ONLINE GAMBLING AND CASINO GUIDE

Yesterday, I drove over to the northwest part of Downtown to get some parting shots of the Moulin Rouge Casino.  Literally.

Earlier this week, approval was given to destroy what is left of the somewhat mysterious property, and the lot on which it sits is expected to be cleared shortly.

As much as I would love to regale you with anecdotes about my experiences at this property, I’ve obviously never been inside of the place.  Hell, even though I am surrounded by old-timers in this neighborhood, not a single one of them has a tale about visiting the Moulin Rouge.  The only thing I know about the place is what I have read online, and even that is not a whole hell of a lot.  There is so little known about the casino that it’s kind of spooky.

Last year, a fire raged through the property, and I was one of the first people to arrive on the scene. I saw smoke begin to billow as I was driving east on Fremont Street, and I followed the plumes and captured what was perhaps the beginning of the end for the structure.  As you can imagine, rumor around town was that the fire was intentionally started by the owners of the property, and this is probably still the prevailing belief, but it is just a rumor.

(Moulin Rouge: Interview with a Resident)

Until last year, I did not know much about the Moulin Rouge (I still don’t), but the little that I did learn fascinates me.

First of all, the Moulin Rouge was the nation’s first integrated hotel and casino.  All of the other hotels in Las Vegas were off-limits to black people unless they were workers in the hotels.

Second, and most interesting, even though it has been standing for over 50 years, it was only open for a few months.  The Moulin Rouge opened in May of ’55, closed in November of ’55, and declared bankruptcy in December of ’55.  With the exception of a one-off event in 1960, the place has been closed ever since.  I guess the town wasn’t prepared to embrace diversity.

Lastly, word has it that our very own mayor, Oscar Goodman, celebrated his 78th birthday at the Moulin Rouge one short month before it declared bankruptcy.  (98er disclaimer:  It was a joke.  A joke about Oscar Goodman being old.)

“Dear Vegas Rex,

You said that Oscar Goodman celebrated his 78th birthday at the Moulin Rouge in 1955 but you lied because Oscar Goodman was born in 1939 and I love Oscar and don’t think you should make fun of him since you’re just jealous and you think you’re being funny but you are not funny at all Ellen DeGeneres is funny but not you because you never tell knock knock jokes and I’m never going to read you again because my wife says you’re sexist and you probably have a small dick and I am smarter than you because I graduated eighth in my class at Devry University and why can’t you be more like Jane Austen now there was a writer who really knew her stuff and she didn’t need to resort to using profanity to get her point across and watch your back Vegas Rex because next time I see you I WILL CUT YOU!”

Seriously, if Steve Wynn sends me the above email one more time, he’s going to have a lawsuit on his hands.   (98er disclaimer:  Steve Wynn doesn’t really email … never mind.)

In any event, I stocked up on the last photos I will ever be able to take of the ill-fated property, and then drove home through the surprisingly attractive housing projects of West Las Vegas.  If you have any desire for some parting memorabilia from this iconic property shrouded in mystery (I think photos are all you get at this point), obtain them while you still can.  The last call has been sounded.

Rest in peace Moulin Rouge.

We hardly knew ye.

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