Friday, January 16, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
JOHN L. SMITH: Horseshoe's sinking fortunes obvious to many toward the end
It was a week of transition on the boulevard with the closure of Binion's Horseshoe Club, a downtown landmark for more than half a century but one that in recent years bore little resemblance to the glorious gambling hall built by Benny Binion.
The announced purchase of the Horseshoe by Harrah's amounts to a mixed blessing, for the gaming giant appears more interested in acquiring the "brand" of the casino and its famed World Series of Poker than in dumping many millions into the property.
Some casino observers say the Horseshoe suffered most from the mismanagement of owner Becky Binion Behnen. Others believe even the most seasoned operators couldn't have made the Horseshoe lucky.
One thing is certain: In recent months, the Horseshoe's many problems were not secret to either employees or longtime customers.
One source reports that local gambler-developer Billy Walters gave clear instructions to his associates to immediately cash all betting tickets made at the Horseshoe. Don't wait, he reportedly told his partners, or it might be too late.
One reader questioned the ability of second-generation operators to succeed in Las Vegas. (He apparently decided to leave the Fertitta and Gaughan families out of his theory.)
He wrote, "Once again we see a second generation failing with a successful business the father started -- proving once again that just because you are born into a business, it doesn't mean you have the heart, skill, drive, etc. to run it.
"Glad Harrah's came to the rescue, but as with all the corporate joints in town, you will need your first born and two references to get a comp."
That the Horseshoe headed steadily downhill isn't in doubt, but one Des Moines, Iowa, couple's experience illustrates just how far it fell near the end.
"Over the past 15 years, my wife and I have been to Las Vegas many times, usually staying downtown," says Keith Neal, a 51-year-old fire captain. "For many of those years, all of our gaming was at the Horseshoe. We always found the employees to be helpful, friendly, very knowledgeable and professional.
"I was surprised last year on our visit many of the craps tables had been removed for video poker. The million-dollar pictures were no more. The place just did not have the same feel."
But one incident pushed them over the top.
"When my wife complained to me that the restrooms were not clean (I had noticed too) and that a woman was smoking crack in a stall, that ended our love affair with the Horseshoe," Neal says. "We were loyal customers, but knowing the management had changed, we decided to go elsewhere."
COACHMAN'S CLOSES: The Coachman's Inn, 3240 S. Eastern Ave., has closed after more than three decades of continuous service to locals and members of the sporting crowd.
When Anthony Spilotro was alive, locals watched him meet in a booth at the dimly lighted restaurant and bar, where local businessmen, attorneys and judges were sometimes seen in the company of their nieces.
The Coachman's was also the scene of a near-gunfight between Spilotro and double-tough Las Vegas cop Gene Clark. The narrowly averted shootout became the stuff of street legend.
DUNES REUNION: The Dunes is alive in spirit. Pegg Wallace and friends have scheduled the 11th annual Dunes employee reunion for 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at the New York City Bar & Grill, 6168 Spring Mountain Road.
JUSTICE DELAYED: The Thomas Williams-Richie Melito Jr. fight fix trial has been delayed again in federal court. A new trial date has been scheduled for May. The indictment charges Williams and manager Robert Mitchell with sports bribery and conspiracy.
GOODMAN ACTS: Call it type casting. Mayor Oscar Goodman will appear in a Feb. 12 episode of the popular "CSI" television series as ... a lawyer.
The mayor, however, was upstaged by UNLV professor Hal Rothman in George Will's Thursday column on Las Vegas.
Careful, professor. I hear the former mob mouthpiece still has a few bags of cement left in the garage.
ON THE BOULEVARD: KVBC-TV, Channel 3, investigative reporter Glen Meek is quitting the news racket to accept an investigator's position with the federal public defender.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.
