"We are made of starstuff" was the catchphrase from astrophysicist Carl Sagan's 1980 miniseries, Cosmos.
Of course, no one would name the "World's Finest Resort Hotel" something as mundane as "starstuff". You need a name that has a cosmically magical quality that will grab attention. And outlined in glowing neon, the giant googie-style letters spelling STARDUST meant you had arrived at the first "elegant supper-club gambling entertainment complex".
Originally conceived as the "Starlite", Tony Camero began building Las Vegas' newest casino in 1954. Camero opened his first casino in 1931, when gambling was legalized in Nevada. Utilizing the new concept of roadside architecture to lure customers, he began building a 5-winged complex with 1,000 rooms. Alas, Camero ran out of money and spent his final moments at the craps table at the Desert Inn, succumbing to a fatal heart attack. The project languished for 2 years until it was bought by John Factor, whose brother Max owned a popular cosmetics line. Once completed, it opened for business on July 2, 1958 as the Stardust.
According to this embossed matchbook, the Stardust once had 5 restaurants: Moby Dick featured seafood and steaks, Aku Aku was Polynesian, The Platter for relaxed dining, Palm Room was the 24 hour coffee shop, and Cafe Continental featured the popular Lido de Paris floorshow.
Just as the universe expands and contracts, so did the Stardust. In no time, the new casino has usurped its neighbor, the Royal Nevada, to create the Stardust Auditorium. In the early years, one feature was a drive-in theater that was removed during the first major renovation in 1964, that saw the creation of polygonal Big Dipper pool. After the final expansion in 1991, the Stardust had transformed its 1,000 first-floor "bungalows" into a 9-floor complex with 1,592 rooms. The French showgirls got the boot in 1992, and with much fanfare the whole complex shut down in November, 2006. 6 months later, starry or not, the casino/hotel/resort was dust itself.
Since that time, the old Stardust site has been slated for new development. Scheduled to open in 2010 with 5,300 rooms, the Echelon failed to have enough $tar$tuff, if you know what I mean. Two years ago, a new developer, Resorts World, announced an Asian-themed complex would rise on the site instead. With 3,500 rooms, the mega-resort would also duplicate (on a smaller scale) the Great Wall of China and a panda habitat. While construction finally began this year, the pandas have been put on hold, at least until they have enough $tar$tuff.
Note: This early 1970's matchbook does not show the address, but the Stardust was located at 3000 Las Vegas Blvd.
Go ahead, send your camel to bed- especially if you can't get to the oasis by 10 PM. When you're out "in the middle of nowhere" South Dakota, not much stays open until midnight.
(The KC Matchgirl was never a fan of Maria Muldaur's 1974 hit, but the song does get stuck in your head when you think of the word "oasis".)
But if you get up early, like at 7 AM early, you and your camel can stock up on anything and everything you need for those lonely stretches of interstate travel. Whether you need sliced cheese, frozen peas, spray for fleas, band-aids for your knees, chains for keys (keychains), there's all that and much more at the mall-like complex that is Al's Oasis.
The Oasis Inn is just one of the many components of this family-owned business, just off I-90 at the Chamberlain/Oacoma exit, not far from the Missouri River. As such, the Oasis Inn offers some unusual ammenities, such as protected boat parking, a fish & game cleaning area, and a freezer for storing game. At the other end of the spectrum, they offer "fancy suites", whirlpool and sauna, and free movies. And for seasoned travelers they promote a "traveling men's rate" and truck & bus parking.
The rest of the oasis complex includes a restaurant, deli, banking, and a campground. What started as a small-town grocery store by Albert Mueller, a German immigrant, in 1919 mushroomed as a beacon for travelers as the highways and interstates expanded through South Dakota. By 1989 a new 10,000 sq. ft. complex was built, only to be expanded another 17,000 sq. ft. in 2013.
And just to remind you this oasis is in South Dakota, Al's now has the over-sized fiberglass bison for your photo opportunities, with or without your camel.
Note: The Oasis Inn & Al's Oasis is located at 1000 E. Highway 16, Oacoma, SD. This matchbook dates to the late 1980's, early 1990's.
It's the final frame for this bowling champ- watch his somewhat frentic form as he throws for the strike...
Commerce City Bowl offered more than just bowling. Billiards, the ever-popular snack bar, a play room for "kiddies" and FREE parking. Patrons could also phone in reservations, and just to be sure you're dialing the right phone number, the matchcover lists it twice.
Fearing annexation by the nearby city of Denver, the locals incorporated in 1952, naming their new town "Commerce Town". After 10 years of living within these generic boundaries, the citizenry voted to change the name to Commerce City. In recent years, they had the option to change/update the name once more but the majority stuck with Commerce City. The KC Matchgirl thinks it could cost a lot of money to change the mayor's stationary and the city limit signs, at any rate.
As for the bowling facility, one could assume that fun was had by all for many years, what with all the strikes and spares, eating snacks at the snack bar, kiddies playing in the play room, and all that free parking. But in actuality, the building at 6495 Monaco has had a longer affiliation with its second tenant, The Edelweiss Club. This German social club has used the former bowling alley, according to their records, for 40 years. The club had its last event, a farewell dance, in September 2013, then moved to a new facility in Morrison, CO soon after.
Since July 2014, the building has a new life as the Salon Madrid Event Center, hosting a wide variety of events, from concerts to private receptions, catering mostly to the Hispanic population.
So while the sign on the door has changed, and changed, the concept of entertainment, food, and fun has remained.
Note: This matchcover dates to the mid-1970's
Traveler, are you weary from your journey? Need a convenient place to rest and recharge? Just ahead, a luminous neon sign along the interstate beckons you.
The Trade Winds Motor Hotel & Restaurant once had 2 locations in Oklahoma, with matching neon signs and amenities. Whether stopping for the night in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, travelers could "Dine in Delight by Candle Light" at the Club & Restaurant. According to this 40-count matchbook, other amenities included: swimming pool, playground for the kiddies, qualified baby sitters, patio-dining, free TV in every room, and COLOR TV in the lobby.
Part of the Best Western Motel system, Trade Winds was AAA approved. For whatever reason, the tropical/Caribbean/ swaying palm trees theme was popular among motel owners who wanted to offer their patrons a scene of exotic relaxation at the side of a busy interstate. The actual "trade winds" are a prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics used by ancient mariners to cross the ocean from Europe to the Americas.
Today, the Tulsa location is still operating under the same name, with 2 complexes on the same stretch of E. Skelly Drive. The original motel has been updated and the restaurant is now named "Elephant Run". The KC Matchgirl kids you not; anyplace that sounds more like a zoo exhibit than an eating establishment should probably be avoided. Lastly, the neon sign pictured on the matchcover has been replaced by a lighted plastic sign with a drawing of the original- a rather sad tribute to its former self.
In Oklahoma City, at the intersection listed as an address for the motel, the 4 corners feature 2 large business buildings and 2 large vacant lots. Whether the Trade Winds was demolished recently or years ago, it is clearly gone with the wind.
Interestingly enough, miles away, on the other side of town, there is a Best Western Motel operating under the name "Trade Winds"- the name and the concept lives on.
Date: Mid- 1960's
Location: Oklahoma City, 31st & Lincoln, just blocks from the state capitol building, on Route 66
Tulsa, 3141 E. Skelly Drive, off Interstate 44
Matches and fire seem to be a necessary danger. We need matches to quickly bring forth a flame, which can be either useful or deadly.
This matchbook, produced by Diamond Match International Corporation has the unique, but important message about the safe use of matches.
Ever since the first matches (congreves) were invented in 1827, the populous has found the phosphorous match to be dangerous. Improvements to lessen the various dangers have come in baby steps. An early salesman for Diamond Match suggested moving the enclosed striker to the outside cover and the "close cover" wording we now take for granted. In 1973, manufacturers moved the striker from the front cover to the back, hence older matchbooks are often called "front strikers".
No matter the precautions taken by manufacturers, ultimately the final step in safety comes from the user.
In this promotion, adults are reminded to keep safety first in this cover's chiastic message. Use of the chiasmus ( ky-AZ-mus, n. a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases) imparts an added impact to a simple message.
Take it from the match, it knows-
Note: The KC Matchgirl is going to take an educated guess that this public service message was produced as a direct result of industry changes in 1973, when the striker switched from front to back covers. For other covers in this series, see the post from June 2018, On The Move.
The KC Matchgirl often views matchbooks as tiny story books. They do, after all, have front and back covers with text or artwork that is meant to be informational to the reader.
Some of these "story books" continue the story with a personal memory, as a souvenir of a place the collector has been and captures that moment in time.
Other books come into a collection as a gift from friends or a trade/purchase from other collectors- sometimes you remember how you got it and sometimes you don't.
Such is the story of this book with the B.P.O.E. logo. The KC Matchgirl doesn't know any Elks, much less anyone from Missoula, Montana, where Hell Gate ( lodge) 383 is located.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was founded in New York in 1868 as a drinking club for entertainers. At some point soon after, they decided they could be more benevolent and protective by naming themselves after a large hooved animal and doing charitable acts.
What "Hell Gate" refers to I have no clue, but 383 refers to the fact that Missoula, Montana has the 383rd Elks lodge founded in America.
Apparently, drinking is still involved at most Elks lodges, as pictured in this stylish, modern lounge on the back cover- at least it was stylish and modern and newly remodeled around 1950.
As for Bill, be sure to tell him "Hello". Not sure if he's the bartender or maybe a doorman who makes sure your Elk credentials are in order before entering. All I know is that the saddle of the book reads "Hello Bill" in red script lettering, perhaps a cryptic message from long ago that only a fellow Elk would understand.
Most likely, these books were meant for other Elks but somehow this one fell into non-Elk hands before it fell into mine, and hence tell its tiny story.
The Hell Gate Lodge in Missoula, MT is located at 112 N. Patee St. and became a National Historic Site in 1990.
Sometimes things are not what they seem. The KC Matchgirl was intrigued by this matchbook for The KOCHI Motel.
The large Chinatown font gives the impression that perhaps this motel
has an Asian architectural element and how unique would that be? At
least in Yankton, South Dakota?
And just revel in the postcard text used to describe the KOCHI- "The really new idea in suburban fun centers! Luxurious
Kochi Motel, king-sized pool and patio combined with the elegance of
your own private club for dining and dancing, provide the ideal
atmosphere for relaxation and fun. Truly unique luxury at pleasing
prices...in the heart of America's newest vacationland!"
Fun AND luxurious? Elegant AND relaxing? But wait, there's more! Text inside the matchbook cover claims these amenities: coffee shop, all rooms with balcony, luxurious honeymoon suite, color TV- radio-background music, ideally suited for conventions and banquets with the ultimate in facilities, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, listed under the heading "Dine in the elegant atmosphere of the home of the Kochi Supper Club". Yes, that is a headscratcher of a statement.
And good luck finding a place that's only listed as "North on Highway 81" How far north? And what if you're driving south, east, or west? And to top it all off. "Kochi" is not an Asian name at all, it's actually a port on the west coast of India. The motel itself is pretty much the typical mid-century modern style found all across America at one time.
Fun-loving luxury-seekers, I think your chain has been yanked.
Despite all this, the KOCHI Motel and Supper Club seems to have been a fairly popular spot for travelers and diners. In fact, the Yankton County Livestock Feeders Association held their yearly meeting there in 1965 and the Kochi Supper Club (whether it was elegant or not) was thriving as a live music establishment as late as 1979.
Still standing on the main drag of Broadway near 12th, the motel is now named the Broadway Inn and the supper club is a place where everybody knows your name, Cheers Bar & Grill.
