Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 164

4 rooms have entire walls mirrored from floor to ceiling. vo OS IN First-time visitors to Las Vegas usually stare in awe when they approach the glit-tering 3-mile stretch of highway known as the Strip. This is the area where the big hotels are located and where the big stars entertain. Here's a rundown on the places along the strip that make Las Vegas the "entertainment capital of the CAESARS PALACE One of the famed Las Vegas Strip's newest hotels, built at a cost of $25 million. Its neo-Greco-Roman architecture has been the talk of the town since opening day.

Five Jloman fountains separate the oval double-laned approach to the main building. Italian cypress trees line the entrance doorway. On both sides are marble statues of such figures as Venus de Milo, David and Bacchus, imported from Italy at a cost of The building is 14 stories high and includes 680 residen- tial rooms and suites. Many feats. About 7,200 light bulbs and miles of neon tubing illuminate the desert darkness Full time service by three men is required to keep it in service.

Though the giant sign is a major a tr a i for the Dunes Hotel, the hostelry also is the locale for Frederic Ap-car's lavish production of "Casino de Paris," which has been called the most costly revue in show business history. Over $6,000,000 was invested in this revue before it completed a smashing first year run. It has been the major attraction ever since. The exciting Line Renaud is star of the show, which has a cast of 100 and features the "Octaramic Stage," a new space age stage constructed by British engineers under the direction of actor Sean Con-nery. The Dunes also is famous for its "Vive Les Girls" show, produced by Frederic Apcar.

The show has had a run of more than six years in the Persian Room, and. includes a new production every year. It is the largest lounge-type show on the Nevada circuit, and is French accented. In 1965 the Dunes opened one of the tallest structures in the state, the 21 story "Diamond of the Dunes" high-rise tower. The tower added another 446 guest rooms, bringing the total to over 900.

The Top The Strip Restaurant overlooks the entire Las Vegas valley. Russ Morgan and his orchestra play for dancing through April 24, with Henry King to follow. Two excellent restaurants are part of the Dunes complex. The Sultan's Table specializes in Continental cuisine and' offers diners the popular Arturo Romero and his Magic Violins. The Dome of the Sea is a circular restaurant which specializes in seafood.

The center of the restaurant features a mermaid harpist floating on a pool and playing background mnfflrrmU home of billionaire Howard Hughes. The Desert Inn boasts one of the most beautiful showrooms in Nevada. Known as the Crystal Room, it was opened four years ago with Frank Sennes' lavish production, "Hello America." The show ran almost two years and received rave notices throughout the country and special recognition from Congress. "Hello America" was hard to top, but Sennes' came back with the elaborate "Pzazz '68," giving the Desert Inn another winner. It ran 18 months.

The room Is elaborately adorned with expensive im-p crystal chandeliers. The staging facilities are noteworthy. Starting Friday, the Crystal Room will premiere a new musical comedy, "Many Happy Returns." It will be Las Vegas' first Actors Equity production and is destined for Broadway. The stars include John Raitt, Pat Carroll, Victor Buono and John Carroll. It is expects to have a long run at the Desert Inn.

Additional entertainment is offered in the Desert Inn's Lady Luck Lounge. Heading the bill is amusical version of "Tom Jones," which has enjoyed a long run to large audi-ences. Other well known lounge acts are also offered throughout the year, along with early cocktail hour music played by four svelte female violinists. The Cafe Monte Carlo is the Desert Inn's contribution to gourmet dining in Las Vegas. The room offers intimacy, and is expensively decorated in a manner reminiscent of New Orleans French.

The menu is extensive and the service excellent. It is a favorite of many of the Strip's headliners. It is suggested one try the Skyroom for cocktails and dancing following dinner. Along with guestrooms and suites, the Desert Inn offers an 18-h 1 championship course, an Olympic sized swimrning pool, shops, meeting rooms and convention facilities, plus a coffee shop and restaurant featuring early morning buffet specialties. DUNES Probably the first thing catching a visitor's eye in this famous city is the dazzling neon sign at the Dunes Hotel.

In a city already known for its neon grandeur, the Dunes claims the biggest standing neon sign in the world. It is 180 feet tall, 80 feet wide and is considered one of the neon industry's top engineering llllllllLM-nr fll Some of the most expensive suites are two stories high, with crystal chandeliers, raised dining areas and grand pianos. Roman names are given to other areas of the hotel, such as the main casino sector called the Forum. The hotel's 1,500 employees are garbed in special Greco-Roman costumes. The main showroom is known as the Circus Maximus and seats 1,000.

Top performers who already have appeared there include Frank Sinatra, Harry Belefonte, Tony Bennett, Milton Berle, Woody Allen and Bobbie Gentry. Other past attractions: Juliet Prowse in "Sweet Charity," Theodore Bikel in "Fiddler on the Roof and Tony Randall and Mickey Rooney in the "Odd Couple." Susan Hayward currently is appearing in the Broadway musical "Mame." Nero's Nook seats 300, and offers a i riTi rfffni) nm mi TAXES AND TIPS INCLUDED such lounge-show attractions as Gaylord and Holiday, the Ritz Brothers, Checkmates Ltd. and Eartha Kitt Miss Kitt is the current headliner. Other facilities include the Bacchanal, a plush restaurant, decorated in soft blue and purple shades against an ivory and gold background. A 2,000 seat Colosseum, several meeting rooms for conventions, and an Olympic size swimming pool are among features at Caesars Palace.

DESERT INN This is one of the first hotels bunt on the Strip. It has undergone many changes since its origin, and now is the V-vi HOTEL 2058 I Jit music. In addition to extensive convention facilities, the Dunes "Hotel operatestne 18-hole Emerald Green golf course, complete with clubhouse, pro shop, restaurant and bar. There are available swimming pools. FLAMINGO A familiar landmark in Las Vegas disappeared last year.

But in its place a bright new structure has risen, keeping pace with Las Vegas' glamorous "Strip." The Flamingo Hotel, tne first of Southern Nevada's a nine month, $2Ms-million expansion and refurbishment, resulting in a sparkling "new" hotel both inside and out Largest single change occurred in the hotel's facade, where a mammoth glassed-in Sky Room hovers over the front parking area, giving visitors a ringside look at Las Vegas busy Strhi. Access to the room is by elevator or via a glittering marble and brass stair case, circling up from the new main lobby. Costs of the stair case alone ran upwards of $50,000. The lobby area was tripled in size, and the four major air- a brand new' "Fling" Jhat included all the excitement of FOUR great "Strip" hotel shows plus luxurious room free hot buffet cocktails and dancing in beautiful CAUUS FOR INFORMATION ON LAS VEGAS TOURS HOTELS FLIGHTS BUS VERB'S TRAVEL AGENCY tsfclsflt 94(12 -Sat FrncbttMW Flamingo Sky Room free Keno game free golf fees COOP 7 DAYS A WEEK IN SAN FRANCISCO CALL 986.