Hughes Tool Company
Who was the owner of Landmark (hotel and casino) from 1969 to 1973?
Landmark ( hotel and casino ) The Landmark was a hotel and casino located in Paradise , Nevada , east of the Las Vegas Strip and across from the Las Vegas Convention Center . The resort included a 31-floor tower , inspired by the design of the Space Needle tower in Seattle . Frank Caroll , the projects original owner , purchased the property in 1961 . Fremont Construction began work on the tower that September , while Caroll opened the adjacent Landmark Plaza shopping center and Landmark Apartments by the end of the year . The towers completion was expected for early 1963 , but because of a lack of financing , construction was stopped in 1962 , with the resort approximately 80 percent complete . Up to 1969 , the topped-off tower was the tallest building in Nevada until the completion of the International Hotel across the street . In 1966 , the Central Teamsters Pension Fund provided a $5.5 million construction loan to finish the project , with ownership transferred to a group of investors that included Caroll and his wife . The Landmarks completion and opening was delayed several more times . In April 1968 , Caroll withdrew his request for a gaming license after he was charged with assault and battery against the projects interior designer . The Landmark was put up for sale that month . Billionaire Howard Hughes , through Hughes Tool Company , purchased the Landmark in 1969 at a cost of $17.3 million . Hughes spent approximately $3 million to add his own touches to the resort before opening it on July 1 , 1969 , with 400 slot machines and 503 hotel rooms . In addition to a ground-floor casino , the resort also had a second , smaller casino on the 29th floor ; it was the first high-rise casino in Nevada . Aside from the second casino , the five-story cupola dome at the top of the tower also featured restaurants , lounges , and a night club . During the 1970s , the Landmark became known for its performances by country music artists . The resort also played host to celebrities such as Danny Thomas and Frank Sinatra . However , the resort suffered financial problems after its opening and underwent several ownership changes , none of which resulted in success . The Landmark entered bankruptcy in 1985 , and ultimately closed on August 8 , 1990 , unable to compete with new megaresorts . The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority purchased the property in September 1993 , and demolished the resort in November 1995 , to add a 2,200-space parking lot for its convention center . In 2019 , work was underway on a convention center expansion which includes the former site of the Landmark . History . Frank Caroll , also known as Frank Caracciolo , was a building developer from Kansas City . In 1960 , he and his wife Susan decided to construct a hotel-casino and shopping center in Las Vegas . Frank Caroll received a gaming license that year . In 1961 , the Carolls purchased of land at the northwest corner of Convention Center Drive and Paradise Road in Paradise , Nevada , approximately half a mile east of the Las Vegas Strip and across from the Las Vegas Convention Center . Aside from a gas station , the property was vacant . Construction ( 1961–68 ) . Commencement . The Landmark was initially planned as a 14-story hotel with a casino , although the floor count increased as the project progressed . Fremont Construction , owned by Louis P . Scherer of Redlands , California , began construction of the tower at the end of September 1961 , under a $1.5 million contract . Frank Carolls company , Caroll Construction Company , also worked on the tower . At the start of construction , the tower was to include 20 stories , while completion was planned for early 1963 . The tower was built on a five-foot-thick base of concrete and steel , measuring 80 feet in diameter and resting on a base of caliche that descended 30 feet into the ground . Consolidated Construction Company was the concrete subcontractor for the tower . By December 1961 , Caroll had opened the two-story Landmark Plaza shopping center , built out in an L-shape at the base of the tower . The Landmark Apartments , with 120 units , were also built near the tower and operational by the end of 1961 . In 1962 , a bar known as Shannons Saloon and a western music radio station , KVEG , began operating in the Landmark Plaza . In addition to studios , KVEG also had its offices in the shopping center . By February 1962 , the tower was planned to include 31 floors , making it the tallest building in Nevada . While plans for a separate hotel structure were being made , work began on the tower by pouring concrete on a continuous 24-hour schedule . The concrete pour was done with a slip forming method . With 21 floors expected to be added to the tower over a 12-day period , it was expected to reach the 24th floor by the end of the month . In March 1962 , at the request of Caroll , Clark County Commissioners removed a restriction which specified that gaming licenses could only be issued for ground-level casinos , as Caroll wanted to open a casino on the second floor of the Landmarks shopping center . That month , Caroll received a $450,000 loan from Appliance Buyers Credit Corporation ( ABCC ) , a subsidiary of RCA-Whirlpool . Construction had reached the 26th floor by the end of April 1962 . Upon completion of the floor , work was to begin on the towers bubble dome . By June 1962 , ABCC loaned an additional $300,000 to Caroll , who reached his $3 million loan limit with the company . Caroll ultimately owed ABCC a total of $3.5 million . In August 1962 , the Landmark tower was designated as a civilian fallout shelter , with the capacity to hold 3,500 people after its completion . That month , work was underway on the steel framework base for the towers glass bubble dome . By September 1962 , the Landmark tower was nearing completion and had become the tallest building in Las Vegas and the state , being visible from 20 miles away . By that time , many stores in the Landmark Plaza had closed due to falling debris that included welding sparks , steel , tools , rivets , and cement . A construction delay occurred in September 1962 , when shipments of steel for the towers dome were deemed inadequate and crews had to wait for new shipments . Construction was progressing rapidly on the towers dome during October 1962 , with steel and concrete still being added to the tower . Completion was still scheduled for early 1963 . The Aluminium Division of Apex Steel Corporation Limited was contracted to install a $40,000 aluminum undershine on the towers dome , to provide a maintenance-free and clean-looking appearance for viewers on the ground . Crews used scaffolding and hoists to reach the area where aluminum sheets needed to be placed . Each day , it took crews 18 minutes to be lifted up . Due to delays arising from strong winds , it took crews two months for the aluminium to be attached . Delay . In December 1962 , construction of the tower was stopped when ABCC denied further funding and alleged that the Carolls had defaulted on payments . The 31-story tower had been topped off and the resort was approximately 80 percent complete , with $5 million already spent on the project . The towers planned opening was delayed until April 1963 , but it did not occur as scheduled . In May 1963 , ABCC was planning a sale of the apartments , shopping center , and unfinished tower for the following month . The Carolls sought to halt the sale , and filed a $2.1 million damage suit against ABCC , alleging that the company stopped construction and refused to pay the contractors . An injunction against foreclosure was granted in June 1963 , but was dissolved the following year . In October 1964 , a sale of the tower was approved for later that month , after being requested by ABCC , which was still owed $3.5 million by Landmark Plaza Corporation . Up to that time , the tower had been appraised several times and was valued between $8 million and $9 million . Ownership subsequently changed , as did the resorts design plans . In August 1965 , Maury Friedman was working on a deal with RCA Victor to convert the Landmarks tower and apartment buildings into office space . By the following month , Inter-Nation Tower , Inc . – a Beverly Hills-based corporation – was negotiating with RCA-Whirlpool to develop the tower and adjacent land as an international market place , an idea that was supported by local retailers and resorts . In December 1965 , architect Gerald Moffitt said the Landmarks design had gone through many revisions and that his design plans had been impounded by a court ; a spokesman said there were no plans to resume construction in the near future . It was estimated that an additional six months were needed to complete the tower . The unfinished tower became an eyesore for visitors to the nearby convention center . During its vacancy , people noted that the building appeared to be tilted , similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa ; experts stated that this was an illusion caused when the building was viewed with nearby power poles , which were tilted rather than the building itself . Local residents nicknamed it the Leaning Tower of Plaza , the Leaning Tower of Las Vegas , and Franks Folly . Moffitt said , It doesnt tilt . There is only three-eights of an inch difference in diameter from top to bottom . In May 1966 , early negotiations were being held with a prospective buyer of the Landmark . Resumption . In July 1966 , new design plans were filed with the county for the completion of the tower . Scherer planned to acquire additional property for use as a parking lot to accommodate the redesigned project . In August 1966 , the Central Teamsters Pension Fund provided a $5.5 million construction loan for the project . By that time , ownership had been transferred to Plaza Tower , Inc. , made up of several investors , including the Carolls and Scherer , whose construction company was awarded a $2.5 million contract to finish the Landmark tower . Because of legal problems involved with the project , the acquisition of title required over 5,000 hours of legal work and the settlement of more than 40 lawsuits . Construction was underway again in early September 1966 , with completion expected in early 1967 . The shops and taverns in the Landmark Plaza were closed , and the shopping center and gas station were demolished , so the land around the tower could be used to construct a casino , a hotel lobby , offices , and new shops . The adjacent Landmark apartments were to be converted into hotel rooms for the new resort . In November 1966 , Caroll planned to install two slot machines inside the Landmark Coffee Shop , which sold food to construction workers from inside a temporary structure that was to become the site of a permanent building eventually . Carolls plans were denied as his gaming license did not apply to the coffee shop . At the time , Caroll was also accused by sheriff Ralph Lamb of being uncooperative with police officers who were searching for a hoodlum at the Landmark Apartments . The Landmark had been scheduled to open on September 15 , 1967 , but its opening was further delayed because of construction problems . A new opening date of November 15 was announced , with an official grand opening to be held on December 31 , 1967 . In early November 1967 , Scherer was awarded a $2.2 million contract for the final construction phase of the Landmark . Construction crews worked 24 hours a day for each day of the week during the final phase to have the 650-seat dinner showroom theater ready for the planned New Years Eve opening . Also included in the final phase were clothing and jewelry shops , as well as a recreation area with swimming pools and a 20-foot waterfall . By the time of its planned New Years Eve opening , the tower was nearly complete , with an opening now scheduled for mid-January 1968 . Two groups – Plaza Tower Inc. , the propertys landlord group ; and Plaza Tower Operating Corporation , the casino operating group – submitted a request for a gaming license to the Nevada Gaming Control Board , which investigates licensees and top casino employees prior to issuing gaming licenses . The Landmarks opening did not occur as scheduled . During February and March 1968 , the Landmark was declared as being completed , although it was stated the following year that some construction work remained unfinished . At the time of its stated completion in 1968 , a total of 200,000 hours had been spent working on the project , which used 100,000 yards of concrete and 100 tons of steel . The tower occupied of the property , and remained as the tallest building in the state . Further developments ( 1968–69 ) . Gaming license . In February 1968 , an updated list of top casino employees was submitted to the gaming control board , which had up to 90 days to make a decision regarding the issuance of a gaming license . An opening date of mid-April 1968 was considered possible . In March 1968 , the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended against the issuance of a gaming license due to inadequate financial capabilities and resources of the operating corporation and of its principal investor , referring to Caroll . However , the Nevada Gaming Commission had the Gaming Control Board reevaluate the license application . On April 5 , 1968 , the Las Vegas media was given a tour of the Landmark . During the event , Caroll beat the Landmarks interior designer , Leonard Edward England , for allegedly flirting with Carolls wife . Caroll was arrested on April 17 , 1968 , on charges of assault and battery against England . On April 22 , 1968 , Caroll withdrew his request for a gaming license , a decision that was approved two days later . The company then planned to receive new financing and to eventually submit a new gaming application . Approximately 600 people were expected to be employed at the Landmark upon its opening . The Landmark was put up for sale in April 1968 , and the charges against Caroll were dropped two months later on the condition that he not renew his gaming license application . Financial problems . In May 1968 , the Teamsters Pension Fund filed a notice of breach on the trust deed , alleging that Caroll , Plaza Tower Inc . and Plaza Tower Operating had been defaulting on loan payments since October 1967 . In late August 1968 , the Las Vegas-based Supreme Mattress Company filed a lawsuit stating that it had only received $4,250 in payments for $25,505 worth of bedding material that was sold to the Landmark in December 1967 . On August 29 , 1968 , a joint petition was filed to declare the Landmark bankrupt . The petition was filed by Vegas Valley Electric , Inc. , a plumbing contractor , and Landmark architects George Tate and Thomas Dobrusky . By that time , the Teamsters Union Pension Fund agreed to delay its foreclosure until the property was sold . Simultaneously , Sylvania Electric Company had intended to foreclose on the property because of an unpaid $3.7 million bill relating to electronic equipment installed in the Landmark . The joint petition prevented Sylvania from taking over ownership of the property . Plane crash . On the night of August 2 , 1968 , Everett Wayne Shaw , a 39-year-old mechanic depressed by the break-up of his month-long marriage , stole a Cessna 180 plane as part of an apparent suicide attempt . Shaw flew the plane toward the Landmark tower and pulled up just before hitting it . The plane brushed the top of the tower before crashing into the Las Vegas Convention Center across the street , approximately away . Shaw was killed in the crash , which did not harm anyone else . Plane debris was found on the Landmarks roof and at its base , but the crash was not believed to have caused any damage to the building . Sale negotiations and Howard Hughes . In July 1968 , there were five firms interested in purchasing the Landmark , which was expected to sell for $16 million to $17 million . One of the firms , Olla Corporation , withdrew consideration of a purchase later that month , while an announcement of the resorts sale was expected within several days . Multiple companies made purchase offers that were ultimately rejected , including Rosco Industries Inc. , based in Los Angeles . On October 12 , 1968 , Caroll denied a report that the Landmark would be leased to Royal Inns of America , Inc . and operated without a casino . At the time , negotiations were underway with three corporations interested in purchasing the resort . On October 23 , 1968 , billionaire Howard Hughes reached an agreement to purchase the Landmark through Hughes Tool Company for $17.3 million , after denying reports earlier in the year that he was interested in purchasing the project . As part of the sale agreement , Hughes Hotel Properties , Inc . would accept responsibility for approximately $8.9 million owed to the Teamster Union , as well as approximately $5.9 million in other debts and a balance of $2.4 million to Plaza Tower , Inc . At the time of the agreement , Hughes also owned five other hotel-casinos in Las Vegas . The United States Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into Hughes proposed purchase , after previously investigating his attempt to purchase the Stardust Resort and Casino . As part of the investigation , the Department of Justice tried to determine whether there were other prospective buyers for the Landmark . By December 1968 , negotiations were underway with several interested firms , including a $20 million offer from Tanger Industries , a holding company based in El Monte , California . Hughes purchase and opening preparations . On January 17 , 1969 , the Department of Justice approved Hughes plan to purchase the Landmark as his sixth Las Vegas resort . Later that month , a $1.5 million lawsuit was filed against Hughes Tool Company by Pennsylvania resident James U . Meiler and New York brokerage firm John R . Roake and Son , Inc . Meiler and the brokerage firm stated that they were entitled to a $500,000 brokerage fee for previously arranging a sale of the Landmark to Republic Investors Holding Company , before Hughes Tool Company agreed to purchase it . The lawsuit alleged that Hughes Tool Company purposely and intentionally caused a restraining of interstate commerce . At the end of January 1969 , Hughes spokesmen stated that some construction on the resort was never finished ; that some maintenance systems had not yet been installed ; and that some repairs were needed . Hughes also planned to have some of the hotel rooms refurbished . Because of the additional work , the resort was not expected to open until at least July 1 , 1969 . Approximately 1,000 to 1,100 people were expected to be employed at the Landmark . The Landmark was the only casino that Hughes had taken over before it was opened . As a result , Hughes was heavily involved in details regarding the project . Hughes spent approximately $3 million to give the interior a lavish design and to add other touches to the resort , while the exterior of the Landmark buildings was left unchanged . In March 1969 , Hughes applied for approval to operate the Landmarks gambling operations , with a tentative opening date of July 1 , 1969 . Hughes planned to operate the casino through his Nevada company , Hughes Properties Inc. , which was overseen by Hughes executive Edward H . Nigro . Hughes planned for the resort to include 26 table games and 401 slot machines . Hughes purchase of the Landmark was not complete at that time , and his representatives stated that the sale would not be completed unless gambling and liquor licenses were issued by the state . In April 1969 , Hughes received approval from the Gaming Control Board and from the state . Hughes planned to personally oversee planning for the Landmarks grand opening ; Robert Maheu , who had worked for Hughes since the 1950s , said I knew from that point on that I was in trouble . He was completely incapable of making decisions . Hughes and Maheu never met each other in person due to Hughes reclusive lifestyle . Instead , they communicated by telephone and through written messages . For months , they had intense arguments regarding the Landmarks opening date . Maheu believed the Landmark should open on July 1 , 1969 , but Hughes did not want to commit to an exact date for various reasons . Across the street from the Landmark , Kirk Kerkorian was planning to open his International Hotel on July 2 , 1969 . Hughes had wanted the Landmarks grand opening event to be better than Kerkorians , but was concerned that the opening night would not go as planned . Hughes also did not want the opening date to be publicly announced too soon in the event that it should be delayed ; Hughes wrote to Maheu : With my reputation for unreliability in the keeping of engagements , I dont [ sic ] want this event announced until the date is absolutely firmly established . Additionally , Hughes wrote to Maheu : I would hate to see the Landmark open on the 1st of July and then watch the International open a few days later and make the Landmark opening look like small potatoes by comparison . Maheu became concerned , as it was difficult to plan the grand opening without knowing the date . As the tentative opening date approached , Hughes became concerned about other events scheduled for July 1969 – such as the Apollo 11 moon landing – which might distract from the publicity of the Landmarks opening . By mid-June 1969 , Hughes had still not given a definite opening date , which was still tentatively scheduled for July 1 , although Hughes had wanted the Landmark to open sometime after the International Hotel . Weeks before the tentative opening , Hughes obsessively made repeated changes to the guest list for the resorts opening night . Regarding who should be invited , Hughes had complex specifications for Maheu to follow . Maheu ultimately had to decide the guest list himself . On June 16 , 1969 , Sun Realty filed a claim against Plaza Tower , Inc. , thus delaying Hughes purchase of the Landmark and threatening its planned opening . Sun Realty alleged that it was owed a $500,000 finders fee for locating Hughes as a buyer . The case was dismissed on June 25 , 1969 . On June 30 , 1969 , Sun Realty appealed the decision but was denied that day as it was unable to post a bond that would pay the $5.8 million worth of claims , filed by approximately 120 other creditors after Plaza Towers Inc . entered bankruptcy . Hughes $17.3 million acquisition of the Landmark , through Hughes Tool Company , was completed on July 1 , 1969 , a day after Hughes issued checks to three different entities to complete the purchase : $2.5 million to Plaza Towers ; $5.8 million to fully pay unsecured creditors ; and $9 million to pay off the Teamsters Union . Opening and operation ( 1969–1990 ) . The Landmark opened on the night of July 1 , 1969 , a day before the International Hotel . The resort was first unveiled to 480 VIP guests prior to the public opening , which was scheduled for after 9:00 p.m . Apollo 10 astronauts Thomas P . Stafford and Eugene Cernan attended the grand opening , and were the first people to enter the new resort . Other guests included Cary Grant , Dean Martin , Jimmy Webb , Phil Harris , Tony Bennett , Sammy Cahn , Steve and Eydie , and Wilt Chamberlain . Nevada governor Paul Laxalt , as well as senators Alan Bible and Howard Cannon , were also at the opening . Three members of the Los Angeles Rams were also in attendance : Jack Snow , Lamar Lundy , and Roger Brown . Local , national and international media were also present for the grand opening , which was described by the Las Vegas Sun as resembling a Hollywood premiere . A closed-circuit television camera filmed the festivities in the Landmark on opening night , with the footage being shown live to guests at Hughes other hotels , the Sands and the Frontier . Hughes – who lived in a secluded penthouse at his nearby Desert Inn hotel-casino – did not attend the grand opening . For opening night , comedian Danny Thomas was the first to perform in the Landmarks theater-restaurant showroom . Hughes had earlier suggested a Rat Pack reunion or a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby reunion as the opening act , both of which were considered unlikely to happen . Television advertisements for the resort stated : In France , its the Eiffel Tower . In India , its the Taj Mahal . In Las Vegas , its the Landmark . Dick Parker , executive vice president for the Landmark , had stated during the previous year that the International and the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center would not harm the Landmarks business . The Landmark reportedly lost $5 million in its first week of operations , and despite its close proximity to the convention center , the resort failed to make a profit during the subsequent years of its operation . In October 1969 , Sun Realty filed a damages lawsuit against Hughes Tool Company and Plaza Tower , Inc , alleging that the two companies conspired to avoid paying the realty company its $500,000 finders fee . Aside from the finders fee , Sun Realty also sought an additional $5 million in punitive damages . In February 1971 , the Nevada supreme court rejected the lawsuit , which had sought $3 million by that time . In December 1971 , Hughes paid a little over $1 million to purchase of adjacent land located west of the Landmark . Hughes had previously leased the property , which he had been using as a parking lot for the resort . In January 1973 , ownership of the Landmark was transferred to Hughes Summa Corporation , formerly Hughes Tool Company . That year , the Landmark was valued at $25 million in a property appraisal . By 1974 , William Bennett and William Pennington made an offer to buy the Landmark , but Hughes raised the price several times , from $15 million to $20 million ; they bought the Circus Circus resort instead . In January 1976 , the Landmark began offering foreign-language gaming video tapes to its German , Japanese , and Spanish hotel guests , who frequently limited themselves to playing slot machines rather than table games because of language barriers . Summa general manager E . H . Milligan said , As far as we know , we are the first hotel in Las Vegas to present this service in this manner . The hotel and casino briefly closed in March 1976 , as part of a hotel worker strike consisting of nearly 25,000 employees , affecting 15 Las Vegas resorts . The strike lasted two weeks before ending in late March . Hughes died of kidney failure the following month . By May 1977 , Summa was financially struggling ; that month , the brokerage firm of Merrill , Lynch , Pierce , Fenner & Smith recommended that Summa sell its various holdings , including the Landmark . According to the brokerage firm , the Landmark has proven highly inefficient for hotel/casino operations and , in the opinion of Summa Corporations management , does not warrant further investment . Gas leak and fire . On July 15 , 1977 , shortly after 4:00 a.m. , a water pipe burst in the towers subbasement , two floors below ground level . Two feet of water flooded the basement room and shorted out the main power panel , thereby cutting out electricity for the resort shortly before 5:00 a.m . An auxiliary power generator provided lighting for the resort . However , telephones , air conditioning , and four of the towers five elevators were left non-functional because of the main power failure . Carbon monoxide , freon and methane , all originating from the auxiliary generator , infiltrated the tower through ventilation ducts , forcing an evacuation of the building . Between 9:00 a.m . and 11:00 a.m. , crews from the Southwest Gas Corporation inspected the building with firemen and found no further traces of gas , allowing guests and employees to re-enter the building . A second evacuation was ordered at 2:30 p.m . after another power failure , which rendered the elevators inoperable once again . During the outage , 21 table games remained open with the use of emergency lights , while a bar gave away free drinks . Power was restored at 6:45 p.m. , although telephones remained inoperable . Guests were given the option to stay at one of Summas other hotel properties . Despite the incident , hotel executives stated that the resort maintained 95-percent occupancy . An investigation into the cause of the gas leaks could not begin that day due to the presence of fumes in the basement . During the incident , a news reporter and a cameraman for the local KLAS-TV news channel – also owned by Summa – were beaten and forced out of the hotel lobby by Landmark guards who were armed with clubs and flashlights . Damaged in the altercation was the recording unit for a $37,000 camera owned by KLAS . Other local news crews were allowed to stay at the property to cover the incident . Orders to remove KLAS were given to the guards by hotel management , which had been irritated by recent KLAS news stories that related to Summas properties , including a story stating that negotiations were underway to sell the Landmark to an Arabian investor . A total of 138 people were hospitalized after inhaling the poisonous gases ; they were treated at four local hospitals . Among the hospitalized were nearly 100 hotel guests , and several firemen and ambulance drivers ; most of the patients were released from the hospitals within three days of the incident . A 55-year-old man was the sole casualty in the incident . An investigation into the cause of the gas leaks concluded on July 19 , 1977 , and found that a defective exhaust line on one of the emergency generators was responsible . The line had been installed during the hotels construction . John Pisciotta , director of the Clark County Building Department , did not believe that he or anyone else would be able to determine how the line became damaged . Summa brought in the company which installed the system to have it repaired . On October 23 , 1977 , at 3:44 p.m. , a two-alarm fire was reported in a hotel room on the 22nd floor , after a bartender in the 27th floor lounge smelled smoke . The entire room had caught on fire from a cigarette . The fire was extinguished with help from 45 firefighters , who put it out within five minutes of their arrival . However , the fire led to heavy smoke infiltrating the entire hotel and ground-floor through elevator shafts . The Landmark was evacuated , and hundreds of guests and employees were allowed to return inside at approximately 5:15 p.m. , after smoke had been cleared from the resorts interior . The 22nd through 27th floors had moderate smoke damage . Five hotel guests were treated for smoke inhalation , but none required hospitalization . Prospective buyers . During October 1977 , Summa was in negotiations with several prospective buyers for the Landmark , which had approximately 1,200 employees at the time . One interested buyer was a group of Chicago investors led by an attorney . Summa was also in negotiations to sell the Landmark for $12 million to Nick Lardakis , a tavern owner who lived in Akron , Ohio . Simultaneously , Summa was holding discussions with the Scott Corporation – a group of downtown Las Vegas entrepreneurs led by Frank Scott – which wanted to purchase the resort at a price of nearly $10 million . Lardakis acquisition of the Landmark was rejected that month as he was unable to raise the necessary funds to make the purchase ; according to Summa , Lardakis terms were unrealistic . The Chicago group made a $12 million offer , but Summas board of directors favored the offer by Scott Corporation , which had no down payment and included a 20-year payout period , while the Chicago group was opposed to a long-term mortgage arrangement with Summa . The Chicago group noted that Summa officials repeatedly declined to let the group examine the Landmarks 1973 property appraisal . Other $12 million offers came from Las Vegas heiress JoAnn Seigal and Beverly Hills management consultant Charles Fink . Seigal also complained that Summa would not provide her with a property appraisal to base her negotiations . The Beverly Hills-based Acro Management Consultants offered $16 million for the Landmark , the highest of five bids up to that time . Summa spokesman Fred Lewis said that Acros bid was considered more of an inquiry than a serious offer , a belief that was disputed by Leonard Gale , vice president of Acro . Gale acknowledged that the Landmark was the biggest lemon in Las Vegas , but was confident it could become a successful property under Acros ownership . After weeks of negotiations , Summa announced that no decision had been made on a sale of the Landmark , reportedly due to disagreements within the company . William Lummis , a cousin of Hughes , had been named chairman of the Summa board earlier in the year . Lummis wanted to sell all of Summas non-profitable properties , while chief operating officer Frank William Gay , citing the purported desires of Hughes , wanted to expand and modernize such properties . The Landmark was considered the weakest of Summas six gaming and hotel properties in Nevada , as it had never made a profit up to that time . Summa officials held a meeting on November 3 , 1977 , but the company made no decision on selling the Landmark , which lost an average of $500,000 per month . By that time , the Scott Corporation stated that it would likely withdraw its offer to purchase the Landmark because of inability to obtain long-term financing . In January 1978 , Summa announced that the Landmark would be sold to the Scott Corporation , with the sale price reportedly ranging between $10 million and $12 million . Up to that time , the resort had reportedly lost $15 million since its opening , despite numerous attempts to increase business . Experts believed that the Landmark suffered financially as a result of its low room-count ( 486 guest rooms at the time ) and its location across the street from the Las Vegas Hilton ( formerly the International ) , which was the worlds largest hotel at the time . Frank Scott owned downtown Las Vegas Union Plaza Hotel , which had become one of the citys most successful casinos , and he said the same management principles used at the Union Plaza would be applied to the Landmark . Scott intended to change the name of the resort , with The Plaza Tower as the favorite among several names under consideration . Scott planned to take over operations once the sale received approval from Summa , county and state gaming officials , and courts that were handling Hughes estate . Because higher offers were subsequently made for the Landmark , the Scott Corporations offer was rejected by a judge who was monitoring the Hughes estate . Wolfram/Tickel ownership . A group of midwestern investors purchased the Landmark from the Summa Corporation in February 1978 , at a cost of $12.5 million . The group was led by Lou Tickel and Zula Wolfram , and it included Gary Yelverton . The purchase was financed using money that Wolframs husband , Ed Wolfram , embezzled from his brokerage firm , Bell & Beckwith . Faye Todd , the Landmarks entertainment director and a corporate executive assistant , primarily oversaw the Landmarks operations for the Wolframs , who lived in Ohio . The Wolframs were high rollers who frequently stayed at the Desert Inn resort when visiting Las Vegas . Todd met the Wolframs while working for the Desert Inn as special events coordinator , and she became close friends with Zula Wolfram , who had been planning to purchase a Las Vegas hotel with her husband . Tickel , a former magistrate judge and a resident of Salina , Kansas , previously owned several other hotels . The group was confident that the Landmark would overcome its financial problems , and they planned to add a 750-room hotel tower to the property within two years . The sale was completed on March 31 , 1978 , under the new ownership of Zula Wofram , and Lou and Jo Ann Tickel . However , the new owners were unable to find someone with a gaming license and sufficient funds to continue operating the casino ahead of the sales completion . The investment group had yet to apply for gaming and liquor licenses , and the Summa Corporation declined to continue operating the casino , citing a lack of interest . The Landmarks casino , which had 272 employees , was closed on April 1 , 1978 , due to the lack of gaming licenses . The owners began a search for a suitable licensed individual who could temporarily operate the casino until they could receive their own gaming license . The hotel , restaurants , and shops remained open , with 700 other employees . The casino reopened on June 2 , 1978 , after a one-year gaming license had been granted to Frank Modica , a Las Vegas gaming figure who would temporarily operate the casino on the owners behalf . The casinos bingo parlor remained closed as it was undergoing renovations . In October 1978 , Tickel , Wolfram , and Yelverton were approved by the state to be licensed as the landlords of the Landmark . At the time , Ed Wolfram was listed as a financial adviser on the licensing plan . In 1979 , Jesse Jackson Jr . was the Landmark hotel manager , and was the only such manager in the Las Vegas hotel industry to be black . The Tickels remained as co-owners of the Landmark until 1980 , following Zula Wolframs approval to purchase their interest in the resort . In 1982 , architect Martin Stern Jr . was hired to design a large expansion of the Landmark . Revenue for the Landmark exceeded $26 million that year , although the resort lost $500,000 during the month of November 1982 . Up to that time , the Landmark had lost an average of $3 million every year since its opening . Federal investigators shut down Wolframs firm on February 7 , 1983 , after they discovered $36 million of money missing in six accounts that were managed by him and his wife , ultimately leading to the discovery of his embezzlement . Lawyer Patrick McGraw , trustee for Bell & Beckwith , was approved later that month to operate the Landmark until it could be liquidated . The expansion designed by Stern was cancelled , and Ed Wolfram was convicted of embezzling later that year , after admitting to using money from his firm to pay for various businesses ventures , with the Landmark being the most expensive . Zula Wolfram , who had owed $5 million to Summa since her purchase of the Landmark , was forced to sell her majority share in the resort . Morris ownership . The Landmark was entangled in a Toledo bankruptcy court in July 1983 , at which point Bill Morris , a Las Vegas lawyer , made plans to purchase the resort . Morris , also a member of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority ( LVCVA ) , had previously owned the Holiday Inn Center Strip hotel-casino , as well as the Riverside Resort in nearby Laughlin . Morris had also previously represented Plaza Tower , Inc . at the time that Hughes completed his purchase of the resort . Morris intended to eventually expand the resort to 1,100 hotel rooms . Yelverton and his wife stated that they had been sold a five-percent interest in the Landmark in 1979 , but that the document was never filed with the county recorders office . In August 1983 , the Yelvertons filed a state suit to prevent the sale to Morris , stating that they would not be compensated for their interest if the sale proceeded . At the time , Gary Yelverton was the Landmarks casino manager . The Nevada Gaming Control Board delayed approval of Morris purchase until his offer could be updated to include what Zula Wolfram owed to Summa . Morris purchased the Landmark for $18.7 million , and took over ownership on October 30 , 1983 . The struggling resort had a profitable first month under its new management . Morris worked 18 hours a day to ensure the Landmarks success . He said the Landmark had never really been given a fair chance , citing the absence of on-hands management on a day-in , day-out basis as one reason for its lack of success . Morris also believed that previous operators tried to make the Landmark do something it was not meant to do by competing with superstar productions , whereas he believed the resorts location made it more ideal for serving attendees of the Las Vegas Convention Center . The Landmark remained open while Morris spent nearly $3.5 million on a renovation , which was underway in late 1983 . Morris said the Landmark would compete against rivals with its budget prices and good service . He intended to capitalize on the resorts location with a planned expansion that would feature three 15-story towers with 1,500 hotel rooms , accompanied by a large domed family entertainment center . The expansion was to be built west of the Landmark on of vacant land that Morris had purchased along with the resort . The expansion did not occur , and the Landmark struggled throughout the 1980s . By the middle of 1985 , Morris was negotiating a $28 million loan to pay for improvements and fire safety updates for the Landmark . Clark County officials considered taking action against the resort because of its failed compliance with fire safety standards . On July 29 , 1985 , the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) filed a $2.1 million lien against the property , because of Morris failure to pay withholding and payroll taxes for the resorts employees for the previous six months . Two days after the lien was filed , the Landmark filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to prevent the IRS from seizing assets such as casino cage money . The resort remained open despite the bankruptcy filing , and the casino had enough money to remain operational . The Landmark had debts totaling $30.6 million , while it had $30.6 million in assets . Morris blamed the bankruptcy on McGraw , alleging that he derailed a $28.8 million refinancing of the Landmark 24 hours prior to the finalization of the loan . Morris said operations would continue as normal despite the bankruptcy filing . The Nevada National Bank requested in early 1986 that the bankruptcy be converted to a liquidation proceeding to pay off creditors , stating that the Landmarks bankruptcy reorganization plan could not succeed . Morris said he would have to cancel his reorganization plan and lay off 700 to 800 Landmark employees if a bankruptcy court did not allow the resort to abandon its union labor contracts . Part of Morris reorganization plan involved cutting employee wages by 15 percent , including his own yearly salary of $145,000 . The pay cut would give the Landmark an additional $6,500 per month , which would allow the resort to make its mortgage payments . Morris hoped to increase the hotels room count after the resorts eventual emergence from bankruptcy , with additional financing from a national franchise hotel chain . He hoped that the Landmark would be out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy by March 1 , 1986 , although it would ultimately remain in bankruptcy for the rest of its operation . In January 1987 , a small fire broke out in the resorts showroom , located next to the casino . Five employees were evacuated , and there were no injuries . Customers in the casino were unaware of the fire , which was quickly extinguished by the local fire department . The fire was determined to have likely been caused by an arsonist . In July 1987 , the Landmark began offering poker tournaments in its Nightcap Lounge each weekday night . To help bring in customers , two cash drawings were held during each tournament . Morris and bank company Drexel Burnham Lambert began a search in 1989 for a new owner to take over the Landmark . At the end of the year , a U.S . bankruptcy court judge gave Morris until 1990 to find a buyer or refinancing . Otherwise , the Landmark would be liquidated to pay off creditors , in accordance with a court order . On January 2 , 1990 , the Landmark was ordered into Chapter 7 bankruptcy after a judge ruled that the creditors would not be able to receive compensation under the reorganization plan . Between $43 million and $46 million was owed to various creditors . Morris gaming license expired that month after the resort failed to pay $500,000 in taxes and penalties . Richard Davis , a Las Vegas-based real estate agent , was appointed by the bankruptcy court that month to temporarily operate the resort . On February 21 , 1990 , the Nevada Gaming Commission extended the gaming license and allowed the resort to stay open for at least two additional weeks while its financial problems were analyzed by state experts . At that time , the hotel had $562,000 in cash , including $175,000 in revenue that had accumulated in the prior six weeks . The Landmark continued to struggle , although the introduction of various casino programs helped improve revenue . A U.S . bankruptcy court judge approved a request for the Landmark to be sold seven weeks later in a public auction scheduled for August 6 , 1990 . The request was made by Davis , who cited numerous failed attempts to sell the resort . More than 200 prospective buyers had inquired about the Landmark , but only five to ten of them were considered as having serious interest in the resort . In July 1990 , two Denver businessmen , David M . Droubay and Martin Heckmaster , offered $35.5 million to purchase the bankrupt resort . Morris was dissatisfied with the offer , stating that the property had been appraised as high as $70 million . Closure ( 1990–95 ) . On August 6 , 1990 , the bankruptcy hearing failed to attract a buyer for the Landmark . Ralph Engelstad and Charles Frias , who both held substantial interest in the resort , had made $100,000 deposits which allowed them to bid at the hearing , but they did not do so and left the hearing without commenting . Droubay and Heckmaster were ineligible to bid as they did not make a deposit . At the request of Davis attorney , a U.S . bankruptcy judge granted permission to close the Landmark . Gaming operations began shutting down that afternoon , within an hour of the failed hearing . Slot machine and hotel operations were scheduled to shut down later in the week . With 498 rooms at the time , the Landmark was unable to compete with new megaresorts , and was fully closed on August 8 , 1990 . Morris , upset about the failed auction , said , Sometimes it comes down to good luck and bad luck . I had nothing but bad luck . Someone is going to come in and run the Landmark and look like a genius . Forrest Woodward , who managed the casino for Davis , said , This is just an obsolete gaming property that no ones interested in , considering the debt , which included $48 million ; a portion of that was $10 million in unsecured claims . Davis attorney predicted the Landmark would be closed for 100 days or more while creditors pursued a foreclosure sale . A week after the closure , Davis received permission from the U.S . bankruptcy court to abandon the property as trustee , due to the cost of maintaining security at the closed resort . Davis attorney said it would cost between $60,000 and $200,000 each month to maintain the property . Creditors would be left to pay bills relating to the property until a foreclosure sale could take place . In December 1990 , the property was purchased through a foreclosure sale by Lloyds Bank of London for $20 million . Lloyds Bank made the purchase in order to protect a $25 million loan it had made to Morris in 1988 . By March 1993 , the Landmarks contents had been liquidated through a sale conducted by National Content Liquidators . By July 1993 , representatives of Lloyds Bank had approached the LVCVA about the possibility of purchasing the Landmark . LVCVA was interested in the proposal , with plans to use the Landmarks 21-acre property either for a parking lot or expansion . LVCVA purchased the Landmark in September 1993 , at a cost of $15.1 million . During 1994 , board members of LVCVA debated on whether to restore the Landmark or demolish it , ultimately deciding on the latter . Only three LVCVA board members voted to save the building . Among those voting in support was Lorraine Hunt , who later said that the Landmark was iconic and part of the history of Las Vegas . Had they kept it , it could have been the office for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority . Demolition . LVCVA paid $800,000 for asbestos removal in the tower . Central Environmental Inc . was hired to remove the asbestos , while AB-Haz Environmental , Inc . was the asbestos removal consultant . In mid-1994 , AB-Haz Environmental began removing asbestos insulation from the Landmark . The removal , scheduled for completion in August 1994 , took nearly six months . In October 1994 , it was announced that the Landmark would be demolished the following month to make way for a 21-acre parking lot , to be used by the Las Vegas Convention Center . Demolition of the tower was delayed several times , to allow for the removal of additional asbestos . The Clark County Health District proposed penalties against the asbestos companies . By February 1995 , AB-Haz had twice declared the Landmark to be asbestos-free and safe for demolition , although Clark County officials discovered that some hotel floors still contained 90 percent of the asbestos . Up to that time , LVCVA had already paid a total of $1 million to the asbestos companies to have the asbestos removed from the hotel and an adjacent apartment complex , allowing for their demolition . The Clark County Air Pollution Control Division recommended a $450,000 fine against AB-Haz for failure to remove the asbestos , while LVCVA would have to spend an additional $1 million for further asbestos removal . AB-Haz was ultimately cited for violating air emission standards during the asbestos removal , and signed a settlement in which the company agreed to pay an $18,000 fine . Central Environmental was removing asbestos from the tower as of August 1995 . Because of previous delays , officials for LVCVA had given up on setting a demolition date until all the asbestos was removed . In October 1995 , LVCVA paid Iconco Inc . $740,000 to remove remaining asbestos from the resort , hoping to have it demolished in time for ConExpo to be held on the propertys new parking lot in March 1996 . Controlled Demolition , Inc . ( CDI ) was hired to implode the tower . No blueprints could be found for the tower , which CDI president Mark Loizeaux considered unusual . Demolition crews discovered secret stairwells in the tower , and Loizeaux said , We have learned everything as we have gone in . It was a very strange structure , very unique . A week before the Landmark tower was demolished , crews removed the remaining asbestos from the low-rise structures and subsequently tore them down . Crews then spent the final days of demolition by drilling in the tower to weaken and prepare it ahead of its planned implosion . Less than 100 pounds of dynamite was placed in certain locations throughout the towers first four floors . At 5:37 a.m . on November 7 , 1995 , the Landmark tower was demolished through implosion . An estimated 7,000 people arrived to witness the implosion . Upon detonation , the towers northwest half was brought down , followed by the second half , which caved in on itself , followed by a black cloud of dust ascending 150 feet into the air . Most of the material from the demolished structure was to be recycled and used in other construction projects . The 31-story tower was the tallest reinforced concrete building ever demolished in North America , and the second tallest building in the world to be demolished . Demolition and related expenses cost $3 million . Frank Wright , curator of the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society , said I kind of hate to see it come down , stating that the Landmark tower still represented what the then-upcoming Stratosphere tower represented : the biggest and the tallest . The property was to become occupied by 2,200 parking spaces , expected to be ready by March 1996 . One of the Landmarks ground-level signs , with gold and blue cursive neon lettering , was restored by the Neon Museum and installed at the parking lot . As of 2017 , the property contains 2,948 parking spaces for the Las Vegas Convention Center . In 2019 , work was underway on an expansion of the convention center . It will be built on the former sites of the Landmark and the nearby Riviera . The sign has since been removed due to construction of the Convention Center expansion . Its approximate address was 3077 Paradise Road . Architecture . The Landmark tower was designed by architects Gerald Moffitt and Ed Hendricks . The uniquely designed Landmark tower was the first of its kind to be built in Nevada ; its design was inspired by the Space Needle located in Seattle , Washington . When construction stopped in 1962 , the project consisted of of floor space , and included two basements that were 30 feet deep . The towers height measured 297 feet , while its diameter measured 60 feet . The towers dome measured 141 feet in diameter . In 1966 – the year that construction resumed – architects George Tate and Thomas Dobrusky were hired to design new portions of the resort , including the ground-floor casino . Height . The Landmark tower was billed as having 31 floors , although it skipped floors 13 and 28 . The Landmark tower was the tallest building in the state from 1962 to 1969 . In 1967 , a revolving letter L neon sign was installed at the top of the tower . Excluding its rooftop sign , the tower stood , seven feet taller than the Mint hotel in downtown Las Vegas . Conflicting numbers have been given for the towers total height . According to Scherer , the sign measured , and the tower measured , including the sign . At the time of opening , the Landmark tower was billed as having a height of . By that time , the new 30-story International Hotel had become the tallest building in the state at . When it was demolished , the tower reportedly stood . According to Emporis , the tower stood from the ground to its roof , while the tip raised the height to a total of . Features . When the Landmark opened , it had a total of 400 slot machines . The ground-floor casino was , while a second casino , consisting of , was located in the dome on the 29th floor ; it was the first high-rise casino in the state . At the time of opening , the ground-floor casino featured red and black colors , while the upper casino used orange coloring and wood . The hotel contained 476 rooms and 27 suites for a total of 503 , a small number in comparison to other Las Vegas resorts , which commonly had 1,000 rooms . The tower included 157 hotel rooms , while the remaining units were located on ground level . The tower used an octagonal floorplan , and the rooms in the tower used a layout that had them shaped like pie slices . By 1977 , the room count had increased to 524 , before ultimately being lowered to 498 at the time of the Landmarks closure in 1990 . The Landmarks interior designer was Las Vegas resident Leonard Edward England , who designed the ground floor to include a colorful and primitive Incan theme , which gradually changed to a Space Age theme on subsequent floors . The interior included $200,000 light fixtures , glowing , red-colored Incan masks , and a burnished metal wall sculpture representing a Cape Kennedy launch . The interior also included 65 tons of black and white polished marble , and carved mahogany woodwork from Mexico . In addition , the interior featured murals depicting the eight Wonders of the World , which included the Landmark tower . After Hughes agreed to purchase the resort , he had an island built in the middle of the hotels 240-foot swimming pool , which cost $200,000 and was the longest in the world . The Landmarks pool included waterfalls and three carpeted bridges leading to its center island , which featured palm trees . For the hotel , Hughes replaced 72-inch beds with 80-inch beds and had color televisions built into the walls of each room ahead of the resorts opening . The Landmarks second floor was used for offices . The towers dome included five floors , although floors 26 and 30 were used by employees for maintenance equipment , elevator equipment , and dressing rooms . The shape and strength of the towers bubble dome was maintained by perlite concrete and steel girders . The Landmark included a high-speed exterior glass elevator , which took people up to the five-story cupola dome . The elevator was located on the towers west side , facing the Las Vegas Strip . It was capable of moving 1,000 feet per minute , allowing people to go from the ground floor to the 31st floor in 20 seconds . It was the fastest elevator in the Western United States . Hughes biographer Michael Drosnin stated that the elevator was prone to constant malfunctions , and that the Landmarks air-conditioning system never really worked . The dome provided wraparound views of the city , and was capable of holding over 2,000 people . The dome included lounges and a night club , as well as the high-rise casino on the 29th floor . At the time of the Landmarks opening , the showroom and the Cascade Terrace coffee shop were located on the first floor , while a steak and seafood gourmet restaurant known as Towers Restaurant was located on the 27th floor and a Chinese restaurant known as the Mandarin Room was located on the 29th floor . In April 1971 , plans were announced for a $750,000 expansion that would include luxury suites on the 29th floor , the highest in Las Vegas at the time . Also planned was the remodeling of the casino and lobby , and the expansion of a coffee shop . The Skytop Rendezvous , a piano bar and dance floor on the top floor of the tower , was reopened as a discotheque on February 3 , 1975 , specializing in middle of the road music . The Landmark was the only major hotel in the state to have a discotheque . When Morris renovation began in December 1983 , the tower contained 150 rooms , a number that was expected to be reduced as the rooms would be enlarged and upgraded to first class standards . Other plans included changes to the coffee shop , new casino carpeting , and redesigning and renaming the 27th-floor restaurant as Anthonys Seafood and Prime Rib Room . The renovation was financed by Valley Bank of Nevada . The Love Song Lounge operated on the top floor during the mid-1980s , before and after Morris renovation , and offered dancing . During 1985 through 1987 , the resort also operated the Sunset Room on the 27th floor , offering piano-bar music and fine dining , with an emphasis on steaks and seafood . The Poolside Room operated on the ground level . The Nightcap Lounge opened at the Landmark in 1986 , and offered comedy acts . Reception . In 1962 , the Los Angeles Times called the $6 million Landmark , By far the most spectacular project , out of several Las Vegas resorts that were under construction ; the newspaper further wrote that the Landmark was destined to become the Mark Hopkins of Las Vegas . The following year , the Reno Evening Gazette opined that the Landmark had the most unusual exterior architecture in Nevada . In 1966 , Billboard wrote that the mushroom-shaped Landmark tower had the most spectacular design of all recent high-rise structures in the city . In 1993 , architecture critic Alan Hess noted the simplicity of the Landmark and the nearby International Hotel when compared with previous Las Vegas casinos , writing , As singular , self-contained forms , they showed none of the complexity of the different pieces and sequential additions that made the original Strip visually and urbanistically richer . In 2002 , Geoff Carter of Las Vegas Weekly wrote that the demolished Landmark was Vegas coolest building and a veritable shrine to 1960s Googie architecture . Performances . Peggy Lee performed at the Landmark during the year of its opening . In its early years , the Landmark became well known for its performances by country singers , including Kay Starr , Jimmy Dean , Patti Page , Bobbie Gentry , and Danny Davis with his Nashville Brass band , as well as a four-week show starring Ferlin Husky and Archie Campbell . Frank Sinatra also performed at the Landmark , and Bobby Darin made one of his final appearances there . In 1974 , the Landmark launched Red McIlvaines Star Search , a variety show featuring people from across the United States . The following year , The Jim Halsey Company began Country Music USA , a show at the Landmark that featured a different country music headliner every two to three weeks . The show was usually sold out . Roy Clark and Mel Tillis made their debuts in Country Music USA , as did Freddy Fender . The Oak Ridge Boys made their Las Vegas debut in Country Music USA . Leroy Van Dyke performed in the show , with Fender as his opening act . Van Dyke performed again at the Landmark later in the 1970s , with Sons of the Pioneers as his opening act . Other artists who performed in Country Music USA included Barbara Fairchild , Johnny Paycheck and Tommy Overstreet , as well as Jody Miller , Roy Head , and Hank Thompson . Country Music USA ran for two years , until 1977 . Spellcaster , an 80-minute family oriented show featuring country-western singer Roy Clayborne , debuted at the Landmark in 1982 . Spellcaster , a production show with dancers and showgirls , featured Clayborne singing 15 songs . Spellcaster was named after one of the Wolframs racing horses , and was produced through Zula Wolframs Las Vegas production company , Zula Productions . The show was designed and directed by Larry Hart , a 1979 Grammy Award winner , and it ran for approximately eight months . At the time of Spellcasters debut , Danny Hein and Terri Dancer also began performing in the resorts Galaxy Lounge . Hein and Dancer had four different shows consisting of various costumes and set decorations , and were accompanied by a five-person band of musicians who backed up the duo . In the late 1980s , the Landmarks showroom hosted minor acts and was considered small in comparison to other Las Vegas resorts . The Landmark hosted magician Melinda Saxe in a family-friendly magic show , which was initially known as 88 Follies Revue and was renamed Follies Revue 89 the following year before concluding its run . In 1990 , the main showroom featured Spellbound , a magic show consisting of two illusionist teams . Dick Foster was the shows director and producer . In popular culture . The unfinished tower briefly appears in the 1964 film , Viva Las Vegas . In 1971 , Sean Connery and stuntmen rode atop the Landmarks exterior elevator as part of filming for scenes in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever ; the tower was among other Las Vegas resorts that stood in as the fictional Whyte House hotel-casino . In the 1980s , the Landmark appeared in the television series Vega$ and Crime Story . In October 1994 , the exterior entrance of the Landmark was lit up for one night so it could be used for outdoor shots as the fictional Tangiers casino , featured in the 1995 film , Casino . The Landmarks implosion was filmed for use in director Tim Burtons 1996 film , Mars Attacks! . In the film , the Landmark is portrayed as the fictional Galaxy Hotel , which is destroyed by an alien spaceship . Burton had stayed at the hotel a few times and was upset by the decision to demolish it , so he wanted to immortalize it in his film . A scale model of the Landmark tower was also made for the production of Mars Attacks! . The demolition of the Landmark also appears during the closing credits of the 2003 film , The Cooler . The Lucky 38 , a fictional tower casino featured in the 2010 video game , partially resembles the Landmark .