Then and now: From Sahara to Horizon
Opening in 1965 as Del Webb’s Sahara-Tahoe and adorned in Las Vegas-style flashing neon, its ornate dinner theater over the years headlined major stars like Elvis Presley who labeled it his favorite showroom.
If I recall correctly, the debut show was Phyllis Diller with the Osmond Brothers.
This also was the theater where entertainer Ann-Margret suffered a fall onstage and broke her jaw in the 1970s.
Taking on a Western theme remodel in 1983, the resort was renamed Del Webb’s High Sierra.
Next owner, Columbia-Sussex, renamed it again in 1990 as (today’s) Horizon Casino Resort. The classic showroom was partitioned into a multi-screen movie theater shortly afterward.
These photos from 1965 and 2012 were taken from the same vantage point, across Highway 50 in Harrah’s back parking lot. The casinos had no multi-level parking garages in 1965. And notice that virtually all the cars in the 1965 parking lot were of domestic manufacture.
— Bill Kingman
Didn’t Elvis play something like 72 shows in that showroom?
Ah yes, The old Sahara-Tahoe. When Elvis played there I believe it was for 2 or 3 nights. Big deal tho, I remember my folks motel being full of fans.Turn on the “no vacancy” sign!
A few years later, probably early 70’s, I had a couple of friends that worked there. They would put on their black and whites and their short hair wigs and go to work and all the while they would play James Brown on the cheap stereo as they got ready for work. “Get on up,hah, get on the good foot.”
A few years later my friends and I would go to the Sahara for the all you can eat buffet. I think it cost about $3.00 per person. Crummy food and plenty of it.
My buddies and I even wrote a song about it for our group ,The Tree Frogs,
called what else? “The Sahara Buffet”.
Crazy times indeed. Old Long Skiis
One of the best live shows EVER was Loggins and Messina at the Saraha. I believe that it was their last. What a night!
Alice Cooper tore up the place. Was a riot, no pun intended.
That was the end of such.
Alice Cooper also played at the Sahara. For a short time they showed movies in the showroom during the slow time of year. Thats where I saw the Frank Zappa film ,”200 Motels”.
Lottsa good memories from those old casino days.B.B.King or Elvin Bishop for a 2 drink minimun at Harveys Caberet lounge. Harrahs South Shore Room with big name entertainers and backed by “Les Brown and His Band of Renown”. “The top of The Wheel” with the Ron Rose group So many good shows!!! Old “long in the tooth” Skiis
Sold pair Elvis underwear to a women for 200 bucks.
I’ve still got lot the stars memorabilia hanging in the closet and a Sammy green eye.
People HAD MONEY,TAHOE WAS A NEW FRONT to explore.
Been too exploited in the modern age,now it’s the islands,foreign lands.
They had the best racebook in town along with showroom.
Those were the days my friend we thought they never end.
PEACE
Thanks again for the walk down memory lane Bill!!
It’s rumored that in negotiations to book Johnny Carson at Sahara-Tahoe’s showroom, Elvis’s pay was revealed. Johnny replied, “No one is paid more than Carson!” Ultimately, Carson did appear at Sahara-Tahoe.
I think a shout out is due to D (Dennis) Thorne who worked, if I’m not mistaken, all of the Elvis shows as a waiter or captian in the Sahara showroom, which was built as a state of the art facility at the time.