$5

Las Vegas Hilton Collection: 3 - $1 Hilton Casino Chips in excellent condition 2 - Hilton Beverage Napkins in excellent condition 1 - Hilton Writing Pad 1 - Hilton Pen 5 - Las Vegas Hilton Genuine Photos The International Hotel was the first true mega-resort and the first utilizing Martin Stern Jr.’s distinctive tri-form, with room wings radiating from a central service core. It was also known for its mammoth showroom and variety of internationally-themed restaurants. Kirk Kerkorian took over the original hotel concept from Marvin Krattner who had envisioned an exclusive International Country Club Estates with a championship golf course and hotel on the site of the old Las Vegas Speedway. Kerkorian purchased the property from Krattner and completed construction in 1969 of what was the largest hotel and casino in the world in record time. Kerkorian hired Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley for the resort’s grand opening, but Elvis let Streisand open, and followed her with 58 consecutive performances. Elvis re-launched his career in Las Vegas, and continued to perform at the International until 1976, living in the penthouse suite during his stays in Las Vegas. The International was the site for the fight in which Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for the World Heavy weight championship in 1978. The International was also the site of the notorious Navy Tailhook Association meeting in 1991. In 1981, just 90 days after the MGM Grand fire, an arson fire was set in the International in which eight people died. Firemen who had learned from the MGM fire were able to keep guests out of hallways and stairwells. The original sign blew down in a storm in 1994. The new sign, built in 1997, was the largest free-standing sign in the world, and was taken down in December, 2011. On June 16, 1970, Hilton Hotels Corporation bought 37.5% of the in International Leisure Corporation, which ran the International and the Flamingo; Hilton would manage rooms and food and beverage, while ILC would continue to operate the casino. On September 29, Hilton acquired an additional 44 percent of ILC, giving it de facto control over the company. In March, 1971, the acquisition was complete. The International became "Las Vegas Hilton (The International Hotel)," and the Flamingo became the Flamingo Hilton. International Leisure was, by the end of the year, merged into Hilton Hotels. On February 10, 1981, a fire in the hotel cost $10 million in damage and claimed 8 lives. Busboy Philip Cline was eventually convicted of setting the blaze (January 15, 1982). This was the second major fire at a Las Vegas hotel in three months (the deadly MGM Grand fire in November had killed 87). The hotel made the headlines again in 1991, when the Tailhook Association's meeting at the Hilton became national news after allegations of rampant sexual harassment became public. Still, the Hilton kept moving forward. On November 19, 1992, Governor Bob Miller honors Hilton Hotel Corp with "Hilton Day," a statewide holiday commemorating Hilton's 1970 purchase of the International. At the time, Hilton was Nevada's number one hotel casino operator, with five properties: The flagship Las Vegas Hilton, the Reno Hilton (formerly Bally's Reno), the Flamingo Hilton Las Vegas, the Flamingo Hilton Laughlin, and the Flamingo Hilton Reno. Together, the properties had 11,300 hotel rooms (the most of any company) and employed 13,700 people, making Hilton the state's largest corporate employer.

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