Vintage 1946 47 Original "First Menu" Flamingo Hotel Casino Las Vegas Siegel Era
Seller: rareoldstuff ✉️ (1,224) 100%,
Location: Dallas, Texas, US,
Ships to: US,
Item: 263829579492
VINTAGE 1946 47 ORIGINAL "FIRST MENU" FLAMINGO HOTEL CASINO LAS VEGAS SIEGEL ERA. No International Sales..... Quite a significant historical item....Vintage 1946....1947 Flamingo Hotel Las Vegas first issue menu. This is the original "FIRST MENU" used at the FLAMINGO HOTEL & CASINO Las Vegas, Nevada. It has the original first used Flamingo Bird on the cover. You can google "Flamingo Hotel Menu History" and see a picture of this first menu and read the profile concerning its origin. It was also the one used for the grand opening Dec. 26, 1946. It was used up until several months after Siegels death June 20, 1947. It is a very classy looking large menu it measures 12 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches in the closed position and 19 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches in the full open position. It has a beautiful simulated green felt type cover accented with the original large Flamingo Bird logo featured on the cover. I am sure that Bugsy Siegel definitely was involved with its creation as he was totally in charge of the food and beverage selections, administration, and functions. This being the first menu he certainly would have been involved with it. Immediately after Siegels death within hours the Flamingo was taken over by mob affiliates Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway per the instructions of Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. After Siegels death the Flamingo went through an expansive renovation adding additional rooms and other hotel and casino amenities. After completion of renovations it was renamed the "Fabulous Flamingo". New menus including food service menu additions were also changed and added around this same timeline...... Note this first Flamingo menu has the original first used Flamingo name logo on it. This is a very scarce and difficult menu to acquire as most did not survive and were used for only a brief period. When new menus were produced the old ones became obsolete and were destroyed per the hotel & dinning management. The survivors were the ones taken by guests and kept as souvenirs of their visit. It is in original as found good to fair used condition.....It appears that sometime in its long life having had some water damage causing some of the lettering to be missing i.e. peeled off areas......see pics. Of all the artifacts, collectibles, and true vintage memorabilia from the Flamingo this first menu is one of the most highly sought after. It brings the best of lasting memories as it was part of the daily fabric of the Flamingo's beginnings. Everyone used them, commented on them, liked or disliked them, held them, and collected them. No other item received as much attention as the "MENU". Here are some interesting characteristics and observations associated with this first Flamingo menu. 1...It was noted that Bugsy wanted the simulated "green felt" on the menu cover to coincide with all the green felt covered gambling tables. Also the original large Flamingo Bird logo on the cover to also coincide with all the Flamingo birds on all the gaming and gambling tables, table ware, ashtrays, etc... and all other related advertising as well. 2...It was a familiar and knowledgeable rumor that Bugsy personally ordered and was involved with all the Flamingo grounds i.e. landscaping especially all the "Palm Trees". He ordered and paid for them and they were planted. The supplier dug them up after initially planting them then drove them away. The Supplier then returned with them the next day and resold the same palm trees back to Bugsy. This plus very high construction cost overruns and other "unjustified expenses" is what finally led to Siegels demise with his mob associates and his eventual death...... LOOK at the back cover of this menu you can see that the Palm Trees pictured on it are freshly planted and trimmed attesting to it being on the same timeline with the opening date of the hotel and this first Flamingo menu. 3...Note the large picture on the back cover of the newly built Flamingo buildings. I placed an arrow pointing to Bugsy Siegels and "sometimes" girlfriend Virginia Hill penthouse suite located on the entire upper top floor in the Oregon Building. NOTE...The arrow does not appear on the menu used for reference purposes only. Also, the other text does not appear on the cover and inside the menu there to protect copy rights. 4... Note the water damage on the menu.......I know its "speculation" but could have been caused by the extreme storm i.e. torrential rain throughout opening night at the Flamingo. Whoever took it from the Flamingo could have exposed it to the bad weather. The torrential rain prevented many of the Hollywood elite and stars invited to the grand opening from attending. 5...Further note the original large pictures on the back cover shows the front of the flamingo as it originally appeared. Here are a few glances back in time regarding the beginnings at the Flamingo........ On opening night Dec. 26, 1946 the featured attraction stars appearing at the Flamingo were Rose Marie, Jimmy Durante, Tommy Wonder, Eddie Jackson, and Xavier Cugat and his band. Also, George Raft attended the grand opening as a friend gesture to Bugsy Siegel but did not entertain the guests. Also, the Andrews Sisters greeted guests at the front door but did not perform on opening night. For the most part opening night was a failure due to severe bad weather a torrential rain storm persisting throughout the evening curtailed the guests from attending. Also, it prevented Hollywood Stars, dignitaries and gambling guests from attending as well. Additionally, the Flamingo did not have completed rooms and guests had to book overnight accommodations at the Last Frontier and El Rancho Vegas. The 2nd opening occurred two days later i.e. Dec. 28, 1946 guest stars included Veronica Lake, Lucille Ball, George Raft, Sonny Tufts, Eleanor Parker, Bill Holden, Brian Bowlevy, and June Haver. If you are a serious collector of original true vintage Las Vegas memorabilia, especially "The Flamingo" this first Flamingo menu will be at the forefront and focus of attention in your collection. It will certainly continue to increase in value, rarity, and sought after by collectors while you enjoy it in your collection. It is increasingly difficult to find any first addition menus especially one as desirable and historical as the Flamingo......Guaranteed authentic, old, and original. Buyer pays 8.95 which includes insurance for USPS expedited Priority mail to anywhere within the 48 contiguous United States only. Please note the following conditions of sale. I ACCEPT PAY PAL PAYMENT OR ANY MAJOR CREDIT CARDS PROCESSED THROUGH PAY PAL. I DO NOT SELL INTERNATIONALLY--NO INTERNATIONAL SALES--NO EXCEPTIONS. PAYMENT DUE WITHIN 2 DAYS FROM CLOSE OF AUCTION. Thanks, please look at my other auctions for more old vintage items........
- Condition: Used
- Condition: Good to fair overall condition commensurate with age, use and wear.....Has what appears to be water damage to some of the menu selections. Also pressed down type marks on the cover from storage & random mark on back--see pic. and listing info. below......
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
PicClick Insights - Vintage 1946 47 Original "First Menu" Flamingo Hotel Casino Las Vegas Siegel Era PicClick Exclusive
- Popularity - 2 watchers, 0.3 new watchers per day, 7 days for sale on eBay. Good amount watching. 0 sold, 1 available.
- Best Price -
- Seller - 1,224+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings.
People Also Loved PicClick Exclusive
Flamingo restaurant menu 1950s New England area
$29.95 Buy It Now or Best Offer
Vtg Room Service Menu From The Flamingo Hilton W/ Bonus Map Of Hotel Building
$35.00 Buy It Now
Old Restaurant Menu- Flamingo Snack Bar- On The Lite Side
$20.99 Buy It Now
Collectible Menu from Flamingo Hotel
$39.99 0 Bids 3d 4h