How Las Vegas lounges vanished from the iconic Strip forever
In the 1950s and '60s, lounges were the beating heart of the Las Vegas Strip. These intimate venues buzzed with high-energy acts that played from dusk until dawn, drawing smaller crowds than the grand showrooms. Among them, the Casbar Lounge at the Sahara became legendary—thanks in large part to Louis Prima, whose wild mix of jump blues, jazz, and comedy made it the hottest spot in town.
The lounge scene began with Mary Kaye, whose trio performed from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., turning Las Vegas into a city that never slept. Her late-night sets created a new kind of entertainment space—one where spontaneity ruled. The Sky Room at the Desert Inn took it further, offering the Strip's first 'view' lounge, a sleek retreat for high-rollers and celebrities seeking sophistication.
The Casbar Lounge at the Sahara became ground zero for Prima's reign, featuring an 85-foot bar and a stage designed to lure gamblers away from the tables. Meanwhile, the Celebrity Theatre at the Sands served as the unofficial after-hours hub for the Rat Pack, where impromptu jams followed their Copa Room performances. These lounges thrived on an anything-can-happen atmosphere, with musicians jamming late into the night.
But by the 1980s, corporate decisions reshaped the Strip. Casinos shifted to public ownership, prioritising profit per square foot. Lounges, it turned out, were too good at keeping patrons from gambling. Nightclubs, run by outside corporations willing to take the financial risk, became the new money-makers. One by one, the iconic lounges vanished—replaced by modern bars or repurposed spaces.
Today, none of the legendary lounges remain in their original form. The Sahara is now Westgate Las Vegas, its Casbar Lounge replaced by the Westgate Cabaret, hosting acts like magician Jen Kramer. The Sands site became The Venetian, with no equivalent venue, while the Flamingo operates modern bars instead of its historic lounge. The era of late-night spontaneity and intimate performances has faded, leaving behind a different kind of Strip.
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