is added to the marquee above "Horseshoe" in Sep.

‘69: Million Dollar Display re-introduced.

‘70: World Series of Poker begins.

‘88: Horseshoe buys The Mint in Jun; expands into the club in Jul; “Mint” lettering immediately removed from the signs; signs entirely replaced throughout Fall ‘88-early ‘89. Benny Binion statue sculpted by Deborah Copenhaver, at Casino Center & Ogden, unveiled in Nov.

‘90: Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 union workers at Binion's Horseshoe go on strike, Jan. 27 to Nov. 7.

‘98: Becky Binion Behnen sole owner of Horseshoe.

‘99: Million Dollar Display sold, removed.

‘04: Horseshoe closed after cash seizure, 1/9/2004. Sold to Harrah’s. Harrah’s retains Horseshoe brand and World Series of Poker, sells remaining assets to MTR Gaming.

Binion’s Gambling Hall era:

‘05: Hotel-casino rebranded Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel in Mar.

‘08: Casino and hotel lease sold to TLC Gaming.

‘09: Hotels closed (former Mint tower and Apache).

‘19: Older hotel reopens as Apache Hotel.

Below: Series of photos of the Apache Hotel taken in 1932 before the opening of the Apache Casino in Fall 1932.

1932, view on 2nd Street, main hotel entrance. 

1932. Small "Cafe" sign on the Fremont & 2nd corner. "Hotel" sign added to portico on the 2nd Street side.

1932. Larger "Cafe" sign on the Fremont St side. Photo by Burton Frasher Sr, Frasher Fotos # A5320. Pomona Public Library.

1932. "Air Cooled" see on the striped fabric awnings.

Circa 1932. Automobile club sign hangs from the portico on 2nd St.

Room at the Apache Hotel (undated). Bob Stoldal Collection via Review Journal.