Then and now: Stateline casino ownership
No. 1 — Photo/CardCow.com
In the 1930s, Bill Harrah operated a poker parlor in Venice, Calif., prior to moving his business to Reno. In January 1955, he purchased George’s Gateway Club on the Lake Tahoe border of Stateline Avenue and Highway 50 (photo No. 1) which he opened as Harrah’s Club (No. 2) that summer.
No. 2 –Photo/CardCow.com
No. 3 — Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Museum
Until about 1960, Carson Valley landowners were still using the green meadows of summertime Tahoe for grazing cattle (No. 3).
“The Wildest Show at Tahoe” album (Capitol Records No. T-908, regarded as a classic) was recorded there in 1957 (No. 4) with Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and Sam Butera and The Witnesses in the original small South Shore Room.
No. 4 — Photo/Capitol Records
A decade and more later, Bill Cosby would record several of his comedy albums live in the new 750-seat South Shore Room across the street.
No. 5 — Photo/Lake Tahoe Historical Museum
In the late 1950s, Harrah’s expanded across the street with the purchase of Sahati’s Stateline Country Club and the Nevada Club (No. 5) which became Tahoe Harrah’s. A hotel was built in 1977 and today the name is Harrah’s Lake Tahoe (No. 6).
About mid-1960s, the original Harrah’s Club on the corner next to Harveys was rebranded as Harrah’s Thrifty Gambler. Harrah’s ultimately sold that corner property to Harveys.
No. 6 — Photo/Bill Kingman
No. 7 — Photo/Bill Kingman
As destiny has determined, it was Harrah’s in 2001 that purchased all of Harveys which includes the original 1955 Harrah’s Club corner location (No. 7).
— Bill Kingman