The neon horse & cabellero from the 1956 Hacienda Hotel is now installed at the entry to Fremont East.
Welcome to InOldLasVegas.com's new website section; devoted entirely to showing the fun and excitement that awaits
you in the new 'Fremont East District' and the 'Fremont Street Experience' in modern-day Downtown Las Vegas.
The Classic El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas' Best Kept Secret. Great Values in Rooms, Food & Casino Play.
The El Cortez' new video roadsign on Las Vegas Boulevard. Plenty of free parking is available at the hotel.
The new Streamline Tower condominiums are seen in the background, located next to the El Cortez Hotel Tower.
View of the newly renovated El Cortez Hotel shows the new entry road and wide walkways leading to the Sixth
Street entrances. The recent renovation of East Fremont promotes casual strolling thru the new areas.
The original and historic El Cortez - as seen from the corner of East Fremont Street and Sixth with its
brick & mortar, ranch style design and Spanish tile roof - has been a prominent Las Vegas hotel since 1941.
Since he first bought the El Cortez in 1963, gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan has consistently provided his gaming
patrons an assortment of great comps and benefits. These benefits continue to this day to members of Jackie's Club.
If you're not already a member, make sure you sign up for the best rewards in Las Vegas the next time you visit.
The El Cortez now provides its Gambling Gourmet table-side food service for its gamers from 11am-10pm.
Voted Number one, by the Las Vegas Review-Journal's reader's poll, for the last 4 years, the El Cortez
is the winner of the 'Best in Keno', 'Best in Slots' and 'Best in Blackjack' awards based on local voting.
With 25% looser slots than the Clark County average, El Cortez provides customers the best gaming in town.
With the new addition of the designated Fremont East zone, the street in front of El Cortez has loads of
retro-designed neon signage, harking back to the classic era of giant casino signs like the Silver Slipper.
This four story, red stiletto high heel is one of four new streetscape signs recently unvieled.
Photo shows the remodeled El Cortez Hotel Tower and its new neighbor, the 150 million dollar Streamline Tower
which offers luxury high rise living and caters to young urban dwellers who wish to live near all the new nightspots in
the Fremont East District and along Third Street. If you haven't seen all that's new, come down and take a look as
soon as you can. This new district brings back the era when you could easily walk from one great location to another
without having to walk the huge distances between and inside large Strip properties. Check it out soon.
Directly in front of the El Cortez is this stunning new, full color lighted sign, known as 'the buxom
beauty in a neon bikini'. Along with the art deco Miami styling of the Streamline Tower and the colorful
new clubs, bars & eateries of East Fremont, Las Vegas locals & visitors have more to see than standard fare.
Photo of the west side of the El Cortez showing its redesign and its newly renovated 1980 room tower. The El Cortez' room
prices are the best available. Regardless of today's economy, a Las Vegas vacation is still affordable at the El Cortez.
Voted "Best Slots in Las Vegas" in 2007 and "Best Keno in Las Vegas" 2005 & 2006 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal's
readers poll, the El Cortez has long been a local's & tourist's favorite casino since its opening in 1941. Having just completed
a $20 million dollar make-over, involving complete room renovations, a casino floor remodel and updated restaurants,
the New El Cortez is the best, revitalized casino & hotel in town. In the hands of its Director (Kenny Epstein) and
Manager (Mike Nolan) the El Cortez has become the most prominent, fun-filled casino in the new Fremont East District.
With a $5 million dollar renewal of East Fremont Street, and as part of Downtown's $16 Billion dollar redevelopment,
the El Cortez is fast becoming the best and freshest 'New Kid on the Block' on world famous Fremont Street.
El Cortez' Front Desk: 702-385-5200 (for general info and to make room-reservations after 11pm)
El Cortez Rooms
Take a look at the beautiful, newly renovated rooms of the El Cortez. With a $20 million dollar renovation of
its tower, as well as its Vintage Rooms, El Cortez provides its guests with the most economical value in Vegas.
Tower rooms provide views of the entire valley, as well as great views of the Las Vegas Strip. Take a look at all
that's new. To enjoy a nostalgic and hip, new vacation in 'New-Old Downtown Vegas', try it from the El Cortez.
With room-prices averaging below $49 dollars, your next visit to Las Vegas can be your best one ever.
The new, $6 million 'El Cortez Cabana Suites' (under the guidance of its 23 year old Manager, Alexandra Epstein)
will bring a sharp, trendy place to stay - with each room built at a cost of $100,000. Cabana Suites open in Spring.
Flame's Dining Menu
El Cortez' new, fine dining restaurant - The Flame - now occupies the long time, Las Vegas favorite - Roberta's.
This cozy, romantic, intimate and well staffed restaurant provides a delightful dining experience for locals & tourists.
Their Alaskan King Crab is flown in fresh and is always adjustably priced at the lowest rates in the USA due to the
Gaughan family's long established relationship with one of America's best suppliers.
Other superb seafood dishes are: fresh Australian Lobster Tails, Atlantic Salmon & Shrimp, Walleyed Pike & Chilean Bass.
The Flame's grilled specialties are their Colorado Lamb & Pork Chops, 20 oz Porterhouse, 14 oz New York Strip Steaks,
8 oz Filet Mignon and my own personal favorite, 20 oz 'King of Steaks' Ribeye. Prime Rib is cooked, to perfection, as
18 oz King Cuts or 12 oz Queen Cuts. Excellent salads, gourmet sauces, side dishes & desserts are also served.
Flame Restaurant Phone: 385-5200
Cafe Cortez' Menu
Cafe Cortez has the most comfortable & lively 24 hour dining in all of Downtown's Fremont Street. They offer great food
deals and caring, happy & professional waitresses. Their full menu is available, around the clock, on Fridays & Saturdays.
Their 'Mr. Porterhouse' and 'Prime Rib' Specials have been well known, locals' favorites for over 48 years.
Great 'Graveyard Specials' are avilable from 11PM-7AM. You'll love the food, service, prices & atmosphere.
Jackie Gaughan, the 88 year old gaming pioneer, is the central, living figure in Old Las Vegas History. He's been a dominant
force in Las Vegas since its Glitter Gulch heyday. In the 1970s Gaughan held more gaming licenses than any other person in Nevada.
Along with 92 year old Kirk Kerkorian, Jackie Gaughan is one of Las Vegas' most influential founders. No other person alive
has lived in the very center of Las Vegas history the way Jackie Gaughan has - since he started running casino operations
even 15 years before Kerkorian entered the Las Vegas scene in the mid-1960s. Plus Jackie learned Las Vegas from the ground
up in the very heart of Downtown's action packed, early casinos with guidance from Las Vegas' earliest pioneer; John Houssels.
To this very day, Steve Wynn gives due credit to Jackie for helping him get his start at the Golden Nugget in the early 1970s.
Jackie Gaughan has owned or operated many major Las Vegas establishments through his career, starting with the Boulder
Club, the Flamingo, both the Saratoga & Derby Sports Books, the Las Vegas Club, the historic El Cortez, the
Golden Nugget, the Showboat, the Ambassador Motel, Western Casino, Union Plaza and Gold Spike.
Now, in semi-retirement, Jackie still lives at the El Cortez and can still be seen walking the
casino floor or playing poker with El Cortez guests almost every single day .
1963 photo of Jackie Gaughan and Heavyweight boxing champion, Floyd Patterson.
The History of John 'Jackie' Gaughan
John D. Gaughan (AKA "Jackie") was born in Omaha, Nebraska October 24, 1920. During his boyhood Jackie's father and
Uncle Eddie Barrick were part owners of a legal casino in Carter Lake, Nebraska. It was there where Jackie started learning
the gaming business. Having a special talent in handicapping he began taking legitimate horse racing and sports bets.
Gaughan graduated from Creighton University in the early 1940s. He majored in accounting and received a commerce degree.
After college, Jackie enlisted in the military when WW2 started and was a member of the Army Air Corps. Around 1943 he
was stationed at both the Tonopah and Las Vegas Airbases where he trained gunners for the Air Corps' B-17 bombers.
Changes in Mid-West gaming led his family to pursue gaming interests in Las Vegas in 1950. According to Jackie "all the
early people in gaming in Nevada came from where they had gaming in other places..Stubenville, Omaha, and Palm Springs".
After the war and the birth of his two sons (Michael and Jackie, Jr ) Jackie and his wife Roberta moved to
Las Vegas, in 1951, to take part in the post-war heyday of Downtown LV.
In partnership with his Uncle Eddie, Jackie bought a 3% interest in the old downtown Boulder Club. Soon after he bought a 3% interest
in the Flamingo on the LV Strip. In 1953, Gaughan met Mel Exber, a fellow Las Vegas sports-book competitor and also a former WW2
Air Corps soldier who'd arrived in Vegas in 1947. The two soon joined forces and become business partners and lifelong friends.
Together they became the Dynamic-Duo of Downtown Las Vegas, opening the Saratoga & Derby Sports Book together on First Street.
After the 19-year-old Las Vegas Club closed its doors in 1960, Exber bought the property and moved its operations across the street
to its current site at Main and Fremont Streets. After the success of their Las Vegas Club, Jackie and Mel purchased the El Cortez
from J. Kell Houssels for 4 milion dollars and immediately began implementing innovative promotions such as Fun Books, comped
meal rewards, and unique contests such as 'The Social Security Contest' and 'Wild Card Contest'.
Thru over 45 years operating the El Cortez, Jackie's motto has been: "Give the customers a good deal, and they'll come back".
Jackie's approach to offering his customers full values, plus loose and exciting game play, earned him a loyal following among
local players as well as tourists from around the globe. Low room rates, great meal prices, cash back for slot play and one of
the friendliest staffs in Vegas, have kept people coming back week after week and year after year.
Now, at 88, Jackie is still as sharp as a tack & remains a vital part of the El Cortez atmosphere & of Las Vegas development.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
1957 view of the El Cortez. The roof sign was installed around 1952 and still remains to this very day.
For a real nostaglic taste of classic & vintage Las Vegas take a look inside the living history of El Cortez.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
Early 1940s view of the El Cortez just a few years after its 1941 opening. Notice the earlier letter 'C' roof sign,
which was replaced by the much larger El Cortez sign sometime around 1952 when its marquee sign was added.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
The history of the El Cortez is filled with Las Vegas legends and lore. Before Jackie Gaughan purchased the hotel in 1963,
it was owned by some of the most famous people associated with Las Vegas history and the early days of Old Downtown.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
Early History of the El Cortez
John Kell Houssels was one of the earliest casino owners in Las Vegas. Born in 1895, he was 36 when gambling was legalized and
became one of the first people to obtain a casino license in 1931 for his small Las Vegas Club. Thru the years his gaming expertise and
holdings increased. At a time when most downtown casinos were designed as mere store fronts, John Houssels joined forces with Los
Angeles architect and developer Marion Hicks and John Grayson to build Fremont Street's first casino-hotel, the El Cortez.
Their quarter million dollar casino opened in November 1941 with a casino floor, hotel rooms, restaurant and cafe as well as a floor
show. Soon after the El Cortez opened, John Grayson sold his share of the hotel to Thomas Hull (the California hotelman who had
just finished building the El Rancho on the Las Vegas Strip). The other shareholder, Marion Hicks, also soon sold his portion of
the hotel and went on to later open the 1948 Thunderbird and 1953 Algiers Motel.
In December 1945, Houssels & his partners sold the El Cortez to a Mid-West group that included Gus Greenbaum, Moe Sedway, &
Ben Siegel (later investors in the 1946 Flamingo) & Dave Berman (1955 Riviera). Just a few months later, the new owners asked Houssels
to take back over and he leased the casino from them with Ray Salmon of Utah. Within a few more months, the Mid-West group sold the
El Cortez property back to Houssels & his new partner and the Mid-West group went on to fund the building of the 1946 Flamingo.
By May 1946 Houssels and Salmon announced a $250,000 expansion of the El Cortez and added a new nightclub, a four-story wing,
a swimming pool and a new cafe and barber shop. Around 1952 Houssles took on a new partner, the architect William Moore who
owned the (1942) Last Frontier Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and the El Cortez added its famous roof sign, neon arrow and marquee.
John Houssels, being 25 years older than Jackie Gaughan acted as an older advisor and mentor and sold several of his properties
to Jackie in his later years. Among the properties Gaughan would purchase from Houssels were the Las Vegas Club, the Showboat
and the El Cortez. In 1963, at the age of 68, he sold the El Cortez to Jackie Gaughan, who owned and successfully operated the
hotel from 1963 until his semi-retirement in 2007. During Jackie's many years on the Las Vegas scene, he has been a trememdous
innovator in gaming and the development of Las Vegas. Someday his full story may be told.
Photo Courtesy of the 2005 Las Vegas Centennial Committee. Enhancement by Camden Co.
This 1949 photo shows Downtown Las Vegas at Fremont and Second Street. Jackie Gaughan would be involved in the
Golden Nugget, the Boulder Club (seen on right) and the owner of the Las Vegas Club (right rear) with partner Mel Exber.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
In 1950 Jackie Gaughan bought a 3% interest in the (1946) Flamingo Hotel, though his main interests were downtown.
This 1960 photo shows the Mid-Century era of Downtown Fremont Street. The Boulder Club is seen (right) just behind the neon
horseshoe sign in front of Binions. The Las Vegas Club is seen (back right) having the tallest neon sign on Fremont Street.
1954 photo of tourists (Elton and Lorraine Beard) standing on the Golden Nugget's sidewalk, across the street
from the Boulder Club. Jackie Gaughan, purchased a 3% interest in the Boulder Club, shortly after moving to
Las Vegas with his wife & sons in 1951. The Boulder Club opened in 1929. 1n 1931 the Apache Hotel
opened next door as the premiere hotel in Las Vegas. Gambling became legalized in Nevada that same year.
In 1932, the Meadows Hotel & Casino would open as the first hotel-casino complex built in Las Vegas. It opened
at the far-east end of Fremont Street and Charleston. After the completion of Hoover Dam, The Meadows lost the
patronage of the workers from the dam and later closed due to fire.
It would take until 1941 before another hotel-casino would open in Las Vegas. The El Cortez Hotel would open, on
East Fremont, in 1941. That same year the original El Rancho Motel-Casino opened on the Los Angeles Highway
and San Francisco Street (now Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Ave).
Although the Apache Hotel opened ten years earlier than the El Cortez, it did not install a casino until 1944, when
the former Meadows Club owner (Tony Cornero) installed his S.S. Rex Casino in the Apache's ground floor.
The S. S. Rex would later be replaced by the Eldorado, the Horseshoe & Binions. Meanwhile, the El Cortez was
the only downtown hotel built specifically to provide its guests with a casino & remained the premiere hotel.
In 1956 the Fremont Hotel opened, followed by the 4 Queens in 1966, Union Plaza and the Mint tower in 1971.
Steve Wynn added hotel rooms to the Golden Nugget in 1977. But, it was the El Cortez that was the first hotel-casino
complex built on downtown's Fremont Street. It's history spans 68 years.
1954 photo of tourist (Elton Beard) standing in front of the Las Vegas Club. The Nevada Hotel is seen across
the street, far right (Golden Gate Casino would open there in 1955). The Monte Carlo Club (formerly the
Northern Club and now The Bayou) is seen just beyond, along with the Pioneer's 1951 Vegas Vic sign.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
The Las Vegas Club was opened in 1930 by John Kell Houssel (one of Las Vegas' earliest gaming licensees) next to the Overland
Hotel in the former location of the small 'Smoke House Tobacco Shop'. Jackie Gaughan bought the Las Vegas Club in 1961 along
with Mel Exber and Larry Hazlewood. Later they would expand the Las Vegas Club all the way to the corner of Main Street.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
1970s view of Fremont Street looking east down Fremont from the new Union Plaza Hotel. From Jackie Gaughan's early days
of opening the Ambassador Motel, on 1954s' bustling East Fremont Street's Motel Row, to his 1961 purchase of the Las Vegas
Club (left), his 1963 purchase of El Cortez, his 1965 purchase of the Western Casino, his acquisition of the Showboat
Hotel and his later purchase of the (1971 built) Union Plaza Hotel, and Golden Spike Casino - Jackie Gaughan has been
actively involved in leading city efforts towards the continued improvement of Downtown Las Vegas.
After promoting the construction of Downtown's 1995 'Fremont Street Experience', he, along with his El Cortez successors,
Kenny Epstein and Mike Nolan, helped get the 16 billion dollar redevelopment of Downtown well on its way. The Fremont East
District has brought great new progress to the area which will continue far into the future. (More about 'Fremont East' below).
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
Early 70s' view of Fremont Street, looking eastward from the Las Vegas Club, all the way to the far east end of Fremont Street.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
The Union Plaza Hotel was built on the former site of Las Vegas' 1905 train depot and opened in 1971.
In 1992 the name was changed to 'Jackie Gaughan's Plaza Hotel'.
InOldLasVegas.com Collection - Graphic Restoration & Enhancement by Camden Communications.
The East Fremont District as seen circa 1972. El Cortez' turquoise, neon arrow 'Gambling' sign is seen on right.
East Fremont Street's entrance and the new street scene of Downtown, east of Las Vegas Boulevard.
The El Cortez is seen just one block down (left), from the Entry Arch at LV BLVD (formerly 5th Street).
The Fremont East District has four new streetscape, 40 foot tall retro neon signs. These two are the Martini
Glass and the New Vegas Boomerang. The other two are the Bikini Girl and the Red Stiletto (seen further below).
Westward view of the start of the Fremont East District. The Fremont Street Experience canopy is just across
Las Vegas Boulevard. The new Fremont Square shopping and entertainment complex is seen at right. It houses
the Neon Museum, a bowling alley, several restaurants and two art galleries.
The Fremont East District extends beyond the Sixth Street El Cortez Hotel. Assorted nightclubs, shops and
restaurants are set from South Third Street all the way to Eighth Street. The entire area from Eighth to Main
Street is filled with unique nightclubs, shops, eateries and mall vending stands. If you're staying at the
El Cortez, over 100 exciting establishments are all within easy walking distance.
Locals are smart to park, eat and gamble a bit at the El Cortez - and then head out for a stroll thru the
district's lounges, stores and music spots. At night's end, Cafe Cortez' Graveyard Menu has great food
specials. On both Friday and Staurday nights, Cafe Cortez serves their full-menu items, 24 hours.
Several music venues can be found within 40 yeards of the Neon Martini Glass. The Fremont East District
is popular among nearby residents of the new Streamline Luxury Condo Towers (seen in background).
Plaques, commemorating Downtown historical moments, are embedded in the East Fremont Street sidewalks.
This street-plaque is at the front entrance to El Cortez.
The Beauty Bar is a popular live music venue and nightclub. Martinis & Manicures.
With clubs in New York, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Austin and now - Las Vegas.
New Year's Eve, Peace Frog (Jim Morrison Tribute), Dopamine Flux, Hockey, Ours, Random Eye, Lips Like Morphine, Ben Bear,
Nancy Silva Project, Eagles of Death Metal, Moshka, The Start, Ultraklystron & Nursehella,, The Day After, Dynasty Rockers,
Kobra Ghodsi & The Fringe, Get Back, Ours, sidewalk video, James Henninger (painter), Tokyo Police Club , Beauty Contest,
Tokyo Police Club, Alta Revere, Miss Exotic, Contest, Lips Like Morphine, street video, Ultra Violet, customer video, Idyllists,
32 videos will play in sequence or you can advance to any video by clicking it.
Business owners who wish to open establishments in the East Fremont District can download this
informative PDF Marketing Guide & Visual Improvement Plan and take advantage of certain
city funding for the visual improvement of your qualified business establishment.
Click Photos Below to Visit My Other Webpages
WEST VEGAS
A Photo-Guide to the Life & Architecture of West Las Vegas - from Erik Wunstell