Playing a Part in the War Effort

Opening exactly one month before the United States entered into World War II with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino’s formative years were defined by the effects of the conflict on the development of Las Vegas, the city’s economy, and its culture.

The population of Las Vegas boomed during the early years of the El Cortez, more than doubling to nearly 25,000 citizens by 1950. Much of this growth can be explained by the needs of the war effort, which manifested locally as military bases, such as the Army Air Gunnery Range (later, Nellis Air Force Base), and war industry plants, such as Basic Magnesium, Incorporated. The population influx into the Las Vegas area was without precedent, and much of downtown developed as a result of this, creating new jobs, new industries, and an opportunity for properties such as the El Cortez to rise to the occasion and meet the needs of locals and tourists alike. This “war boom” resulted in downtown properties having the means to freely grow, expand, and renovate – during its first year alone, the El Cortez invested over $100,000 in an expansion to its facilities, which included a new large dining room and a swimming pool. Additionally, the El Cortez supported the war effort by holding a war bond rally in June 1945, just months before the end of WWII, selling $550 in bonds total, which is worth over $10,000 today when adjusted for inflation. This rally, reflective of the eclectic entertainment offerings of the El Cortez at the time, featured everything from gymnasts and strongmen, to tap dancing, opera singing, and a live boxing match and stunt spectacular.

In the aftermath of WWII, as the United States began experimenting with the capabilities and collateral effects of the atomic bomb, the El Cortez housed the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Public Information Office, fielding questions from locals and offering information about upcoming detonations at the nearby Nevada Test Site (NTS). It is unclear how long the AEC was active at the El Cortez, but the property was undoubtedly an integral part of Las Vegas’ atomic age. During this period, the El Cortez incorporated atomic testing into its branding, advertising its atomic-themed slots as offering gamblers “Atomic Action with Plenty of ‘Fall-Out.’” This frenzy around nearby atomic testing did not occur without incident, however: in November 1952, an “unidentified opportunist” stole $28 in silver from behind the front desk of the El Cortez as staff and guests alike were mesmerized by a live atomic bomb detonation. The thief was never apprehended.