1906--1955
- W. E. Ferron's Las Vegas Pharmacy in the Thomas Building 1906--1920
- Dr. Royce "Roy" Wood Martin's 12 bed hospital (upstairs) 1952--1954
- La Bonita Hotel (upstairs)
05-25-1956--11-30-1956 - Silver Palace (1) (Hicks et al) 04-24-1958--06-30-1959 - Silver Palace (2) (Hicks et al) 04-27-1961--10-27-1963 - Silver Palace (3) (Lewis et al) 10-28-1963--04-??-1964 - Silver Palace (4) (Lewis et al)
The
first casino to open at the corner of Fremont and First streets debuted
on May 25th 1956. Called the Silver Palace, it was noteworthy for being
one of the larger clubs in town, at 16,000 square feet, with 200 slot
machines, three dice tables, five 21 tables, one roulette wheel, and
keno. The 70-foot V-shaped bar featured such musical groups as the Four
Jockers, Dianne Lefti and Her Right Hand Men, and the Al DePauliss
Quartet. Most importantly, it was the first two-level joint in Las Vegas
and the escalator connecting the casino with the restaurant was the
first in southern Nevada.
Later, the
Silver Palace became the Carousel, which was featured in the Bond movie
Diamonds are Forever. In 1974 it became the Gamblers Hall of
Fame. A few years later, it turned into the Sundance West. And in 1981,
it was taken over by Herb Pastor, who renamed it Sassy Sally’s. In 1991.
Sassy Sally’s became Mermaids, known for serving deep-fried Twinkies and
Oreos, in 2001. (In one of the Las Vegas Sun articles about it at
the time, the escalator was referred to as "motor stairs.")
1964--1968
- Marty's Carousel 1968--1972
- McLaney's Carousel 5-16-1974--1-9-1976
- Gamblers Hall of Fame 07-01-1976--03-31-1980
- Sundance West 04-02-1980--1993
- Sassy Sally's (Herb Pastor) 1993--Now - Mermaids
32 East Fremont Street has a storied history. It was opened in 1906 as
the Las Vegas Pharmacy, in 1956 as the Silver
Palace, then in 1964 became Marty's Carousel and in 1964 became McLaney's Carousel. In 1974 it became the Gamblers Hall of Fame, then in 1976 the Sundance West,
then in 1980 Sassy Sally's. In 1993 it came to be known by the name it bears today, Mermaids.
Unlike the previous casinos, Sassy Sally's and Mermaids did/do not have
table games, only slot machines. One feature of Mermaids is the two
pretty greeters dressed up like Carmen Miranda at the front door handing
out Mardi Gras bead necklaces. Mermaids also serves the best sausages and
hot dogs on Fremont Street.
From the 1950s through 1964
Louigi’s Broiler shared the building. It was reported to be one of the hangouts for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Nat King Cole.
1906-1955 - W. E. Ferron's Las Vegas Pharmacy
In June 1906, Martin moved his hospital to a suite of offices upstairs in the Thomas
Building at First and Fremont streets. It was a great improvement with a dozen beds,
a private room, and a pharmacy. In 1911, Martin and his colleague, Dr. H.H. Clark,
remodeled the facility. It then boasted its own heating plant, electric fans and
appliances, X-Ray machine and a kitchen. From about 1906-1920, the upper story served as a 12 bed hospital run by
Dr. Roy Martin.
Picture is from a postcard dated 1944.
In the late 1940s the Pioneer Club Casino erected a sign on the roof.
1962-1971
-
1906--1955
- W. E. Ferron's Las Vegas Pharmacy in the Thomas Building
1906-1955 - W. E. Ferron's Las Vegas Pharmacy
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