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123-611: Resort ownership changed several times between different groups, beginning in 1951. A modernized expansion opened on April 4, 1955, as the New Frontier. It operated concurrently with the Last Frontier. Both were closed in 1965 and demolished a year later to make way for a new resort, which opened as the Frontier on July 29, 1967. Future casino mogul Steve Wynn was among investors in the ownership group, marking his entry into

246-506: A "Captain of Capitalism" in 2007. Wynn was named to Institutional Investor's Best CEOs list in the All-America Executive Team Survey from 2008 through 2011. In March 2011, Barron's named Steve Wynn one of the 30 "World's Best CEOs." In November 2014, Wynn ranked 17th on Harvard Business Review 's list of 100 best-performing CEOs in the world. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from

369-461: A 1.5-mile beach is named Leo Carrillo State Park in his honor. The City of Westminster, California named an elementary school for him. Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, originally Rancho de los Kiotes, in Carlsbad, California, is a registered California Historical Site. Rancho Carrillo Trail, also in Carlsbad, is named for Leo Carrillo. In the early days of World War II , Carrillo advocated for

492-491: A Nevada district attorney prosecuted Francis for writing a bad check to cover a $ 2 million gambling debt owed to Wynn, but the judge dismissed the case for falling outside the six-month statute of limitations. Wynn collected the debt in a separate civil case. In response to the collection, Francis stated that Wynn threatened to kill him, prompting Wynn to file suit for defamation against Francis. In February 2012, Clark County, Nevada , judge Mark Denton ruled that Francis damaged

615-645: A ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas. Wynn suffers from the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa , which he was diagnosed with in 1971. In 2010, Wynn switched to a vegan diet after watching the documentary Eating by Mike Anderson. In May 2006, Time magazine included Wynn as one of the World's 100 Most Influential People . Wynn was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for

738-597: A controlling interest in the Golden Nugget Las Vegas , one of the oldest casinos in the city. His company stake increased so that, in 1973, he became the majority shareholder, and the youngest casino owner in Las Vegas. In 1977 he opened the Golden Nugget's first hotel tower, followed by several others. Frank Sinatra was a periodic headliner at the Golden Nugget, and Wynn has since maintained

861-400: A daughter, Marie Antoinette. They spent part of their time at their 4,500-acre (1,800 ha) ranch in Carlsbad, California. Carrillo frequently permitted Boy Scout groups to camp on the grounds. Leo Carrillo died of cancer on September 10, 1961, at the age of 81, and is interred at Santa Monica's Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery . For his contributions to the film industry, Leo Carrillo has

984-522: A dialect specialist—although in real life, he had a baritone speaking voice without a trace of an accent. He usually used the dialect for comic effect, liberally salting his speech with malaprops: "My ears, they are para-loused!" or "Why you wanna put your dirty face in my horse's water? I got a healthy horse and you put Germans in the water!" When his screen character left any scene, Carrillo always exclaimed, "Let's went!" Leo Carrillo could play sympathetic and villainous roles with equal skill. In 1951 he took

1107-406: A fist fight with Maury Friedman, a member of the group who was denied ownership by the tax commission. Friedman was approved for an ownership stake later in 1955, along with seven other new partners in the group. Katleman's 1954 suit against Kozloff and Randolph was settled a few months later. An expansion project was announced later in 1955. The adjacent Royal Nevada hotel-casino, located north of

1230-502: A former Los Angeles police officer and investigator for the IRS, claimed he had a change of heart because he felt that Trump used his efforts "in an immoral and unethical manner to cause financial harm" to Wynn and Mirage and thus turned "whistleblower." Wynn settled the lawsuit in 2000 and befriended Trump, who attended Wynn's wedding in 2011. Beginning in 2008, Wynn engaged in a dispute with Girls Gone Wild producer Joe Francis . In 2011,

1353-407: A group led by Anthony Joseph Zerilli . The $ 25 million Frontier opened on July 29, 1967, with a four-day celebration. It included 650 hotel rooms, entertainment venues, several restaurants, and convention space. The project was designed by Rissman & Rissman. The Frontier's roadside sign had a height of 184 feet, making it the tallest in Las Vegas. The sign, along with the Frontier's new "F" logo,

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1476-512: A heart attack in November 1943, and Moore took over the property. Moore conceived an idea to add the western-themed Last Frontier Village. It opened in November 1948, initially with three buildings while others would be added later. The village ultimately included restaurants, bars, and shops. The Little Church of the West was also incorporated into the village. Located at the property's northern end,

1599-517: A hotel chain. Griffith had originally planned to build his next hotel in Deming, New Mexico , before traveling to Las Vegas and realizing that it presented better opportunities. He intended to construct a western-themed hotel-casino resort on the newly purchased land. However, his initial name for the project was already in use by the El Rancho Vegas , which opened in 1941 as the first resort on

1722-536: A hotel tower with 1,100 rooms. The Hotel Last Frontier opened with an entertainment venue known as the Ramona Room. Liberace made his Las Vegas debut at the showroom in 1944. The Mary Kaye Trio performed at the Hotel Last Frontier for approximately three years, starting in 1950. The Ramona Room had already been booked by other acts over the next six months, so a stage was added to a bar area for

1845-400: A new Frontier hotel-casino took place on September 26, 1966, with Friedman set to oversee casino operations. The new project had more than a dozen investors, including future casino mogul Steve Wynn , who purchased a three-percent stake. The Frontier marked Wynn's entry into the Las Vegas gaming industry. It was later discovered that the Frontier project was financed with Detroit mob money, from

1968-445: A new casino resort to complement the existing Wynn and Encore properties. Steve Wynn, amid sexual assault allegations against him, resigned from his company shortly after the announcement. Matt Maddox took over as CEO, and plans for Wynn West were shelved. In 2024, the county extended permits for the site, giving Wynn until April 2026 to begin construction on an unnamed resort expansion. The project would include additional casino space and

2091-588: A new company, Vegas Frontier Inc., overseen by Friedman. Six months later, Friedman announced plans to demolish the existing facilities entirely for a larger Frontier resort to be built on the site. The demolition process reached its final stage in May 1966. The western village was included in the demolition, although the Little Church of the West and the Silver Slipper casino were kept. Groundbreaking for

2214-539: A new resort on the Frontier site. At the end of 2004, he said he would redevelop the New Frontier site on his own, stating that he had turned down a dozen offers from potential partners. By 2006, Ruffin's unnamed resort project was planned to include a 485-foot Ferris wheel. Later that year, Ruffin announced that the new casino resort would be named Montreux , after the Swiss town of the same name . The $ 2 billion resort would include 2,750 rooms. However, by March 2007, Ruffin

2337-542: A pivotal role in the resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s. In 2000, Wynn sold his company, Mirage Resorts , to MGM Grand Inc., resulting in the formation of MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International ). Wynn later took his company Wynn Resorts public in an initial public offering and was Wynn Resorts' CEO and Chairman of the Board until February 6, 2018, when he announced his resignation. He

2460-458: A price for the property. In 2014, Crown Resorts purchased the property for $ 280 million and partnered with Oaktree Capital Management . A year later, they announced plans to build a casino resort known as Alon Las Vegas . However, Crown Resorts pulled out of the project in 2016, and it was eventually canceled. Wynn Resorts bought the land and four adjacent acres in early 2018, for $ 336 million. The company announced plans to build Wynn West ,

2583-778: A private boys' school east of Syracuse , New York, in 1959. After high school, Wynn studied English literature at the University of Pennsylvania , where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Wynn graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts . Shortly before graduation, his father died during heart surgery, leaving $ 350,000 in gambling debts. Wynn, who had been accepted into Yale Law School , relinquished his admission and instead took over his family's bingo parlor in Waysons Corner, Maryland . In 1967, Wynn and his family moved to Las Vegas where he purchased

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2706-624: A relationship with the Sinatra family, even naming a restaurant at Encore "Sinatra". In 1980, Wynn began construction on the Golden Nugget Atlantic City in Atlantic City , New Jersey . It was Atlantic City's first and only " locals casino " and the city's sixth casino after the city legalized gambling in 1976. Joel Bergman , who designed Wynn's other resorts, designed the Golden Nugget. Though at its opening it

2829-519: A small stake in the Frontier Hotel and Casino . That year he met E. Parry Thomas , the president of the Bank of Las Vegas, which was the only bank at the time willing to extend loans to Las Vegas casinos, and Thomas helped finance several of Wynn's early land deals. Starting in 1968, Wynn also spent four years operating a wine and liquor importing company he had purchased. In 1971, Wynn bought

2952-453: A swimming pool contractor. The previous group, including Friedman, returned to take over operations in early March 1957, after Krupp declined to invest any further in the struggling resort. Krupp alleged that stockholders had misled her on the monetary potential of the New Frontier. The property owed approximately $ 100,000 to creditors, not including back taxes sought by the U.S. government. Federal agents seized more than $ 1 million in assets from

3075-405: A total of nearly $ 5 million in back-pay and trust fund contributions. On the day of the purchase, a celebration event was held at the resort, and was attended by 3,000 people. Upon taking ownership, Ruffin renamed the property back to the New Frontier. It had 986 rooms and a 41,325 sq ft (3,839.2 m) casino, and catered to a middle-class clientele. The resort had become outdated during

3198-482: A year later. A 16-story hotel tower was added in 1990. The Elardi family declined to renew a contract with the Culinary Workers Union , and 550 workers went on strike on September 21, 1991. It became one of the longest strikes in U.S. history. Businessman Phil Ruffin eventually purchased the Frontier for $ 167 million. The sale was finalized on February 1, 1998, when Ruffin renamed the property back to

3321-767: Is a prominent donor to the Republican Party and was the finance chair of the Republican National Committee from January 2017 to January 2018, when he resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations. Through Wynn Resorts, he has overseen the construction and development of several luxury resorts, opening Wynn Las Vegas in 2005, Wynn Macau in 2006, Encore Las Vegas in 2008, Encore at Wynn Macau in 2010 and Wynn Palace in Macau in 2016, and Wynn Everett near Boston which opened in June 2019 under

3444-618: Is also considered noteworthy in that The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games. The hotel became the main venue for the Siegfried & Roy show in 1990, and in 1993 the hotel hosted the Cirque du Soleil show Nouvelle Expérience . Wynn's next project, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino , opened in the Mirage's old parking lot on October 27, 1993, at an overall cost of $ 450 million. The establishment

3567-635: Is an American real estate developer and art collector. He was known for his involvement in the luxury casino and hotel industry , prior to being forced to step down. Early in his career he oversaw the construction and operation of several notable Las Vegas and Atlantic City hotels, including the Golden Nugget , the Golden Nugget Atlantic City , The Mirage , Treasure Island , the Bellagio , and Beau Rivage in Mississippi , and he played

3690-544: Is known for amassing a large collection of fine art , often placing the pieces in his various casinos and hotels. In 2004, Wynn purchased Vermeer's A Young Woman Seated at the Virginals at a Sotheby's auction for $ 30 million. With the purchase, he became the first art collector to purchase a Vermeer painting in over 80 years. Wynn later sold the painting to the Leiden Collection owned by Thomas Kaplan for

3813-588: The Alon Las Vegas resort. The site was purchased by Wynn Resorts in 2018, although plans to build the Wynn West resort were also shelved, and the land remains vacant. The property hosted numerous entertainers throughout its operation, including Wayne Newton and Robert Goulet . It hosted the Las Vegas debuts of Liberace in 1944, and Elvis Presley in 1956, and also hosted the final performance of Diana Ross & The Supremes in 1970. A portion of

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3936-599: The Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector , was eventually built, Le Jardin was cancelled after the company was acquired in 2000 by MGM Grand Inc. , which later built the Borgata , in a joint venture with Boyd Gaming , on the site. On October 15, 1998, Wynn opened the even more opulent Bellagio , a $ 1.6 billion resort considered among the world's most spectacular hotels. The architect was Jon Jerde of The Jerde Partnerships, and construction

4059-725: The Department of Justice ordered Wynn to register as a foreign agent of China, and filed a civil lawsuit. He denied acting as a foreign agent and lobbying on China's behalf. The case was dismissed in October 2022. The court did not determine whether Wynn actually acted as a foreign agent but ruled that he could not be retroactively compelled to register after his alleged relationship with the Chinese government had ended. Together with his spouse, Wynn contributed $ 1.5   million to Donald Trump 's 2020 presidential campaign . Wynn

4182-488: The Great Recession . Wynn offered to beautify the vacant site with landscaping, and was also approached by El Ad several times to take over the land and develop it. However, he declined as he considered such a project too much of a financial risk. Wynn blamed what he saw as anti-business policies of U.S. president Barack Obama , and a challenging level of debt as a consequence of El Ad having paid what proved too high

4305-743: The Republican Governors Association and also donated $ 411,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee , $ 248,000 to the Republican National Committee , and $ 100,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee . In 2016, Wynn donated $ 833,000 to Republican Party joint fundraising committees. After Donald Trump won the 2016 U.S. presidential election , Wynn was named a vice-chairman of Trump's inauguration committee. After

4428-667: The Sands , Stardust , and Desert Inn . In 2006, readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal voted it "Hotel Most Deserving of Being Imploded". Wynn, who now owned the Wynn Las Vegas resort across the street, called the aging Frontier "the single biggest toilet in Las Vegas". The New Frontier was the last of the Hughes-era casinos to be demolished. After a five-minute fireworks show, the 16-story Atrium Tower

4551-615: The University of Macau Development Foundation. Wynn later accused Okada's company, Aruze, of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act , leading to a Department of Justice probe into Aruze's gifts of hotel rooms and other expenses to Philippine, South Korean, and Japanese gaming officials. In a March 2013 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Wynn noted that while the Okada dispute could cut into Wynn's profits, beyond an "informal" SEC inquiry into

4674-484: The University of Pennsylvania in 2006, which was rescinded following Wynn's sexual misconduct allegations in 2018. In 1991, Dennis Gomes, president of Wynn's Golden Nugget , left his position to join Donald Trump 's Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey , receiving a $ 1 million bonus in lieu of equity . Wynn filed suit against Trump and Gomes for breach of contract, as Gomes was contracted to work at

4797-630: The removal of all Japanese Americans from the west coast. In a telegram to Congressman Leland Ford that received extensive coverage, Carrillo wrote: I travel every week through a hundred miles of Japanese shacks on the way to my ranch, and it seems that every farmhouse is located on some strategic elevated point. Let's get them off the coast and into the interior. You know and I know the Japanese situation in California. The eastern people are not conscious of this menace. May I urge you in behalf of

4920-528: The "Leo Carrillo tree" still stands there today. Carrillo served on the California Beach and Parks commission for 18 years and played a key role in the state's acquisition of Hearst Castle at San Simeon , Los Angeles Arboretum, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park . He eventually was made a goodwill ambassador by the California governor at the time. As a result of his service to California, west of Malibu, California on CA-1 Pacific Coast Highway ,

5043-597: The 1,835-room Beau Rivage . Themed to blend Mediterranean beauty with Southern hospitality, the resort was part of a building boom that established Biloxi as a regional tourism center along the Mississippi Gulf Coast . Beau Rivage was originally the name Wynn wanted to give the Bellagio, though he had decided on Bellagio after vacationing in the Italian region of the same name . Beau Rivage opened as

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5166-540: The 2008 film Monet's Palate with Meryl Streep and distributed by American Public Television . Many of the collection's pieces were on display at the Bellagio. The collection was on display at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno while the Wynn Las Vegas was being constructed and was installed in the resort shortly before it was opened. The Wynn Las Vegas gallery, which had charged an entrance fee, closed shortly after

5289-455: The Frontier an embarrassment to the state for its refusal to end the strike. Margaret Elardi wanted to settle with the union and end the strike, but her sons opposed the idea. Numerous complaints against the Frontier were filed with the NLRB. In 1995, a federal court ruled that the resort had to pay back work-related benefits that it had cut off to striking workers. The NLRB later ruled in favor of

5412-524: The Frontier ran controversial ads in the Los Angeles Times implying that the entire Strip was being targeted by the strike. The property eventually stopped running the ads after protests from other resorts. Business at the Frontier saw a 40-percent decrease during the first year of the strike. In 1993, Nevada governor Bob Miller appointed a fact finder to help resolve the strike, although these efforts failed after 28 meetings. Miller later called

5535-496: The Frontier to make way for a 3,000-room resort. Wynn and casino rival Donald Trump were also rumored to have an interest in buying the Frontier. Trump passed on the property, as he found Elardi's $ 208 million asking price too high. Hilton and Goldberg also did not proceed with a purchase, and the strike continued. In late 1996, a former Frontier worker alleged that the Elardis ran a technologically advanced spy operation to monitor

5658-406: The Frontier, was taken over by the latter's ownership group in 1956. The Royal Nevada then briefly served as an annex to the New Frontier. Later that year, a new group took over operations and invested $ 301,000 into the New Frontier, which was struggling financially. The group included Vera Krupp, the estranged wife of Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach . Krupp oversaw operations with Louis Manchon,

5781-568: The January 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump , Wynn was named finance chairman of the Republican National Committee . In October 2017 The Wall Street Journal reported that Wynn, who has financial interests in China, lobbied President Trump on behalf of the Chinese government to return a Chinese dissident, Guo Wengui , to China. On January 28, 2018, Wynn resigned from the finance chairman position amid sexual misconduct allegations. In May 2021,

5904-595: The Las Vegas Strip. The Frontier had a labor agreement with the Culinary Workers Union that expired on July 1, 1989. Upon its expiration, general manager Tom Elardi said that the union presented the Frontier with two contract renewal choices, with no option to negotiate; he said the family would not have purchased the Frontier if they had known this would happen. Citing a reduction in salaries and worker benefits, 550 workers went on strike on September 21, 1991. Politicians such as Jesse Jackson expressed support for

6027-525: The Las Vegas Strip. Instead, Griffith named his property the Hotel Last Frontier, while maintaining the western theme. Griffith hired architect William J. Moore, his nephew, to design the project, with emphasis on an authentic recreation of the Old West. Construction began on December 8, 1941, taking place around the 91 Club, which was incorporated into the new project as the Leo Carrillo Bar. It

6150-436: The Las Vegas gaming industry. The ownership group also included several individuals who had difficulty gaining approval from Nevada gaming regulators. Businessman Howard Hughes bought out the group at the end of 1967. Like his other casino properties, he owned the Frontier through Hughes Tool Company , and later through Summa Corporation . In 1988, Summa sold the Frontier to Margaret Elardi, and her two sons became co-owners

6273-547: The Little Church of the West was relocated to the Hacienda resort, making room for the Fashion Show Mall to be built just south of the Frontier. In December 1987, Summa agreed to sell the Frontier and Silver Slipper – the last of Hughes' Las Vegas gaming properties – to casino owner Margaret Elardi. She took over ownership of the Frontier on June 30, 1988, and acquired the Silver Slipper later that year, demolishing

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6396-551: The Macau donation, there was no formal investigation underway. In July 2013, the SEC announced that its investigation into the Macau donations was concluded and it would not pursue any enforcement action against Wynn or Wynn Resorts. In 2014, Wynn sued hedge fund manager James Chanos for slander after Chanos, at a Berkeley event, allegedly said Wynn violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Wynn's lawsuit

6519-572: The Nevada Gaming Control Board was prepared to file a complaint revoking the Frontier's gaming license, due to the property's conduct during the strike. Ruffin completed his purchase on February 1, 1998, ending the 2,325-day strike. It was among the longest strikes in U.S. history, and the Culinary union had spent $ 26 million on it. Approximately 300 of the 550 striking workers returned to their jobs. Striking employees received

6642-556: The New Frontier. The strike ended on the same day, as Ruffin agreed to a union contract. Ruffin launched a $ 20 million renovation to update the aging property. His changes included the addition of a new restaurant, Gilley's Saloon . Over the next decade, Ruffin considered several redevelopment projects for the site, but lack of financing hindered these plans. In May 2007, he agreed to sell the New Frontier to El Ad Properties for more than $ 1.2 billion. The resort closed on July 16, 2007, and demolition began later that year. The 16-story tower

6765-476: The Nugget until 1992. Gomes settled in 1994. Also in 1991, Gomes alleged in a countersuit that Wynn used harsh language against Gomes, but Wynn's representatives denied the allegations. In 1997, Wynn sued Barricade Books for defamation over the catalog description of an unauthorized biography Running Scared by John L. Smith. Wynn was initially awarded $ 3.2 million, forcing Barricade into bankruptcy. In 2001

6888-628: The Performing Arts by President George W. Bush on October 30, 2006. In November 2006, Wynn was inducted into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame . He has also received honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas ; Sierra Nevada College ; The Culinary Institute of America ; and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island . Forbes magazine named him

7011-409: The West was relocated elsewhere on the property to make room for the new facilities. Later that year, Katleman sued several resort executives, including Kozloff, his brother William Kozloff, and Randolph. Katleman alleged that the trio had undisclosed partners invested in the resort, going against state law. He also alleged that the men began expansion of the resort without first obtaining a loan to cover

7134-519: The Whites after they filed a lawsuit. Sean White also sued the Frontier, seeking damages for his injuries and alleging inadequate security at the resort. He claimed that the property was aware of the strikers being particularly agitated on the night of the incident, yet did nothing to resolve the situation. The Frontier countered that the Whites provoked the strikers. Furthermore, Tom Elardi said that guests were always warned about possible verbal abuse from

7257-776: The Wynn Palace in Cotai , Macao, PRC. It was previously approved by the Macau government in 2012. In September 2014, Wynn was awarded the license to build the Wynn Boston Harbor casino in the eastern Massachusetts city of Everett , near downtown Boston . In 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported that dozens of people recounted a pattern of sexual misconduct by Wynn, including several former employees. On February 6, 2018, Wynn stepped down as CEO of Wynn Resorts, though he denied all allegations. In

7380-581: The allegations. Steve Wynn was born Stephen Alan Weinberg in New Haven , Connecticut , on January 27, 1942. His father, Michael, owned a chain of bingo parlors in the eastern United States. His mother Zelma (née Kutner), was from Maine. Wynn’s father changed the family's last name in 1946 from "Weinberg" to "Wynn" when Steve was 4 years old "to avoid anti-Jewish discrimination". Wynn was raised in Utica , New York , and graduated from The Manlius School ,

7503-519: The city's police chief and later the first mayor. His cousin was Broadway star William Gaxton (real name Arturo Antonio Gaxiola). Proud of his heritage, Carrillo wrote the book The California I Love , published shortly before his death in 1961. A university graduate, Carrillo worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the San Francisco Examiner , then turned to acting on Broadway. In Hollywood, he appeared in more than 90 films, often as

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7626-585: The club later in 1939, for $ 10,000. McAfee sold the 91 Club in late 1941, to a group based in Arizona. R.E. “Griff” Griffith, the brother of film director D.W. Griffith , and owner of a movie theater chain in the southwestern U.S., paid $ 1,000 per acre for the 35-acre site. In addition to theaters, Griffith also owned the El Rancho Hotel & Motel in Gallup, New Mexico , and planned to expand it into

7749-411: The costs. The Nevada Tax Commission launched an investigation into the resort's hidden ownership. An opening celebration for the New Frontier was held on April 4, 1955. It served as a modernized expansion of the Hotel Last Frontier, which continued to operate under its original name. Singer Mario Lanza was scheduled to perform for the opening, but canceled at the last minute due to laryngitis , forcing

7872-418: The deal was closed (April 27, 2000) Wynn purchased the Desert Inn for $ 270 million. He closed the Inn later that year. Wynn took Wynn Resorts Limited public in 2002. Wynn became a billionaire in 2004, when his net worth doubled to $ 1.3 billion. On April 28, 2005, he opened his most expensive resort at the time, the Wynn Las Vegas , on the site of the former Desert Inn. Built at a cost of $ 2.7 billion, it

7995-486: The gaming authority's findings that former company executives covered up sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn. Leo Carrillo Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo ( Spanish pronunciation: [ka'riʎo] ; August 6, 1880 – September 10, 1961) was an American actor, vaudevillian , political cartoonist , and conservationist . He was notable for playing Pancho in the television series The Cisco Kid (1950–1956) and in several films. Leo Carrillo

8118-439: The gaming industry, they had the casino built at the rear of the property, not realizing that it should have been presented as the main attraction. The property included the Gay Nineties Bar, which had sat in the Arizona Club in Las Vegas, before being reassembled at the Last Frontier. The Frontier added the Little Church of the West in May 1943. The resort also included the El Corral Arena, used for rodeo events. Griffith died of

8241-411: The guest rooms to bring them up to standard. However, in 1999, he decided against this idea as he now had other plans for the property. In January 2000, Ruffin announced plans to demolish the New Frontier in five or six months to make way for a new casino resort, scheduled to open in 2002. The new project, known as City by the Bay , would include a San Francisco theme and more than 2,500 rooms. Ruffin said

8364-587: The highest price paid for any piece of art. However, Wynn put his elbow through the canvas while showing it to a group of guests. This canceled the sale, and after a $ 90,000 repair, the painting was estimated to be worth $ 85 million. Wynn sued his insurance company over the $ 54 million difference with the virtual selling price. The case was settled out of court in April 2007. In 2013, Wynn sold Le Rêve to Steven A. Cohen for $ 155 million. Wynn married Elaine Farrell Pascal in 1963. They divorced in 1986, remarried in 1991, and divorced again in 2010. Elaine Wynn

8487-401: The idea for the restaurant after seeing the 1980 film Urban Cowboy , which had featured the Gilley's Club in Texas, along with its mechanical bull. Ruffin subsequently partnered with country singer Mickey Gilley to open the saloon, inspired by the original club. Gilley's later offered bikini bull-riding and mud wrestling. Ruffin intended to rebrand the hotel as a Radisson , and renovated

8610-455: The issue. Wynn has dealt with several legal issues related to sexual misconduct allegations that were covered by The Wall Street Journal in 2018. One accusation came from a manicurist whom Wynn later paid a $ 7.5 million settlement. In February 2018, Nevada regulators fined Wynn's company $ 20 million for failing to respond to sexual misconduct claims. In April 2019, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fined Wynn Resorts $ 35 million due to

8733-399: The largest hotel-casino to be built outside Nevada. The casino was initially located on a series of floating barges, as local law confined all casinos to mobile marine vessels at the time. The hotel, restaurants, and associated facilities were constructed on land. Mirage Resorts was sold to MGM Grand Inc. for $ 6.6 billion ($ 21 per share) in June 2000 to form MGM Mirage . Five weeks before

8856-404: The latter to add a Frontier parking lot. In December 1989, Elardi's two sons, John and Tom, became part-owners with her in the Frontier. The 16-story Atrium Tower, consisting of 400 suites, was opened a month later. Under the Elardis' ownership, the Frontier focused primarily on a low-budget clientele of slot players. It offered few amenities, at a time when new megaresorts were becoming popular on

8979-597: The marriage ceremony for Don Jose Raimundo and Tomasa Ignacia Lugo in 1781. His great-grandfather Carlos Antonio Carrillo (1783–1852) was governor of Alta California (1837–38). His great-uncle, José Antonio Carrillo , was a three-time mayor of Los Angeles and twice married to sisters of Governor Pío Pico . His paternal grandfather, Pedro Carrillo, who was educated in Boston, was a writer. The family moved from San Diego to Los Angeles then to Santa Monica, where Carrillo's father Juan José Carrillo (1842–1916), served as

9102-759: The master of ceremonies and with short speeches by Hedda Hopper and Walt Disney . Among the others in attendance were Ann Sothern , Ginger Rogers , Randolph Scott , Adolphe Menjou , Gary Cooper , Edward Arnold , William Bendix , and Walter Pidgeon . In 1913, Carrillo married Edith Shakespeare Haeselbarth of Nyack, New York, whom he met backstage at the New York City theater where she had seen him perform. They remained together until her death in 1953. They lived in Los Alisos on Channel Road, in Santa Monica Canyon. The Carrillos had one child,

9225-504: The name Encore Boston Harbor . In 2006, Wynn was inducted into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame . As of September 2015, Wynn's net worth was estimated by Forbes at $ 2.4 billion, making him the 279th wealthiest American. Steve Wynn collects fine art , including pieces by artists such as Picasso and Claude Monet . On February 6, 2018, Wynn stepped down as CEO of Wynn Resorts amid accusations of sexual misconduct including harassment, assault, and coercion. Wynn has denied

9348-438: The new resort was necessary to stay competitive on the Las Vegas Strip. The project would cost up to $ 700 million. He put his redevelopment plans on hold in May 2000, because of difficulty raising the necessary funds. Ruffin said the project would eventually proceed. The New Frontier continued operations in the meantime, and remained profitable. In 2002, Ruffin partnered with Trump to build Trump International Hotel Las Vegas . It

9471-501: The only way they will settle, but I absolutely refuse to take them back". Arthur Goldberg, chairman of Bally Entertainment , announced in July 1996 that there was interest in purchasing the Frontier and ending the strike. At the time, Hilton Hotels Corporation was in the process of acquiring Bally. Goldberg was willing to purchase the Frontier himself if Hilton should pass on it. His plan would potentially include demolishing all or part of

9594-573: The past, Wynn has financially supported both the Democratic and the Republican Party , for example contributing $ 200,000 to the Republican Governors Association in 2013. In 2011 he spoke in support of Nevada Senator Harry Reid . Though he supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election , in 2011 he expressed disappointment with Obama's policies relating to economic issues. In December 2010, Prince Albert II of Monaco bestowed Monegasque citizenship to Wynn, an unusual act since Wynn did not meet

9717-665: The prerequisites. According to the Las Vegas Sun , Wynn was given citizenship when he agreed to be an outside director in Monaco QD International Hotels and Resorts Management, which is a joint venture between the governments of Monaco and Qatar. The organization buys and manages hotels in Europe, the Middle East and North America. Between 2012 and 2018, Wynn contributed more than $ 2.5 million to

9840-412: The property began as a casino and dance club known as Pair O' Dice. It opened on July 4, 1931, and was remodeled and enlarged during its first year. It was originally owned by casino dealer Frank Detra. Businessman Guy McAfee took over club operations in 1939. He remodeled the property and renamed it the 91 Club, after its location on Highway 91, which would later become the Las Vegas Strip . He purchased

9963-431: The property to refund $ 20,000 in tickets. Jake Kozloff resigned as president and general manager a few weeks after the opening. He and Randolph sold their interest to a new investor group, which finalized their purchase in May 1955, after paying more than $ 1 million to creditors . Katleman had sought to prevent the sale, as the resort was heavily mortgaged under the new group's financial setup. Katleman had also gotten into

10086-403: The property, which closed its facilities on March 18, 1957, with the exception of the hotel. The New Frontier later went into bankruptcy. Restaurant and bar operations eventually resumed. In mid-1958, a new operating group – led by Los Angeles shirt manufacturer Jack Barenfield – proposed a $ 400,000 investment to reopen the casino and operate it on a limited basis. The Nevada Gaming Control Board

10209-576: The property. Wester was approved by state gaming regulators, but failed to follow through on the deal. Bayley became the primary owner of the New Frontier Hotel in November 1964. He died a month later, and the casino was closed on New Year's Eve, in preparation for an expansion. The hotel and other facilities closed a few days later, and the property never reopened. Bankers Life purchased Frontier Properties Inc. in August 1965, and leased it to

10332-526: The reputation of Wynn and awarded Wynn $ 7.5 million in damages. In September 2012, after Francis repeated the alleged threat on television and Wynn added a second defamation claim, a jury awarded Wynn $ 40 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The judgment was amended to $ 19 million, after Wynn failed to prove that Francis could pay the original amount. In January 2012, Wynn's former business partner Kazuo Okada filed suit to gain access to company documents related to Wynn's pledge to donate $ 135 million to

10455-405: The resort's calls about trespassing picketers. In October 1997, businessman Phil Ruffin reached an agreement to buy the Frontier from the Elardis for $ 167 million. He also agreed to sign a contract with the union, putting an end to the strike. Ruffin's application for a gaming license was fast-tracked to expedite the sale and end the strike sooner. Prior to the announcement of Ruffin's purchase,

10578-545: The resort, as some workers said they were tasked with following strikers around. Others collected garbage from the Culinary headquarters in hopes of gaining incriminating information. After the allegations came to light, strikers filed 75 criminal complaints against the Frontier, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board opened an investigation. Meanwhile, the AFL–CIO launched a campaign to raise awareness about

10701-552: The ruling was thrown out by the Supreme Court of Nevada . A retrial was scheduled for 2004. The issue was settled between Wynn and New York publisher Lyle Stuart in a confidential agreement, and the case dismissed. In a legal battle over an attempt by Wynn-controlled Mirage to build a casino in Atlantic City , Donald Trump claimed in a lawsuit that Wynn used a private investigator as a double agent to secretly record conversations with Trump. The investigator, Louis Rodriguez,

10824-719: The safety of the people of California to start action at once. Carrillo was a Republican . In 1944 , for instance, he performed a "Wild West" act at the massive rally organized by David O. Selznick in the Los Angeles Coliseum in support of the Dewey - Bricker ticket as well as Governor Earl Warren of California, who became Dewey's running mate in 1948 and later the Chief Justice of the United States . The gathering drew 93,000, with Cecil B. DeMille as

10947-442: The same "property" though they are separate hotels. After having started construction in 2006, the overall cost of the project equaled $ 2.3 billion. Encore opened on December 22, 2008. As of December 31, 2012, Wynn and Encore Las Vegas employed approximately 9,000 full-time employees. Encore at Wynn Macau , an expansion of Wynn Macau similar to the expansion of the Las Vegas property, opened on April 21, 2010. In 2016, Wynn opened

11070-647: The same price. In 2006, Wynn acquired J. M. W. Turner 's Giudecca, La Donna Della Salute and San Giorgio for $ 35.8 million via an anonymous telephone auction. Although Wynn did not officially identify himself as the buyer, his identity was confirmed by two people acquainted with the transaction. Wynn purchased the painting from the St. Francis of Assisi Foundation, a White Plains -based nonprofit organization that supports Capuchin priests on their missionary trips. Steve Wynn's private art collection with specific commentary about his paintings by Claude Monet are highlighted in

11193-419: The starring role in the feature film Pancho Villa Returns , which was filmed in both English-dialogue and Spanish-dialogue versions. However, he is best remembered as Pancho, good-natured sidekick of The Cisco Kid , opposite Duncan Renaldo as Cisco. Renaldo and Carrillo were teamed for a series of feature films in 1949, and then for a syndicated television series that ran from 1950 until 1956. The Cisco Kid

11316-447: The start of 2006. The artwork from the former gallery was then scattered around the resort. In 2009, he spent $ 33.2 million on Rembrandt 's Man with His Arms Akimbo , the auction record for the artist. Under the direction of Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts acquired Jeff Koons 's Tulips at auction in November 2012 for approximately $ 33.6 million. In May 2014, Wynn acquired Popeye from the same artist for over $ 28.165 million, putting

11439-490: The strike, and lacked basic features such as fulltime room service and a 24-hour coffee shop. Profits improved following a $ 20 million renovation project, which included new restaurants and a remodeled sportsbook. Gilley's Saloon , a country western restaurant, was among the additions. It included a mechanical bull, a dance hall, and live music. The 10,000 sq ft (930 m) saloon opened in December 1998. Ruffin got

11562-410: The strike, for instance by turning on nearby sprinklers or placing manure bags near a catering truck. Tom Elardi called the worker disgruntled. He said the 900 Room functioned only to monitor and maintain the exterior during the strike, denying that any sabotage had taken place. Other former workers came forward to confirm the spying allegation, stating that there was a high level of paranoia relating to

11685-488: The strike, with president John Sweeney calling the Frontier "one of the biggest corporate criminals" in American history. The AFL-CIO also opened a committee investigation into the strike. John Elardi later admitted that the 900 Room was used for spying, stating that he created it in 1992, without first consulting Margaret or Tom Elardi. He also acknowledged using sprinklers on the strikers, after police stopped responding to

11808-515: The strike. It was also used to monitor Frontier security guards, as well as officers of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department whenever they came to view video footage of the strike. The operation allegedly included security cameras and listening devices, operated from a second-floor headquarters known as the 900 Room that was overseen by 15 people. The worker also said that the resort routinely sabotaged

11931-440: The strike. Some workers said that the Frontier had tapped its office phones to monitor conversations, allegations which led to an FBI investigation. Concerned that strikers might stay at the hotel to gain information, Frontier officials also had recording devices planted in certain guest rooms which were to be occupied only by confirmed members of the strike, allowing the hotel to spy on them. The spying operation allegedly went beyond

12054-536: The strikers when making hotel reservations. He also said that, according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), it would be illegal to label the strikers as "violent". In addition, Elardi said that Frontier security did not have the authority to help guests on public property, where the incident took place. A jury eventually ruled in the Frontier's favor, finding it not liable for events that take place on public property. In late 1991,

12177-424: The strikers, who represented four unions, including Culinary. The strike ran continuously on the sidewalk in front of the resort, and striking workers were occasionally violent towards patrons who crossed the picket line. In April 1993, California tourist Sean White and his family were verbally and physically assaulted by the strikers. Seven union workers were charged in the incident, and the union itself settled with

12300-476: The trio to perform. They became the first lounge act to perform in Las Vegas, popularizing the concept. The New Frontier addition in 1955 included a restaurant and showroom known as the Venus Room. A new Venus Room, with seating for 800, opened with the rebuilt Frontier in 1967. The new resort also included the 400-seat Post Time Theater. Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut at the New Frontier in 1956, but

12423-440: The union, agreeing with the 1995 ruling and calling the dispute an unfair labor practice strike. Negotiations between the Culinary union and the Elardis took place in July 1996, but ended without a resolution, in part because Tom Elardi refused a Culinary mandate to rehire all of the striking workers: "I believe the ones who've been violent or who participated in major picket line misconduct shouldn't come back. The union says that's

12546-502: The use of an excavator , although the discovery of asbestos slowed the process down. The roadside sign was left up until December 2008, when Wynn requested that it be taken down ahead of the opening for Encore Las Vegas , an addition to his Wynn property. The city's Neon Museum sought to save portions of the sign. Following the closure of the New Frontier, there had been multiple redevelopment proposals. The Plaza project failed to materialize, due to financial problems brought on by

12669-485: The village included authentic Old West buildings saved by Doby Doc, a collector in Elko, Nevada . He served as curator of the attraction. The village also featured some newly built replicas created by the resort, including a Texaco gas station designed by Zick & Sharp . It offered free showers and restrooms to attract motorists to the resort. The Silver Slipper casino was added to the village in 1950. The Last Frontier

12792-535: The work on display at Wynn Las Vegas. In February 2020, Wynn bought two Picasso paintings from Donald Marron 's collection for $ 105 million: Woman with Beret and Collar and Jacqueline . Le Rêve is the Picasso portrait that was the working name of Wynn's resort project. Wynn purchased the painting from an anonymous collector in a private sale in 2001. In 2006, he reportedly was to sell it to Steven A. Cohen for $ 139 million, which would at that time have been

12915-482: Was a director of the company's board for 13 years, ending in 2015. They have two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian. Kevyn was kidnapped in 1993 and Wynn paid $ 1.45 million in ransom for her safe return. The kidnappers were apprehended when one attempted to buy a Ferrari in Newport Beach, California , with cash. Kevyn was found unharmed several hours later. On April 30, 2011, Wynn married Andrea Danenza Hissom in

13038-468: Was a low-key event. At the time, the New Frontier operated the last remaining bingo room on the Strip, and was one of the few remaining casinos to still use coin-operated slot machines. El Ad completed its purchase three weeks after the closure. The 984-room New Frontier had remained popular as a low-budget alternative to larger resorts nearby. However, it lacked the same popularity as previous resorts such as

13161-581: Was a member of the Carrillo family of California , a prominent Californio family, and traced his ancestry through California, Mexico, and Spain to the year 1260. His great-great grandfather José Raimundo Carrillo (1749–1809), was a soldier in the Spanish Portolá expedition colonization of Las Californias , arriving in San Diego on July 1, 1769. Franciscan Friar Junípero Serra performed

13284-464: Was constructed on the Frontier property's southwest corner, taking up part of a rear parking lot. Meanwhile, Ruffin still had difficulty acquiring funds to build City by the Bay, and his plans evolved several times over the years. At one point, Ruffin considered a Trump-branded resort to replace the New Frontier. In 2003, Ruffin was in discussions with several casino operators about a possible joint venture for

13407-584: Was designed by Bill Clark of Ad Art. The sign featured 16-foot-tall letters, with the giant "F" logo resting at the top. Several individuals in the new property, including Friedman, had difficulty gaining approval of state gaming regulators. Businessman Howard Hughes bought out the group in December 1967, paying $ 23 million for the Frontier. Like his other casino properties, it was originally operated through Hughes Tool Company , until Hughes' Summa Corporation took over in 1973. Hughes died three years later. A $ 5 million renovation concluded in 1978. Later that year,

13530-488: Was dismissed, with U.S. District Judge William Orrick III ruling that Chanos's remark was constitutionally protected speech. Wynn was also ordered to pay Chanos' legal fees. Wynn's subsequent appeal was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit . Wynn has sought to weaken Nevada's anti- strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) legislation. He has publicly clashed with Yelp over

13653-497: Was imploded on November 13, 2007, at 2:37 a.m. to the thousands of spectators that turned out to view the demolition. The tower was imploded by Controlled Demolition, Inc. , which had worked on other Las Vegas hotel implosions. The interior was stripped down allowing for the insertion of dynamite, totaling 1,040 pounds and spread across 6,200 different areas of the tower. The implosion left a four-story pile of concrete, glass and steel remains. Two low-rise hotel wings were demolished with

13776-478: Was imploded on November 13, 2007. It was the last of the Hughes-era casinos to be demolished. The 984-room property had been popular as a low-budget alternative to the larger resorts on the Strip. El Ad owned the Plaza Hotel in New York City and planned to replace the New Frontier with a Plaza-branded resort , but the project was canceled due to the Great Recession . Crown Resorts also scrapped plans to build

13899-503: Was in negotiations to sell the New Frontier to El Ad Properties , which owned the Plaza Hotel in New York City. A sale agreement was announced two months later, with El Ad paying approximately $ 35 million per acre for the 35-acre site. At more than $ 1.2 billion, it was the most expensive real estate transaction on the Strip. El Ad planned to demolish the New Frontier and build a $ 5 billion Plaza-branded resort in its place. The New Frontier closed on July 16, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. The closing

14022-536: Was named after Griffith's friend, entertainer Leo Carrillo . Building materials were difficult to acquire, due to a supply shortage caused by World War II . Moore purchased one or two abandoned mines in Pioche, Nevada , and sent crews to strip the sites of any usable materials. Moore also purchased two ranches in Moapa, Nevada , to supply meat and dairy for the resort. The Hotel Last Frontier opened on October 30, 1942. It

14145-506: Was notable as the first TV series filmed in color. After The Cisco Kid ended production, Carrillo appeared in the episode "Rescue at Sea" of the syndicated military drama Men of Annapolis . Carrillo was a preservationist and conservationist of long standing. When a film crew did location filming in Hilo, Hawaii in 1933, the city named one of its stately banyan trees in Carrillo's honor;

14268-493: Was poorly received. In the late 1950s, the New Frontier offered Holiday in Japan , a variety show featuring 60 performers from Tokyo. Ronald Reagan entertained at the resort in the 1950s, as did Wayne Newton in the 1960s and 1970s. Other entertainers included Robert Goulet , Jimmy Durante , George Carlin , Ray Anthony , and Phil Harris . Steve Wynn Stephen Alan Wynn ( né Weinberg ; born January 27, 1942)

14391-678: Was skeptical that the group would have enough funds to keep the casino operational for long. Warren Bayley, one of the primary owners of the Hacienda resort, reached a deal to take over the New Frontier from Katleman and Friedman. The $ 6.5 million deal was finalized on October 1, 1958. The property was leased to Bayley, who agreed to pay off its debts. Actor Preston Foster served as vice president for Frontier Properties, Inc. The casino area reopened in April 1959. Two years later, Idaho banker and construction company owner Frank Wester sought to take over

14514-512: Was sold in 1951, to a group led by McAfee. The new ownership included Jake Kozloff and Beldon Katleman , the latter of whom also owned the El Rancho Vegas. By 1954, Kozloff was the primary stockholder, and the ownership group now included Murray Randolph. In June 1954, construction began on a $ 2 million expansion known as the New Frontier. The project included more rooms, new restaurants, and additional casino space. The Little Church of

14637-470: Was the home of the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas. In 1995, Wynn's company proposed to build the Le Jardin hotel-casino in the marina area if the state of New Jersey built a road that connected to the hotel-casino. The company had also agreed to allow Circus Circus Enterprises and Boyd Gaming to build casinos on the site, but later reneged on the agreement. While the road, called

14760-524: Was the largest privately funded construction project in the nation as of 2005. Wynn successfully bid for one of three gaming concessions opened for tender in Macau . This property, known as Wynn Macau , opened on September 5, 2006. In the summer of 2008, hiring began for Encore Las Vegas , the newest in Wynn's collection of resorts. The tower of Encore is modeled after the Wynn Las Vegas tower, and they share

14883-409: Was the second hotel-casino resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The motel was mostly two stories, with some rooms on a third floor. It included 105 rooms at its opening, and an additional 100 would be added later. To maintain cool temperatures, cold water was carried through pipes in the walls of each room, originating from tunnels beneath the property. Because Griffith and Moore were inexperienced in

15006-551: Was the second smallest casino in the city, by 1983 it was the city's top earning casino. Wynn sold the Atlantic City Golden Nugget in 1987 for $ 440 million. Wynn's first major casino on the Las Vegas Strip was The Mirage , which opened on November 22, 1989. It was the first time Wynn was involved with the design and construction of a casino, and he financed the $ 630 million project largely with high-yield bonds issued by Michael Milken . Its construction

15129-657: Was undertaken by Wynn's company Mirage Resorts, Inc. When built, the Bellagio was the most expensive hotel in the world. In front of the hotel are the Fountains of Bellagio—shooting fountains choreographed to music that "dance" on the hotel's 8.5-acre man-made lake—which are now considered Las Vegas landmarks. The Bellagio is credited with starting a new spree of luxurious developments in Las Vegas. Among these developments include The Venetian , Mandalay Bay , and Paris Las Vegas . Wynn brought Mirage Resorts' style to Biloxi , Mississippi , in 1999, where he oversaw development of

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