Inquirer: Request Info On Circus Circus

[Inquirer]

I'm hoping someone on the board can answer a couple of questions about Circus Circus for a project I am developing on Las Vegas.

1. Who was the owner of Circus Circus when it opened in 1968.

2. What was the inspiration for the circus theme.

Any help is much appreciated.

[mr bojangles]

> 1. Who was the owner of Circus Circus when
> it opened in 1968.

I may be wrong but i think it was jay sarno, the same guy who built caesars.

> 2. What was the inspiration for the circus
> theme.

not sure here, but they did have an elephant in the casino when it first opened.

you could find alot of info on the circus circus c.o in SuperCasino, an interesting and easy read.

bojangles.

[Parker]

> I'm hoping someone on the board can answer a
> couple of questions about Circus Circus for
> a project I am developing on Las Vegas.

> 1. Who was the owner of Circus Circus when
> it opened in 1968.

Jay Sarno

> 2. What was the inspiration for the circus
> theme.

In previous generations, kids often fantasized about running away and joining the circus. Maybe they still do.

Sarno was big on escapist themes. Before he built Circus Circus, he built Caesars Palace. Caesars was aimed at upscale gamblers and high rollers. Circus Circus was for the working stiff - and his family. Sarno was way ahead of his time. It would be another 20 years before the rest of Vegas would go for the "family friendly" concept.

Sarno died in 1984.

> Any help is much appreciated.

Sure. Try the link below, and/or do a Google search for "Jay Sarno" "Circus Circus" "Las Vegas"

"Circus Circus is what everyone would be doing on Saturday night if the nazis had won the war." - Hunter S. Thompson.

Jay Sarno

[Hip Hip]

Do you plan on tearing the existing Circus Circus down or do you consider it a fixer upper?

[Bettie]

> 2. What was the inspiration for the circus
> theme.

It's not just a circus theme, but an older European circus theme. Here is the US, circus colors are generally bright yellow, orange, red and the clowns have big hair and pants. You'll find that the Circus Circus has muted purples, silver-grey and pink, with slightly more elegant jugglers and jester clowns. Regardless, it's hideous-looking.

Bettie

[Inquirer]