The Riviera was the seventh casino to open
on the strip. It was designed to emulate the luxurious casinos of the Mediterranean - a
departure from the more standard and staid designs of the existing casinos. The hotel's
nine stories made it the first high-rise building on the Strip and when it opened in April
1955, Liberace was paid $50,000 per week to be the headliner. (That's a lot of
rhinestones) Money was no object in the construction of the hotel and casino, but
eventually somebody has to pay the bill. The Riviera was soon in deep financial trouble as
investors were about $4 million in debt while more and casinos opened up around them.
They were "rescued" by Gus
Greenbaum and the Chicago Mafia who took over and started to turn a profit. (The Mafia
later thanked Gus by slitting his throat). Since then, the Riviera has changed hands
several times. It seems that each owner added something or changed the look of the casino,
but one thing has stayed the same - The Riviera is still one of the most elegant
casinos on the Strip.
Rooms are exquisitely decorated with
mahogany furniture, beautiful drapes and all the amenities that are standard in an upscale
Vegas hotel. The sheer size of the gaming floor makes it notable too. At 125,00-sq. feet,
the Riviera has one of the largest casino floors in the world. Another unusual feature of
the casino is that it has a wall of windows that lets sunlight in. Clocks are still taboo,
but at least you'll know whether it's day or night. (If you care)
The Riviera' s arcade of
shops offers a variety of gifts and services to help make visitors' stay more
memorable.
The last notable feature of the Riviera is
Hound Doggie's, the best snack bar in Las Vegas. You can get burgers for under $2,
foot-long dogs for $.79, and $.50 draft beers.
