Bally's Las Vegas
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Horseshoe Las Vegas is a
casino hotel A casino hotel is an establishment consisting of a casino with temporary lodging provided in an on-premises hotel. Customers receive the benefits of both gambling facilities and lodging. Since the casino and hotel are located on the same premis ...
on the
Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits ...
in
Paradise, Nevada Paradise is an Unincorporated towns in Nevada, unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the city of Las Vegas. It was formed on December 8, 1950. Its population was 191,238 at the ...
. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. It originally opened as the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino on December 4, 1973. The 26-story hotel contained 2,100 rooms and was among the world's largest hotels. On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand was the site of one of the worst high-rise fires in United States history, in which 85 people died. The MGM Grand was rebuilt at a cost of $50 million, and eventually reopened on July 29, 1981, with new fire safety features in place. Another 26-story tower opened later that year, adding more than 700 rooms. The resort has a total of 2,812 rooms, and the casino is . In 1986, Bally Manufacturing purchased the resort and renamed it Bally's Las Vegas. A sister property,
Paris Las Vegas Paris Las Vegas is a casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. Property features include a casino, 3,672 hotel rooms, a 1,400-seat performance theater, and various restaurants. ...
, opened next to Bally's in 1999. An outdoor shopping mall, the Grand Bazaar Shops, was added to Bally's in 2015. The resort was home to the long running '' Jubilee!'' theatrical show, which ran from 1981 to 2016. Following a renovation, Caesars Entertainment rebranded the property as Horseshoe Las Vegas on December 15, 2022. It is named after the original Binion's Horseshoe casino in downtown Las Vegas. In 2023, it was announced that the resort would lose its Jubilee Tower to Paris Las Vegas, thus reducing the number of rooms at Horseshoe. The project concluded in late 2024.


History

Part of the site was once occupied by the Three Coins Motel, which opened in the mid-1960s. The Bonanza, a western-themed hotel and casino, opened in July 1967. It was built in between the Three Coins and the Galaxy Motel, both of which served as the Bonanza's lodging. Because of financial problems, the Bonanza's casino portion closed three months later, although the hotel continued to operate. The hotel had 160 rooms, a small number compared to most resorts on the
Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits ...
.
Kirk Kerkorian Kerkor Kirk Kerkorian (; June 6, 1917 – June 15, 2015) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was the president and CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian ...
purchased the Bonanza at the end of 1968, then sold it several months later to a group of investors. The Bonanza reopened in May 1969, after which a dispute occurred between the top two investors regarding management. A legal battle ensued, although the two eventually agreed to a settlement. The Bonanza included a showroom and a theater that screened classic films. The casino became popular for its country music acts, and singer
Buck Owens Alvis Edgar "Buck" Owens Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the frontman for The Buckaroos, which had 21 No. 1 hits on the ''Billboard'' country music chart. He pioneered what came ...
made his Las Vegas Strip debut there in 1969. There had been plans to add a high-rise hotel building, although this did not materialize. In 1970, Kerkorian filed a foreclosure action against the owners and regained control of the Bonanza.


MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (1973–86)

Kerkorian's company,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...
(MGM), purchased the Bonanza and adjacent land in December 1971. MGM had plans to build a resort complex on the property named MGM's Grand Hotel, after the 1932 MGM film '' Grand Hotel''. A
groundbreaking Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, turf-cutting, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such cer ...
ceremony with celebrities was held on the property on April 15, 1972. The hotel tower was topped off in early 1973, and the Bonanza was demolished that year. The MGM Grand Hotel had a low-key opening on December 4, 1973. A grand-opening ceremony, with celebrity appearances, was held the following night. Many stars who had appeared in MGM films were in attendance.
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of ...
provided entertainment for the grand opening, although his performance and lack of new material were criticized. Kerkorian had previously wanted
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...
to perform for the hotel's opening. The MGM Grand was designed by architect Martin Stern Jr., and it was considered luxurious. It included hundreds of chandeliers, and statues and columns made of marble. The resort's design was based on grand hotels that were common in Europe during the early 20th century. The MGM Grand cost $106 million. The hotel was 26 stories and contained 2,100 rooms. It was among the world's largest hotels. The MGM Grand also had the world's largest casino, which included 923 slot machines, and a keno lounge. Live jai alai was also located on the property for betting. The resort also had shops, eight restaurants, 25 bars, a movie theater which initially showed only classic MGM films, five entertainment lounges, and of convention space. A few days after the opening, character actor
Chill Wills Theodore Childress "Chill" Wills (July 18, 1902 – December 15, 1978) was an American actor and a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet. Early life Wills was born in Seagoville, Texas, on July 18, 1902. Career Wills was a performer from early c ...
, who had been a contract player for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1940s, became the first person to get married at the new resort. The resort cost $30 million more than anticipated, and within weeks of its opening, it was announced that finishing touches on the resort would raise the $106 million cost by another $20 million. There were reports that the resort had financial problems and that it could soon be sold, although MGM retained ownership into the 1980s.


Fire and reopening

On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand suffered a fire that started in a casino restaurant. It was one of the worst high-rise fires in United States history, killing 85 people. Smoke traveled up into the hotel tower, killing most of the victims. The fire made such an impact on hotel safety that it led to the implementation of fire safety improvements worldwide. The fire forced the temporary closure of the resort. State gaming revenues were hurt by the closure, as the MGM was one of the largest tax contributors to the local gaming industry. The county lost an estimated $1.7 million because of the closure. Earlier in 1980, construction had begun on an additional hotel tower. Construction resumed shortly after the fire. Over the next eight months, the other MGM Grand facilities were rebuilt at a cost of $50 million, which included the implementation of new fire safety features. As the reopening approached, the resort saw strong demand in its convention bookings. The MGM Grand held a low-key reopening on July 29, 1981, followed by an official opening the next day. Both opening days lacked any large-scale festivities. A hotel spokesman said, "It would seem inappropriate, in terms of what happened in November, to have a grand celebration." When it reopened, the resort's casino area included . The new hotel tower was expected to be finished in September 1981. The tower added more than 700 rooms. Like the original tower, the new one also stood 26 stories high.


Bally's (1986–2022)

In late 1985, Bally Manufacturing announced plans to purchase the Las Vegas MGM and its Reno counterpart. The sale of the two hotels was finalized in April 1986, for $550 million, and they were renamed under the Bally's brand. The deal required the removal of logos throughout the resorts that depicted MGM's mascot, Leo the Lion. The jai alai court closed in the 1980s. In July 1986, a man secretly placed a
pipe bomb A pipe bomb is an improvised explosive device (IED) that uses a tightly sealed section of pipe filled with an explosive material. The containment provided by the pipe means that simple low explosives can be used to produce a relatively larg ...
in the resort's
sportsbook A sportsbook is a venue where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, such as golf, football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, horse racing, greyhound racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies wit ...
and later demanded $200,000 from the casino, threatening to detonate the bomb if he did not receive the money. The bomb was found by authorities and detonated by them outside of the resort, exploding only with the intensity of a firecracker. The man was found and arrested. In 1991, a small fire occurred on one side of the Bally's sign, which was located along the
Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits ...
. Workers were changing the sign's lights at the time of the fire, which caused $250,000 in damage. In 1993, Bally's announced plans to create a new entrance along the Las Vegas Strip, on a three-acre property that was being used as a resort parking lot. The entrance would include
moving walkway A moving walkway – also known as an autowalk, moving pavement, moving sidewalk, travolator, or travelator – is a slow-moving conveyor mechanism that transports people across a horizontal or inclined plane, over a short to medium distance. T ...
s and was expected to be complete by the end of 1994. The new entrance was designed by Brad Friedmutter. Moving walkways were added because of the distance between the resort's entrance and the sidewalk along the Strip. Also announced were plans for a monorail, which opened in June 1995. It ran from Bally's to a new MGM Grand resort, located further south on the Strip. The resort's shopping mall was renovated in 1995. The mall, known as Bally's Avenue Shoppes, included approximately 20 retailers. The former movie theater was converted into a new sportsbook, which was opened later in 1995, at a cost of $4 million. Bally Entertainment was purchased in 1996 by Hilton Hotels Corporation. The world premiere of '' Star Trek: Insurrection'' was held in the resort's Jubilee Theater on December 10, 1998. That year, Hilton's casino resorts division was spun off into
Park Place Entertainment Park Place Entertainment, later named Caesars Entertainment, Inc., was a casino company based in Paradise, Nevada. For a time it was the largest casino operator in the world. It was formed in 1998 as a corporate spin-off of the gaming division of ...
. A Bally's sister property,
Paris Las Vegas Paris Las Vegas is a casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment. Property features include a casino, 3,672 hotel rooms, a 1,400-seat performance theater, and various restaurants. ...
, opened in September 1999. Paris was tightly integrated with the Bally's property by a promenade. For many years, the two resorts operated under a single gaming license. Many of Bally's high-end customers began going to the Paris upon its opening. Bally's exterior received new paint, including the addition of blue stripes, to make it more presentable for the opening of Paris. Park Place began a renovation of Bally's in 2000, including a modernization of the hotel rooms, casino floor, convention space, and restaurants. The resort's original sign, from 1973, was replaced with a new version in 2001, marking the conclusion of the renovation project. The sign is 150 feet high and cost $10 million, making it the most expensive sign on the Strip at the time of its installation. The sign is three-sided, each featuring a large Mitsubishi Diamond screen. In addition to advertising the resort, Park Place also rented the sign out to other advertisers. The MGM-Bally's monorail ended operations in 2003, to become part of the larger
Las Vegas Monorail The Las Vegas Monorail is a automated monorail mass transit system located adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It connects several large casinos in the unincorporated communities of Paradise, Nevada, Paradis ...
. That year, Park Place was renamed as Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Harrah's Entertainment acquired the resort with its purchase of Caesars in June 2005. Harrah's considered numerous options for the Bally's property, including the possibility of renovating or renaming it. Another option was to demolish it to build a Horseshoe-branded hotel; the company had acquired the Horseshoe name in 2004, after purchasing the Binion's Horseshoe casino in downtown Las Vegas. A Bally's executive said that the moving-walkway entrance would eventually be redeveloped, saying "they have to do something because the land is just too valuable to sit there." The sportsbook was closed in 2009, and reopened later that year following renovations. In 2010, Harrah's became Caesars Entertainment Corporation. In 2013, remodeling took place on the 756-room south tower, which was renamed as the Jubilee Tower in honor of the resort's long-running show '' Jubilee!'' The casino floor was also remodeled, and new restaurants were added. The Bally's Steakhouse, a well-known eatery, was closed to make way for a larger restaurant called BLT Steak. The popular Sterling Brunch buffet operates in a portion of the steakhouse during weekends. At the end of 2013, construction began on a new Bally's shopping mall called Grand Bazaar, based on the market of the same name in
Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
. The outdoor mall was built on two acres of land along the Las Vegas Strip, replacing the moving-walkway entrance. Caesars leased the property to a retail developer and was also a partner in the new project. The mall was part of the ongoing renovations to the resort. The Grand Bazaar Shops were initially scheduled to open in December 2014, although construction delays pushed the opening back to February 26, 2015. It opened with 70 of its 110 retailers; the remainder would open gradually over the next several months. For several years, the Grand Bazaar Shops included a
Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational List of coffeehouse chains, chain of coffeehouses and Starbucks Reserve, roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gor ...
with bleacher seating and a large movie screen, the only location to have such features. At , it was the third largest Starbucks in the U.S. Bars and restaurants were added to the mall in 2016, to increase customer attendance. The mall includes restaurants
Wahlburgers Wahlburgers (stylized as wahlburgers) is a casual dining burger restaurant and bar chain. It is owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Donnie and Mark. , there are 90+ Wahlburgers locations in the United States, Canada, Aus ...
and Giordano's. In May 2018, Caesars completed a $125 million redesign of 2,052 guest rooms and suites in the original northern tower, which was renamed as the Resort Tower. It had previously operated as the Indigo Tower. Bally's includes the biggest tennis court on the Las Vegas Strip.


Horseshoe Las Vegas (2022–present)

On January 26, 2022, Caesars announced that the property would be rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas as part of a multi-million dollar renovation project, including exterior renovations, new restaurants, and a revamp of the casino floor. Bally's remained open during the renovation work, which excluded the hotel rooms. Horseshoe Las Vegas is named after the original Binion's Horseshoe, which was renamed Binion's Gambling Hall in 2005. The rebranding of Bally's took effect on December 15, 2022, with the exterior still undergoing final changes. A ceremony was held on March 24, 2023, marking completion of the rebranding. The renovation work included new wallpaper, paint, and carpeting. The casino floor received a spacious new layout, and the poker room was updated to include 4 new tables for a total of 18. The sportsbook was relocated to the main casino floor, and the original location was converted into a video game arcade with more than 80 games. A glass case of $10,000 bills, previously displayed for decades at Binion's Horseshoe, was restored at the new Horseshoe. Several new restaurants were added as well, including Jack Binion's Steak. It replaced BLT Steak, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada and never reopened. Chef
Guy Fieri Guy Ramsay Fieri (, ; Ferry; born January 22, 1968) is an American restaurateur, author, and an Emmy Award winning television presenter. He co-owned three now-defunct restaurants in California. He licenses his name to restaurants in cities a ...
opened Flavortown Sports Kitchen, and chef Martin Yan briefly operated an Asian restaurant, M.Y. Asia, during 2023. It was his first Las Vegas restaurant but closed after five months. In 2022, Bally's and Paris became the first Strip properties to host the
World Series of Poker The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker tournaments held annually in Paradise, Nevada, and since 2004, sponsored by Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment. It dates its origins to 1970, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best ...
, an annual event which debuted at Binion's Horseshoe in 1970. The event returned to Paris and the rebranded Horseshoe in 2023. In 2023, Caesars announced plans to renovate the Jubilee Tower (to be renamed the Versailles tower) and incorporate it into Paris Las Vegas, thus reducing the room count at Horseshoe to 2,056.


Entertainment


Performers and shows

When it opened in 1973, the MGM Grand Hotel featured two large theatres: the Ziegfeld Room, with a capacity of 800 people; and the Celebrity Room, with capacity for 1,200. The Ziegfeld featured productions by famed Las Vegas choreographer Donn Arden, including ''Hallelujah Hollywood'', which ran until 1980. The resort also hosted Arden's long-running theatrical show '' Jubilee!'' It premiered at the resort in 1981 and eventually closed in 2016, making it one of the longest-running shows in Las Vegas history. A motorcycle stunt show by Nitro Circus was to replace ''Jubilee!'', although it was put on hold and ultimately never opened.
Sergio Franchi Sergio Franchi ( , ; born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was an Italian-American tenor and actor who enjoyed success in the United States and internationally after gaining notice in Britain in the early 1960s. In 1962, RCA ...
was the first entertainer signed to star in the Celebrity Room (three-year contract starting February 1974). Franchi's frequent co-star was comedian
Joan Rivers Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan Rivers, was an American comedienne, actress, producer, writer and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona that w ...
. The Celebrity Room also hosted such acts as
the Carpenters The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter, Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining ...
and
Barry Manilow Barry Manilow ( ; born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer with a career that spans over sixty years. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", "Looks Like We Made It", "Brandy (Scott ...
. Other notable performers at the resort have included Lou Rawls,
Sam Kinison Samuel Burl Kinison ( ; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. A former Pentecostal preacher, he performed stand-up routines that were characterized by intense sudden tirades, punctuated with his distin ...
,
Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay (born Andrew Clay Silverstein; September 29, 1957) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, deliberately offensive persona known as "The Diceman". In 1990, he became the f ...
,
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
,
Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, ...
, Taylor Hicks, and
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...
.
Penn & Teller Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette and Teller, are American magicians, entertainers, and scientific skeptics who have performed together since 1975. They are noted for their ongoing act that combines elements of comedy with magic. The duo has bee ...
made their Las Vegas Strip debut at the Celebrity Room in 1993. The Celebrity Room was eventually demolished to connect Bally's with Paris. In 2003, there were plans to build a seven-story theater on an acre of land at Bally's east side. The theater was to host a new show starring
Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...
, although both projects were scrapped. '' The Price Is Right Live!'' debuted at Bally's Jubilee Theater in April 2006. It was a scaled-down version of the television program. During 2012,
The Amazing Johnathan John Edward Szeles (September 9, 1958 – February 22, 2022), better known by the stage name The Amazing Johnathan, was an American comedian and Magician (illusion), magician. His act was mostly composed of hijinks, interaction with one specifi ...
hosted a magic show in a space formerly used for the resort's buffet, which had closed several years earlier. '' Tony n' Tina's Wedding'' also premiered in the former buffet space in 2012, followed by another show, ''Divorce Party the Musical''. The buffet space was renamed as the Windows Showroom. ''Tony n' Tina's Wedding'' ended in 2016, but returned two years later at the resort's Buca di Beppo restaurant. From 2016 to 2018,
Wayne Newton Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942), also known as Mr. Las Vegas, is an American singer and actor. One of the most popular singers in the United States from the mid-to-late 20th century, Newton remains one of the best-known entertainers in ...
hosted a show in the Windows Showroom called ''Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal''. It included singing and sharing stories with the audience. An audience participation game show, titled ''Miss Behave'', debuted at Bally's in 2017, and ended three years later. ''Masters of Illusion'', a magic show based on the television series of the same name, began its run at the Jubilee Theater in 2017. In 2019, the Windows Showroom debuted a show by magician Xavier Mortimer, and a ''
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
'' parody show titled '' Potted Potter''. The variety show ''Extravaganza'' debuted in the Jubilee Theater in March 2020, but was closed after one show, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened later in the year, and performed its 100th show in February 2021. ''Extravaganza'' closed in January 2023. Later that year, burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese opened ''Dita Las Vegas'', featuring showgirls. It takes place in the Jubilee Theater and includes costumes and sets from ''Jubilee!''.


Attractions

A nightclub by Victor Drai, called Drais After Hours, opened at Bally's in May 2013. It had previously operated across the street at Bill's Gambling Hall and Saloon, which was now undergoing renovations, prompting the temporary relocation of Drais. In June 2014, Victor Drai turned the Bally's location into Liaison, a club catering to a gay clientele. It closed in February 2015, because of low attendance. In 2016, singer John Rich opened a country music club at the Grand Bazaar Shops called Redneck Riviera, which eventually closed in 2018. In 2024, singer
Blake Shelton Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music, country singer, songwriter and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin (Blake Shelton song), Austin" from his Blake Shelton (album), self ...
opened Ole Red, a four-story country themed restaurant, bar and entertainment venue. It operates in a new building at the Grand Bazaar Shops. A miniature golf course, themed after ''
The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...
'', was opened at the end of 2017. The course was created by
Monster Mini Golf Monster Mini Golf is a franchised chain of entertainment centers. The locations feature an indoor, 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini golf course, video and redemption arcade games, three-dimensional animatronic props, an in-house radio station, pa ...
, and it also includes an arcade and bowling. A horror-themed
escape room An escape room, also known as an escape game, puzzle room, exit game, or riddle room, is a game in which a team of players discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal in a limit ...
opened in 2018. The resort is also home to the Real Bodies exhibit, which showcases real specimens of the human body as well as different organs.


Media history

Shortly after the 1973 opening, MGM had planned to shoot two
television pilot A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie) in United Kingdom and United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television netwo ...
s at the resort. In 1981, a remake of ''Grand Hotel'' (1932) was being prepared, with filming to take place at the MGM Grand. However, the project was shelved after MGM film executives realized that director
Norman Jewison Norman Frederick Jewison (July 21, 1926 – January 20, 2024) was a Canadian filmmaker. He was known for directing films which addressed topical Social issue, social and political issues, often making controversial or complicated subjects acces ...
would have
final cut privilege Final cut privilege (also known as ''final cutting authority'') is the right or entitlement of an individual to determine the final version of a motion picture for distribution and exhibition. The final cut on a film can be held by film studios, ...
. The executives were concerned about the MGM Grand being portrayed in a negative way. The remake of ''Grand Hotel'' was never made. Several films and television series were later shot at the resort, and it would appear in other media as well. * The MGM Grand hosted '' The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast'' in the Ziegfeld Room from 1974 to 1984. * The MGM was also used as a filming location for the 1982 film '' Lookin' to Get Out''. * Featured in the 1985 MGM film ''
Rocky IV ''Rocky IV'' is a 1985 American sports drama film starring, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone. The film is the sequel to '' Rocky III'' (1982) and the fourth installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt You ...
'', as the site of Apollo Creed's fatal exhibition bout against Ivan Drago. The theater, and set pieces, for '' Jubilee!'' are prominently displayed during the scene. * Featured in the 1985 film '' Fever Pitch'', evidently when the sale of the casino was pending. * Hosted
Late Night with David Letterman ''Late Night with David Letterman'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the first installment of the '' Late Night''. Hosted by David Letterman, it aired from February1, 1982 to June 25, 1993, and was replaced by ...
for a week in May 1987. * Side 1 of
Sam Kinison Samuel Burl Kinison ( ; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. A former Pentecostal preacher, he performed stand-up routines that were characterized by intense sudden tirades, punctuated with his distin ...
's 1990 comedy album ''Leader of The Banned'' was recorded at Bally's. * Featured in the 1991 comedy ''
Hot Shots! ''Hot Shots!'' is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, co-writer and co-director of ''Airplane!'', and written by Abrahams and Pat Proft. It stars Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, Jon Cryer, Kevin ...
'', when the pilot nicknamed "Wash Out" mistakes a runway and lands near the hotel (which features Tom Jones at the time). * Featured prominently in the 1992 film ''
Honeymoon in Vegas ''Honeymoon in Vegas'' is a 1992 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Andrew Bergman and starring James Caan, Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker. Plot Private eye Jack Singer swore to his mother on her deathbed that h ...
'', starring
Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola (born January 7, 1964), known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Nicolas Cage, various accolades, including an Academy A ...
and
Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker (born March 25, 1965) is an American actress and television producer. In a career spanning over five decades, she has performed across several productions of both Sarah Jessica Parker filmography, screen and stage. List o ...
. * Featured in the 1995 film ''
Leaving Las Vegas ''Leaving Las Vegas'' is a 1995 romantic drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis and based on the 1990 semi-autobiographical novel by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family ...
'', also starring Cage and
Elisabeth Shue Elisabeth Shue (born October 6, 1963) is an American actress. She has starred in films such as '' The Karate Kid'' (1984), '' Adventures in Babysitting'' (1987), ''Cocktail'' (1988), ''Back to the Future Part II'' (1989), '' Back to the Future P ...
. * Featured in the 2004 video game '' Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' as the "High Roller". * Bally's Las Vegas hosted
Spike TV Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel and the flagship property of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global, who operates it through the MTV Entertainment Group. The network's headquarters are locate ...
's 2006
poker tournament A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table (called a " heads-up" tournament), and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tabl ...
series '' King of Vegas'', which filmed in a temporary studio constructed in a parking lot behind the resort. * Featured in the 2013 film '' The Incredible Burt Wonderstone'', starring Steve Carell and
Steve Buscemi Steven Vincent Buscemi (,As stated in interviews by Buscemi himself. It is not uncommon for people to pronounce his name or instead. ; born December 13, 1957) is an American actor. He is known for his work as an acclaimed character actor. Mul ...
. * Bally's Las Vegas hosted the second season of the 2015 syndicated game show '' Monopoly Millionaires' Club''. * A head chef position at BLT Steak, located inside the hotel, was awarded to Ariel Malone, the winner of '' Hell's Kitchen's'' 15th season. * The Jubilee Theater was the filming location for the American version of '' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' from 2016 until it ended in 2019.


See also

*
List of integrated resorts An integrated resort is a type of casino hotel that features hotel space, a casino, convention or meeting space, retail, dining and entertainment options. This article lists integrated resorts by their locations. Integrated resorts which are c ...


References


External links

* * {{Authority control 1973 establishments in Nevada Casinos in the Las Vegas Valley Hotels established in 1973 Hotel buildings completed in 1973 Resorts in the Las Vegas Valley Skyscraper hotels in Paradise, Nevada Reportedly haunted locations in Nevada Caesars Entertainment Casino hotels in the Las Vegas Valley Convention centers in Nevada Burned hotels in the United States