Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Where I Stand — Hank Greenspun: Aladdin was LV pioneer Prell’s vision of Strip’s desert jewel

Hank Greenspun's column follows:

By Hank Greenspun

He lifted the lamp, rubbed its burnished side, and out popped a genie to do his bidding.

Sometimes I think Milton Prell is a lamp-rubber for he accomplishes miracles. And unlike Aladdin he doesn't even need a genie to do it for him, he makes his own dreams come true.

Quite a few years back Prell was the congenial landlord of one of the town's favorite stopping off spots -- the Club Bingo. It was located on the grounds where the Sahara now stands.

At the old Club Bingo you could enjoy the game for which it was named and the best 49 cent breakfast anywhere around. The drinks were good, the bartenders friendly and chances are you'd run into almost everyone you knew before the night was over.

But the Club Bingo wasn't enough for Milton Prell. He was a dreamer and I imagine many times he stood in the dust, which is now the Las Vegas Strip, and looked at the building, imagining how it would be as a skyscraper hotel. He started by adding an entertainment room called the Bonanza Room and it was the beginning for most ambitious entertainment plans. The place was jumping all the time -- and Prell was dreaming overtime.

As a man of vision he saw Las Vegas as one of the gayest, brightest and most popular fun spots in the world and he set out to prove his prophecy by building a hotel of such magnificence that it was the marvel of a town used to marvelous sights.

It got so a person visiting the Sahara was baffled and astounded every day, for a wood partition would go up, the signs would read, "please pardon any inconvenience due to construction," and within a short time the wall would come down and a newer, more beautiful and imposing addition would be revealed.

When Milton Prell left Las Vegas a testimonial dinner was given in his honor and there were abundant tears from those with whom he had worked since the days of the old Club Bingo. But through the sadness there was sunlight, for all of us who knew Prell figured he just couldn't stay away from this town. He had put too much of his lifeblood into it.

Tonight Milton Prell unveils his newest monument to his faith in Las Vegas -- the Aladdin Hotel. We welcome Milton and Debbie Prell back where they belong.

Everyone said it couldn't be done, but by golly, it was and in record time. Prell still has the genius for organization and putting things together and somehow making everything come out right. When all others fail, he steps up with his magic lamp and behold, new beauty and magnificence like we've never dreamed of before.

The impossible, they say, may take a little longer -- but not with Prell. I looked at the Aladdin last week and figured there was no way in the world it could open. But it opens tonight. I guess it takes special knowhow and a fellow who can instill confidence and attract loyalty to accomplish what they've done at the Aladdin.

When you look around the Aladdin now you see the same faces Prell has had for 27 years. They are there early in the morning and when you go back at midnight these people are still on the job. This is the kind of loyalty it takes to accomplish a miracle.

We watched the rinky-dink operation as the Tallyho and the King's Crown, but it was ill-fated from the beginning. Only a man like Prell could instill the sweet atmosphere of success. In fact, he could probably make a successful venture of the Landmark Tower. Why we could even give him Bud Albright's job and he would keep the Convention Hall full every day of the week.

Early this morning, as I drove by the Aladdin, it looked hopeless. There wasn't a chance of them opening at midnight, yet at that magic hour Las Vegans will take a trip into the Arabian nights as the doors open wide in friendly welcome.

The Aladdin is now a little jewel in the desert -- glamorous, elegant and splendid in all its fine new trappings. And heading its fine staff is Milton Prell who works wonders with the ease of a magician and welcomes everyone to his dream hotel.

For myself, I'm ordering the flying carpet to get me to the opening of the Aladdin on time.

We wish Jack Sommer and his partners the best of luck as they begin to build their vision of a magical Aladdin -- atop the rubble of a hotel built by a giant among Las Vegas dreamers, Milton Prell.

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