The Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas can't catch a break. Opened in 1955, it was the first hotel-casino in the town to cater to blacks. Back when people of color were unwelcome at the Stardust or Tropicana, they were welcome to lose everything at the Moulin Rouge. The place was also notable for, some said, the best entertainment in the city. Headliners at the "white" hotels were said to finish their shows, then scurry over to the Moulin Rouge and hear Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey or Louis Armstrong…
…for five months. That's how long the place was open. No one has ever explained exactly why it closed — "poor management" is an oft-mentioned reason — but its owners filed for bankruptcy before '55 was over and that's when the legend got interesting. The stylish building was largely vacant for decades after, reopening partially and occasionally for special events or location shooting. Its most interesting use was in 1960 when Vegas was torn by protests over racial discrimination. A meeting was convened between the N.A.A.C.P. and major hotel owners and it was held, appropriately, at the Moulin Rouge. There, the desegregation of Las Vegas was negotiated and announced.
But the Moulin Rouge was never again a hotel-casino. Every year or two, someone would announce plans to refurbish and reopen. Every year or two, plans would fall through. And every few years, some portion of the building would catch fire. In 1992, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places but deals continued to fall through and fires continued to erupt. Recently, some pretty firm plans were announced to renovate the existing structure and add on a new 700-room hotel, casino, concert venue and jazz center. And then yesterday afternoon, most of the existing structure was consumed in a new fire.
On the one hand, it's a shame. It was a beautiful building and the place had an important sense of history. On the other hand, it's kinda nice when a hotel's as unlucky as most of us are in Vegas.