Stardust - Final Morning - Evel Knievel

From the final morning of The Stardust being open for business, this shot taken near the main entrance. Evel Knievel slots with out of service already lit up and tagged on the machines.

Remembering The Stardust

The final craps roll at The Stardust - from the morning of 1 November 2006.

[reference LLLS :)]

Stardust - Echelon Place Construction

Construction of Echelon Place, as photographed an hour or two ago. And a comparison shot of the same vicinity when The Stardust was still open.

This was sports book (north) entrance area of The Stardust. In the background is Circus Circus.

Stardust - The (Wayne Newton) Theater

The final night of The Stardust being open, was Halloween 2006. Perfect.

On that night I had the opportunity to walk on the stage of The Stardust Theater, which was more famously known as The Wayne Newton Theater, until he left.

Here is the performers view of the theater.

Las Vegas - Your Last Chance

The thing which is unfortunate about the progress of Las Vegas, is the significant eradication of anything old. For those who visited Las Vegas over the last 15 years, they to varying degrees were able to see a mix of old and new on The Las Vegas Strip.

In early 1996 it was possible to visit The Mirage, even the Stratosphere when it opened in April 1996, and also visit The Sands.

Also at that time, The Luxor could be visited, but right next door the Hacienda. Not as famous as The Sands, but still a smaller, older place which has since been replaced by Mandalay Bay.

Some of these new places might be much better than some of the older places. More comfortable. More exciting. More incredible. Yet there was for a certain period of time the very unique mix of old and new on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Now though, it is a much more lopsided mix. Much more new, much less old. And so I suppose the period of old and new is not over, but pretty close to it.

Much like there was a time when horse and buggies shared the streets with automobiles, there was a time when nostalgia still lived as open businesses alongside the newer hotels in Las Vegas.

There are still other old areas of Las Vegas, but for the purpose of this article I am limiting my thoughts to The Strip, which I belive is the most well known and visited part of Las Vegas.

Here accompanying these thoughts is a photo taken before the implosion of The Stardust. I have numbered several items.

1-Encore (under construction and part of Wynn).

2-Stardust (since imploded).

3-The Frontier (closes in less than two months).

4-Trump (opens in February 2008).

The old is going, and if you visit Las Vegas, you must pay attention to it, because it is your last chance.

Stardust - Pre Implosion Demolition

Here is a shot from Las Vegas Boulevard, of The Stardust, approximately 5 weeks before the implosion.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion - Aftermath (group b)

Before and after photographs of The Stardust in Las Vegas. Here we see the main face of The Stardust as it looked while still open in October 2006, and a comparison photograph looking the same direction the day after the implosion.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion - Aftermath

Well, The Stardust is gone. Even though I watched the implosion in person, coming back in daylight and seeing it all destroyed, was uncomfortable.

Right after the implosion, the darkness of night, and ensuing debris cloud, made it seem as if The Stardust was still there. When the building dropped, the dust came on very thick. At that point the building could not have been seen, even it it was still standing.

Walking away there was still the point of reference, the vertical arms which had held the now-gone main sign. The sign arms and lower display section were partially visible as the cloud rolled across Las Vegas Boulevard. So except for the very moment of seeing the building drop, there was no moment to look over the site and allow the new visual impress of an open lot to set on my mind. To replace what my mind knows and expects. To confront the phantom perception.

The time right after the implosion was spent getting away, and getting air, and feeling dreamed out while walking through the oddball pseudo snowstorm of dust on a warm night, through darkness and white ground, and past neon lights softened by the haze. Just hours earlier I had walked those streets among great numbers of people. But after the implosion, and after a brief time spent getting air at a store, Las Vegas Boulevard had become rather desolate. Stragglers here and there. Everyone else had already found a place, whether it was their real destination or just nearby shelter.

It it is no wonder that when I returned the next day, in the light of afternoon, that I was uncomfortable at seeing clearly, what the clouds and action had obscurred when The Stardust was imploded.

Las Vegas - The Stardust Implosion - More Details

The way it began.

Multiple syncrolite beams of white xenon turned on in a fanned out formation. They all were raised to a vertical position, forming a cohesive beam of light. This beam of light then tipped over so that the right corner of The Stardust was illuminated. It remained like that for 4 seconds, and then went dark.

This movement seemed to me to be a sort of salute, similar to the manner of performing present arms, with a saber.

After the salute went dark, the fireworks began.

Five individual firework shots were launched in succession from left to right. This volley of five was done three times, and upon the 15th shot (the end of the 3rd volley) the full force of the fireworks came on.

Fireworks are artistic, and it is difficult or pointless to present logic in order to substantiate a particular color or shape. But somehow this particular display was the perfect display to represent The Stardust. It wasn't just a random variety of fireworks thrown to the sky with the main concern being coming in at the agreed upon cost.

This display looked like what The Stardust would have looked like, if The Stardust was a fireworks display instead of a hotel.

The final fireworks shot was at 3 minutes 21 seconds after the first. It ended distinctly, and was the equivalent of a drummer striking a snare three times.

In the momentary still, the crowd cheered the end. But the building came back to life with an encore the likes of which I have never seen.

The building became lit with fire at the center bottom, and like a fast fuse, the fire ran to the left and right; it went up the sides and met again at the top center of the building. Some more firework shots were launched over the The Stardust as the entire front perimeter was ablaze and flashing incredibly. And then the number 10 lit like a fire on the entire face of the building, and the crowd which was long since in the hands of the performer, called out, ten, nine, and so on, as one fiery number blazed into another until reaching "1."

The flashing continued at the perimeter. A simultaneous launch of 5 fireworks shot not too high over the roof, immediately followed by another simultaneous launch which crowned the first five. Then the thunder of the actual implosion began. The building collapsed, from the center and left side first, and the right (Las Vegas Boulevard side) falling into the center of the building. The center of itself. The smaller building which was also imploding at the same time was quickly obscured by the smoke.

The display was so incredible that when the implosion finally came, it did not seem real.

When the countdown numbers were lit on the building, I could not believe that I was seeing and experiencing what I was seeing and experiencing.

People stood thrilled and stunned by what they had witnessed. Then the smarter ones started to get out of the area, because the same smoke which obscured the smaller building was quickly obscuring all of us.

Somebody screamed "run." There is no point in merely speaking "run" it must be screamed.

There was laughter and shouting. The Stardust could not have been seen, even if it had still been standing. Walking north on Las Vegas Boulevard, I felt like I was in some bizarre mix of a dream and warm snowstorm.

After a brief stay in a store, I headed back out on The Strip. The Stratosphere could not be seen. The ground was white. Everything was odd. I walked north to Circus Circus, and sat down on a bench in a shopping area. I felt not well. The smoke or ash or whatever it was, had been intense, and was not over. Employees were walking around wearing air masks, (dust masks ?). Some people held shirts over their faces.

I drank water and called a friend. No answer. So I called the FiveHundyByMidnight.com hotline and left a message describing the implosion. I don't think that I made too much sense, and quickly bailed out of the call.

I think I said something like "Hi this is Roy and I am choking to death in Circus Circus."

Trying to revive myself I walked around, and went to a small grocery shop near a timeshare stand. The guy on line in front of me was complaining that if they were going to blow up a building, they should have let people know. He lit a cigarette as he walked out. I got some drinks and made my way to the garage.

Outside cars were covered in white. Some windshields had been written on comically, by running a finger through the ash of The Stardust. I made it to my car, and feeling somewhat better, called the Hundy hotline again. I was more coherent, but probably not as funny as my earlier distressed call.

Exiting out the Industrial side, I drove south. Off to my left I saw a beautiful crescent moon not too high. Something was odd about seeing it. Then I realized that I was able to see the moon because The Stardust no longer stood to obscure that point in the sky.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion (group C)

Here in group C, is the aftermath. The dust cloud came on heavy and fast. At first everyone was just looking at it, and then running from it.

The 4th photo from the top shows a group of people being turned away from entering a store. Petty authority. Later some of us were let in the store through a back entrance by an employee who found us behind the building trying to get some air.

The ground was white. Cars - parking lots - the Circus garage, all white with Stardust.

I wrote a very heartfelt post yesterday, http://royvegas.blogspot.com/2007/03/stardust-end.html if you like what I am doing, give it a read.

I am shocked and delighted that The Stardust was sent off in as incredible a manner as it was. These photos do not do the end justice. The experience of The Stardust finale was the single most incredible thing I have ever seen.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion (group B)

Look at the top photo in this group. The number 2 is showing lit up on The Stardust. After the fireworks there was a countdown from 10 to 1, in fire numbers to initiate the implosion.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion (group A)

The Stardust was lit up in changing colors prior to the fireworks and implosion. When I first got on The Strip I saw The Stardust awash in colors, then I saw the great numbers of people hanging around. It was like a giant party in the streets, the parking garages, everywhere.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion - Unbelievable

A short post to get this out there. More extensive later.

The Stardust implosion was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Absolutely mindblowing.



The Strip was filled with people, milling about everywhere. The Stardust was illuminated throughout the night, in an everchanging selection of colors.



Fireworks were launched, and it was longer and much better than I expected. So much better, that I had to change memory cards late in the fireworks display, but shortly before the implosion. That was unnerving. (I took a little more than 700 photographs through the night.)



As the fireworks were coming to an end, The Stardust seemed to ignite in selected lines of fire. Then the countdown to the implosion occurred, with the numbers of the countdown lit in fire (or whatever it was that resembled fire) on the face of The Stardust.



Then the implosion. It did not seem as loud as the garage implosion. Maybe I am just becoming jaded, as this was my second implosion in a week.



The smoke cloud was much more significant than I had expected. It rolled quickly, and the entire area became white. Not just smoke - it was actually thick particulate matter.



I am going to post this now, and save greater detail for a later post. I have yet to go to sleep, but will have many photos up today.

The Stardust, the end.

This is it. Today is the big day. Here we are at the end.

For a short while after The Stardust closed, the exterior lights remained on. Then the reddish neon (which composed half of the blue-red two tone) went dark, and the STARDUST sign on the roof, was turned off. At the time, the building was still illuminated by blue lights. It was very odd to see The Stardust as a single blue tone.



The opportunity to see The Stardust in that phase was short lived, as soon the entire site went dark. Windows removed. Ground level buildings demolished. The famous three side rotating sign (the one which was struck by lightning in 2004) got much less press than the main sign, and was removed rapidly.



And then the famous main sign, over many days, was taken apart and removed.



It is worth noting that the red numbers 1958-2006 on the goodbye message of the main sign, were not on the sign at the time that The Stardust closed. They were added to the sign some time after 1 November 2006.



Today, (technically tomorrow) we come to the end of a beautiful and comfortable place, which used the outdated word "sundries" at their 24 hour shop, and had every right to do so proudly.



During the final days of The Stardust, the employees wore black Stardust t-shirts on which were written among other things, CLOSING TEAM.



For television purposes, a few select employees wore more formal attire on the final morning. Aside from those few, everyone had the closing team shirts on. It was sad and beautiful. Greatness does not come often.



So here we are at the end. Twelve hours from now (even less actually as I type) the Las Vegas Strip will be eerily without traffic. Police cars will be parked in intersections with their lights flashing. The Stardust, the shell that is left of it, will be illuminated by xenon lights.



Television reporters will provide live coverage in Las Vegas, and tomorrow news across the country will cover the implosion as a human interest story. The reporting will be television slick, delivered without authentic passion. It will be a news story.



To many people, The Stardust was a stage - a theater, in which parts of their lives played out. It does not seem that there are too many places where a person can be proud and happy to work. The people who worked those last weeks - the people who closed The Stardust, were just incredible.



As the place the employees loved was in it's final hour, the employees were graciously taking care of guests, and handing out free gifts.



And as the band played as they walked, leading a line of all visitors from inside near The Stardust Theater, through the building to outside the main entrance, I saw something that I will not forget. There were some employees standing inside the building who waved and said goodbye to everyone in the line that went past. I was there, and I have watched this many times on my film.



Finally the band led us out through the main front doors, and ended the music, and it was over.



Then for the first time, I saw that the entrance driveway had been blocked with an orange construction barrier; and it hit hard.



The Stardust is now a windowless shell that the wind blows through.



To many who are just visiting tonight, and to the inebriates who will be screaming, (as inebriates so like to do at implosions) the fall of The Stardust will just be an incredible event to witness.



But they don't know what I know. And that is that all that The Stardust has ever been - no place else will ever be.



My next post will be after the implosion of The Stardust, less than twelve hours from now. I have camera batteries to charge, and nothing more to say. Except...



Farewell

Stardust - Breaking Information

On Sunday night 11 March 2007 The Stardust was illuminated in a test of lighting to be used during the implosion. Syncrolites have been placed in rows around the property. At one point, large rectangles of light with the word "TESTING" written in them, slowly moved across the face of the main building.

I have heard, but not confirmed, that a movie company will be filming the implosion.

As well, last week, local NBC reported (just before the implosion of the Wynn garage) that the implosion of The Stardust will have fireworks being launched at the event.

Rain For Rent is set up on the property; the implosion cloud is going to be significant.

I was not happy to see The Stardust close. As long as it has though, it may as well go out with a finale fitting its name...

...The Legendary Stardust.

[The Stardust will be imploded at 0230 hours Tuesday 13 March 2007]

STARDUST 24 HOURS UNTIL IMPLOSION

The Stardust Will Be Imploded In 24 Hours.

The accompanying photo shows both buildings of The Stardust on Sunday 11 March 2007. The building on the left is 9 stories tall, the building on the right is 33 stories tall.

Implosion will be at 0230 hours on Tuesday 13 March 2007.

Las Vegas - From The New Frontier

Answer: The Stardust Hotel and a NASCAR souvenir stand.

Question: What two things in this picture will not be around tomorrow?

STARDUST - 24 Hours Until Implosion

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion - 36 Hours

Stardust, both buildings, as seen Saturday night 10 March 2007. At 0230 hrs on Tuesday 13 March 2007, they will be imploded.

Las Vegas - Stardust Implosion - 42 Hours

Las Vegas - Wish You Were Here

On the final night and day of The Stardust being open for business (Oct 31/Nov 1, 2006) people spent time walking around, looking and remembering. Maybe trying to halt the moment. Or burn it deeply.

Maybe stunned.

Some areas had a Thanks sign. People sat there, knowing that they were in a place of Legendary status.

There are less than 72 hours left until The Stardust is imploded.

As a means of providing a little for those unable to visit Las Vegas this weekend, here are 4 photos from Friday night 9 March 2007. Wish you were here.