Now Performing in the Red Skelton Tribute Theater 167 East Wears Valley Road Suite #17 (Shops of Pigeon Forge) Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The Riviera Hotel and Casino
The Riviera opened on April 20, 1955 as the first high-rise and the ninth resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The Riviera is one of the oldest and most famous casino resorts in Las Vegas.
The opening of the Riviera, along with The Dunes and the Royal Nevada casino resorts within a month of each other in 1955.
The Riviera was built by a group of investors from Miami. The resort has gone through many ownership changes over the years, including a period of control by owners linked to the Mafia along with many of the other hotels and casionos in Las Vegas.
It is reported that Dean Martin once held a minority ownership stake while he was a headliner in the showroom. Gus Greenbaum was brought in to manage the Riviera in 1955. He had successfully managed the Flamingo Hotel after the death of Bugsy Siegel. Only Problem with his managing of the hotel and casion was Greenbaum's drug and gambling addictions led to his embezzling from the casino. In December 1958, Greenbaum and his wife were murdered in their Phoenix, Arizona home.
On Monday, July 12, 2010, in Re: Riviera Holdings Corp, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada (Las Vegas), No: 10-22910, Riviera Holdings Company, Incorporated, owners of the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Black Hawk, Colorado. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, this along with a reorganization plan under which secured lenders, led by Greenwich-based Starwood Capital Group, would receive new debt and stock.
The Riviera is often chosen as a shooting location due to its history and recognition as a landmark. Portions of the following features were filmed at The Riviera:
* Ocean's Eleven (1960)
* Casino (1995)
* Showgirls (1995)
* Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
* Vegas Vacation (1997)
* Go (1999)
* 3000 Miles To Graceland (2001)
* Crazy Girls Undercover (2008)
* 21 (2008)
* The Hangover (2009)
The majority of the television series Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling was shot in the Riviera Hotel during its four-year run and subsequent 1991.
All in all the Riviera Hotel and Casino has a lot of history. If you like history, then the Riviera is a great place to stay or at least check out when in Las Vegas.
