Westgate Las Vegas

A LEGACY OF ENTERTAINERS

BY SAMUEL NOVAK
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WESTGATE LAS VEGAS

On July 2nd of this year, Westgate Las Vegas Resort celebrated its fifty-fourth anniversary. Other Las Vegas destinations have come and gone in the past five-plus decades, but Westgate continues to thrive. An entertainment event there this fall captured the attention of fans worldwide, and it’s no surprise that Elvis Presley played a role.

The Baz Luhrmann biopic ELVIS (2022) was a worldwide critical and box-office smash. Stylized and surreal, the Tom Hanks-Austin Butler musical drama culminated in what many consider Presley’s biggest achievement…a record-setting residency at the iconic International Theater.

Despite a series of ownership and name changes, Westgate Las Vegas continues to honor its history as the former International Hotel. Their grand showroom still carries the name “International Theater,” and the ghost of Presley reportedly remains, both literally and figuratively.

There is an additional nod to the casino’s origins via the colorful (and cleverly named) I-Bar. Open 24/7 year-round, I-Bar is a 360-degree meeting spot right in the heart of the action. On one side, live vocalists, bands, and deejays electrify the vibe in a space that is simultaneously intimate, exciting, retro, and modern.

The International Hotel rose from the desert as the largest resort in the world. A brainchild of businessman Kirk Kerkorian, it boasted superlatives like “Nevada’s tallest building,” the state’s largest pool, an array of “fabulous foreign restaurants,” and a 24/7 activity center for children.

Considered by most Vegas historians to be the first Sin City “megaresort,” the International Hotel had a unique footprint. Shaped like an enormous letter “Y” lying down, the structure allows unobstructed sightlines from every window.

Perhaps the International’s most outstanding feature was its entertainment offerings. Determined to outdo neighboring Landmark Hotel (which opened one day earlier), the International exploded on the scene with Barbra Streisand as its first showroom headliner. At the same time, the very popular Peggy Lee was luring guests into the lounge.

Following Streisand as the second headliner would be a significant challenge for almost any performer, but Elvis was no ordinary entertainer. Already a worldwide phenomenon, the rebel-rousing rocker from Mississippi returned to live performing after an eight-year absence.

Presley’s first show at the International Hotel was such a resounding success that the hotel’s management quickly locked him into an ongoing residency until his death in the summer of 1977.

In all, Presley sold out an amazing 636 consecutive performances. He took residence on the 30th floor, and his name became synonymous with the newly renamed “Las Vegas Hilton.” Even his manager, the notorious Colonel Tom Parker, lived at the Hilton for several years, at one point serving as “entertainment consultant.”

During the sixties and seventies, Sin City entertainment schedules vastly differed from today’s. Headliners usually performed twice an evening…once around dinner time, then again at midnight. Lounge singers belted out hits and ballads until the sun rose in the east.

As tastes and habits changed, the Hilton hosted several musical legends, including Liberace, Charo, and Wayne Newton. Large productions such as “Bal du Moulin Rouge” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express” were significant draws during the eighties and nineties. Headliners like Sheena Easton, The Smothers Brothers, and Engelbert Humperdink filled the slate as a new century approached.

During the late nineties, a different type of star rose at the Hilton—STAR TREK: The Experience took flight. Fans from across the globe flocked to Las Vegas to visit the unique attraction, which featured interactive exhibits and rides.

The resort’s smaller showroom went through various iterations as “The Nightclub” and “Shimmer Cabaret.” Familiar names like David Brenner, Rich Little, and the long-running family group The Scintas played there, along with productions like “Nunsense” and “Menopause – The Musical.”

The Hilton brand dissolved its partnership with the hotel at the end of 2011. The property floundered under the name ‘LVH’ for a few years until Westgate Resorts took over in 2014. A family-operated company out of Orlando, Florida, Westgate Resorts vowed to restore the hotel to its former glory, albeit with modern amenities.

Westgate’s approach to operating the former Hilton would bring personalized sensibilities to the operation. Guests, team members, and entertainers benefitted from the company’s service-oriented approach, a stark alternative to increasingly corporate-driven Strip properties.

After taking ownership, Westgate doubled down on its history with Presley. A tribute attraction was opened, tours of what was once his villa became available, and the road leading to the porte-cochere was renamed “Elvis Presley Boulevard.”

Earlier this summer, Westgate launched “My Brother Elvis: An Evening with David Stanley.” The monthly event is co-hosted by Gordon Prouty, the resort’s VP of Public & Community Relations. An intimate and very personal experience, it allows guests the opportunity to retrace the King’s steps from backstage areas to the performance space itself.

Throughout the evening, Stanley shares memories of living at Graceland and recollections of his life with Elvis. They include being present for the opening of his stepbrother’s record-setting residency. David Stanley currently resides at Westgate Las Vegas.

Westgate founder David Siegel carries his own memories of family stays at the former International. Sid’s Café is named after his father as a tribute. The restaurant operates with a promise that all customers will be treated like high rollers. That philosophy is echoed throughout the resort.

The Westgate management team often refers to its massive staff as a family. To that end, they managed to lure another longtime resident back. He is none other than iconic performer Barry Manilow, the man who makes the whole world sing.

Barry Manilow had an extended residency during the “Hilton” era that forever linked his name and career to the property. A five-year run began in 2005 and generated more than $70 million in ticket sales. With the hotel fully restored to its former glory by 2018, bringing the hitmaker back home made sense.
Now in the fifth year of his second residency, Barry Manilow is set to achieve what may be the biggest milestone of his career…surpassing Elvis Presley’s number of performances at the International Theater. The landmark show will take place as the headliner celebrates fifty years as a recording artist.

Earlier this year, Manilow attended the opening of Westgate Comedy Cabaret. Viewing from the balcony, the “Mandy” singer was impressed by Dennis Blair, a longtime Vegas comedy performer. Manilow invited Blair to be his opening act on this fall’s tour, taking a member of the Westgate family on the road.
No less than six resident productions are currently part of the resort’s entertainment line-up. They include award-winning Soul of Motown, magician Jen Kramer, and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Top names like Alfie Boe, Firehouse, Little River Band, Kool & The Gang, and Elle King have recurring shows that draw audiences through Westgate’s doors.

Manilow’s record-breaking performances are scheduled for September 21st through the 23rd of 2023. Proceeds will benefit six charities, including Victoria’s Voice, a foundation David Siegel and his wife Jackie established to battle the opioid crisis. It honors their daughter Victoria, who fell victim to drug addiction.

Another recipient is Barry’s own Manilow Music Project, which supports music education and donates thousands of instruments to schools. Recipient students regularly attend Manilow’s Westgate shows, fostering a legacy of great entertainment for generations to come.

The city’s most enduring resort has expanded and undergone numerous changes throughout its six decades, but one thing remains. Westgate Las Vegas will always be home to legendary entertainers. And the record-setting landmarks will keep on coming.