We’ve come up with the perfect keepsake to remember 70th anniversary of El Cortez Hotel and Casino. We’ve partnered with No Mas to create these fabulous T-Shirts that showcase some of our past designs and looks of days gone by. We’ve pulled these designs from matchbooks, ash trays, and just about any other memorabilia we could find. These fabulous Tees can be found in our gift shop.

Read about them in GQ.

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In 70 years of operation, El Cortez Hotel & Casino has seen hundreds of thousands of cars come and go. We would like to showcase some of the classics that have graced our hotel over the past seven decades. In conjunction with our 70th year anniversary we are throwing our 2nd of 7 events, our Classic Car and Motorcycle Show.

This outdoor event will be held on the Jackie Gaughan Plaza and is open to the public. We will feature two live bands, The Ryan Whyte Maloney Band and The Freddie Eckstine Group. In addition food will be available with Engine 1 Pizza, a 1965 Seagate authentic fire truck which has been modified to include a wood-fire pizza oven. El Cortez Hotel and Casino will provide a cash bar as well for all guests.

The free event will showcase approximately 60 American-made, classic cars and motorcycles, courtesy of Ultra Car Unlimited, with five of the vehicles open to guests for photo opportunities both inside and outside the car. In true “vintage Vegas” fashion, El Cortez will also have a 1963 pink Cadillac on display with an Elvis impersonator behind the wheel for photo opportunities.

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Built in 1982, our lounge bar has long been a gathering place for sophisticated cocktails and classic tunes played by a live pianist. As we evolve with the rapid downtown growth realize it is time to revitalize this centerpiece. The El Cortez Lounge Bar will officially close on Sunday, June 19th as we begin construction on the PARLOUR. Scheduled for completion in September and designed by The Friedmutter Group, the PARLOUR will feature a classic lounge setting with warm rich tones, a baby grand piano, leather club chairs, and an overall elegant aesthetic.

El Cortez Hotel & Casino is quickly becoming know for seamlessly blending the classic with the hip and modern. Currently celebrating our 70th year anniversary, El Cortez is the oldest continually run hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Marion Hicks and J.C. Grayson built the El Cortez, downtown Las Vegas’ first major resort, in 1941 for $245,000. In 1945 the property was sold to a group involved in the organized crime syndicate including the iconic Bugsy Siegel. To finance the construction of the Flamingo, the group sold the property to J.K. Houssels who held the property until downtown legend Jackie Gaughan bought the casino in 1963. Mr. Gaughan, although now retired, still resides in the penthouse on the top floor of the hotel and can be seen daily playing poker and talking about old Vegas. In 2009 Mr. Gaughan sold the property to current owner, and former Protégé Kenny Epstein.

Our most recent addition to the property was the Cabana Suites. The Cabana Suites feature 64 boutique style rooms in the newly renovated space which was formally known as The Ogden House Motel. In the past few years El Cortez has spent over $30 million on construction and renovation, and we aren’t stopping there.

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Join us on Saturday June 18th as we welcome the Budweiser Clydesdales to downtown Las Vegas and El Cortez. The horses will be here from 6:30 pm until 8:30pm celebrating nearly 80 years of brewing tradition. Join them as they parade around Fremont East and end up in front of El Cortez for pictures and fun!

“The scene has become a familiar one throughout the years. No parade is complete without the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales pulling a red, white, and gold beer wagon down a main street that comes to life with the cheers and applause of onlookers.
It was in 1933, shortly after the signing of the Cullen-Harrison Act effectively ending national Prohibition for beer when the Budweiser Clydesdales became a part of Anheuser-Busch. August A. Busch Jr. and Adolphus Busch III decided to present a hitch of the mighty horses to their father to commemorate the first bottle of post-Prohibition beer brewed in St. Louis.
Mr. Busch told his father that he bought a new car and asked him to step outside and take a look at the new vehicle. But instead of a Model “T,” Mr. Busch’s father gazed upon a Clydesdale hitch pulling a red, white, and gold beer wagon. The Budweiser Clydesdales were formally introduced to the nation on April 7, 1933 in St. Louis, Mo.”

In Celebration of this tremendous event we will be offering $1 Budweiser 12oz draughts at all casino bars now through June 18, 2011. Come and celebrate with us as we anticipate the arrival of these icons!

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June 14th is the date that we commemorate the formal adoption of the flag of the United States of America which happened that date in 1777. The U.S. Flag consists of 13 vertical red and white stripes representing the 13 original colonies, as well as 50 white stars in a blue rectangle, referred to as the union, representing the 50 states of the United States.

We are proud to have such a strong symbol representing us as The United States of America, and in celebration El Cortez will be giving away free Marie Calender’s apple pie from noon until 6pm to all of our players. Join us tomorrow as we celebrate our colors and salute Old Glory.

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Already it’s just a few days away. This Saturday will be the 4th monthly Vegas StrEATs food, art and music festival!

The fun starts at 6pm and the event keeps going until 2am. Join El Cortez Hotel and Casino and all the talent and excitement as we celebrate this second Saturday on Jackie Gaughan Plaza. We’ll have great drink specials that include:
Bud & Budlight Draft Beer: $2
Shock Top Draft Beer: $2
Jameson Irish Whiskey: $3
Jagermeister Shooters: $3
Pepsi Products: $2

Food Trucks: SLIDIN THRU, FUKUBURGER, LBS PATTY WAGON, SNOW ONO, MUNCHEEZE, TOP NOTCH BBQ, LULU’S ON THE MOVE, GROUCHY JOHNS, FOOD SLINGERS

Artists/STREET-WEAR: EMPIRE GALLERY (PRESENTS LIVE ART WALL), PHARMACY, MITZ, SUITE 160, CIVILIAN, KNYEW, GRANDIOSE, ORIGINAL HOOLIGANS, STUDIO21, FEATURE, GYPSY DEN, WEAPONS OF GLASS DESTRUCTION, SHOWROOM TATTOO

Music: AIR STEGOSAURUS, CUPPS, DJ SPAIR, LEFT GINSBERG, DJ SCIENTIFIC, DJ ZO, DLKTK, KING, 19SIXTY

Be sure to follow all the trucks and artists on twitter to find out when and where they will be. This is an 18+ event (minors must be accompanied by an adult), and a cash bar is available to those 21+ with valid ID.

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Tonight we are honored to celebrate the forty-ninth wedding anniversary of our mayor Oscar Goodman to his wife, and mayoral candidate Carolyn Goodman. Join us as we celebrate their marital bliss with cocktails, and food provided by Slidin Thru and Muncheeze gourmet food trucks on the Jackie Gaughan Parkway. Congratulations on your marriage and we wish you good luck in all your future years together!

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Summer is in full swing in fabulous Las Vegas and we’re ready to celebrate. In keeping with the season, our jackpot giveaway this month is island shirts! Every time you hit a $200 jackpot you’ll not only receive a ticket for our Saturday Night Drawing, but you’ll also receive an Island T-shirt to stay cool in.
Don’t forgot June also means it’s time for our $25,000 Cash is King drawing which will be held June 18th at 3pm.

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We want to send out a big thank you to all our friends at Southern Wine & Spirits for helping us celebrate our 70th anniversary. Their gift of this beautifully engraved bottle of Ferrari-Carano is an elegant present that we are honored to recieve. Be sure and swing by El Cortez to take a look, we will proudly have it on display at our lobby bar!

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