Calling All Vegas Tiki Freaks....

Ya never know what might be on zee auction block!

http://www.stardustlv.com/site/whatsnew/

Hidden treasure??

p.s

I'm guessing the " odds and ends" auction will be the one!!

are you going to make it down?

p.s.s.

There was a book signing there tonight. The book has 6 pages of AKU AKU in it.

"Stardust Memeroies" or something like that.

On 2006-10-25 21:49, pdrake wrote:
are you going to make it down?

Ummm. PD. You mean up??

No. That's why I posted this. "For the Vegas Tiki Freaks!"

I'm a "So Cal Tiki Freak!"

Aku Aku did close in 1980 so it's a guess if there was anything left in a basement somewhere.

Now that they are selling everything.......... you never know!

[ Edited by: RevBambooBen 2006-10-25 22:13 ]

Sorry to say that there's not gonna be any cool long lost Aku stuff. I have a friend that works there who's a dealer with me at Main St. Antiques. He's been ALL OVER that place for the past few months now looking for stuff, and he said that there's nothing left at all.

I'll still probably go just to get the chance to explore the property during the auction "preview" like I did at the Sands auction years ago. Exploring that place was AWESOME! The Master Suites at the top of the tower all opened up to each other to make one gigantic top-floor suite. Ooooh, if those walls could talk! ("Who let all these people into my room?")

I went to the Stardust book signing tonight, by the way. The stories the 30+ years employees had to tell were wonderful.... And the book is a must have. All Vintage Vegas fans will love it!

There is a $500 entrance fee for the auction. Boo!

On 2006-10-26 21:59, TikiPug wrote:
There is a $500 entrance fee for the auction. Boo!

Strange......

Yesterday it said that online and onsite was free.

Now it doesn't say either.

I wonder if the powers of TC made them change their minds????

It's typical auction stuff. It's free to go in and look around. But if you are gonna bid, you have to put down a deposit. Usually they just take an imprint of your Visa and keep it on file until the auction is over. As deposits go, however, $500 is pretty steep. The deposit for the Sands auction was $100, as are most auctions. I guess they want "serious" buyers who are gonna buy truckloads of crap.

I just want one star, maybe the blue one on the lower left.

-Randy

How long do you think it will take some marketing "genius" to come up with a "retro-styled casino" idea—"You know, just like the Rat Pack would have hung out in!" Good grief.

While going through pictures of stuff that will be auctioned off from the Stardust casino, I came across this picture. It might be a hint of other stuff that may come up on the auction block for the late, great Stardust and Aku Aku.

I went to the Stardust today and "previewed" the items up for auction. The only thing from the Aku Aku were framed pictures. However, these guys jumped right out at me as I walked into the pavilion...

The big guy is about 20 feet tall, and the ladies are about 12 feet tall.

These are hand-held staffs and are about 6' tall.

They are all made of fiberglass, except for the tables. They are wood. They'd be cool to get 'em, but getting them home would be a royally expensive pain.

There's lots of other cool stuff, too.

A Stardust Rocket ship "time capsule" from the 45th anniversary...

a 20' animated replica of the Stardust sign...

tons of Lido costumes and headdresses, and a bunch of antiques from Main Street Station. I also got to go visit what's left of the old Royal Nevada. The two-level "suites" that surround the pool are some of the last vestiges of old Vegas resort architecture.

The landscaping in this area is like a forest of Palm trees. They've all been there since the 50's and have filled in the area really well.

It's a real shame to see progress eliminate nostalgia. But the mighty dollar speaks louder than sentiment.

Lastly, do you recognize this room...?

It's the infamous "money counting room" where the mob used to skim the casino's daily take when Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal was "in charge" of the Stardust.

Ahhh, history....

very cool...was yesterday just a walk around? i think i can't go till saturday, i hope all that stuff ain't gone by the time we get there...

Hi we were just in Las Vegas and were so interested in the auction. Thank you to everyone who provided this information. Hey Lee we loved your new tiki room at Main Street Antiques, we were sad to find Red Rooster closed for now. We found some great stuff in your room. We didn't buy Gecko's new resin lamp when we were in Oahu because we couldn't resist his ceramics. So when we saw you had his lamp and we were in our car we got that and some other fun stuff. Your room is always a highlight of our trip.

Also at main street way in back in a glass case we found a large Aku Aku dinner plate for $55. We bought it and a few days later when we went back there was a second one there. Who knows maybe this guy has a stack, we didn't buy the second one, it could still be there.

We went from Las Vegas to the Kon Tiki in Tucson. We visited with Louie the manager. Bamboo Ben did a remodel and it's so perfect it all looks original. We had a great dinner and picked up some Tiki Farm and Doug Horne mugs and bowls. The dinner was really good. The diet coke was one of the best ever. It's time for Tiki Road Trip to revise the review because it's the place to go. If there is interest let me know and I'll post some photos.

Thanks again guys for the Stardust information I was feeling really bad missing it by a week and now I feel like I got to be there. Anyone know where the Moai heads from the Tropicana ended up or were they demolished? Wendy

inki-

all that stuff is going up for sale on Saturday, so if you get there before the auction starts at 11am, you'll get to at least preview the stuff that is in the auction hall.

wendy-

you guys drive me crazy! I never know that you've been here until after you've left! Arrg!!!
Next time lemme know that you're here so I can meet up with ya and buy you guys a drink.

everyone-

the auction starts tomorrow for all the casino fixtures. I'm gonna try to get a few lights from the showroom, and that sweet "Stage Door Lounge" neon sign with the animated martini.

Wish me luck!

tiki lee - any idea what suite is Leftys'? there are a bunch of different suite furnishings listed with different room numbers...just wondering.

Wendy-
The Aku Aku statues were in front of The Tropicana during the reign of the Benzart Tikis. Then, when they tore 'em all out, one ended up in Sunset Park. Next time you guys come down, we'll take a little feild trip. Ha! Now you'll HAVE to call me when you're here!

Inki-
There ain't NOTHIN' left from Lefty's day. That hotel has been re-done so many times since then. I did stumble across an executive office in my wanderings the other day,though, and the decor in the bathroom was such that it just might be a hold-over from his day, if not actually his office. It was all mirror and snow white marble. The WC was a great big cube of a room with a toilet in the center of the back wall, and a phone right next to it. Niiiice.

UPDATE!

The "Tiki Village" (as they called it) went for $6,500 today.

The photo PRINT of Lefty Rosenthal and Frank Sinatra on Lefty's show, matted & framed in a simple frame with a little 1" by 2" plaque on it telling what the picture was, went for $7000.

The Stardust rocket/time capsule went for $13,500.

The replica Stardust Sign went for $35,000.

Everything else went for insanely "way-to-high" prices as well.

These people are fricken CRAZY!

The Tikipugs were there in the morning, but saw the writing on the wall early and split while they still had a day to enjoy outdoor in the beautiful weather.

I was not so smart.

Oh well, it's an education!

Aloha agian!

I thought I'd let you all know that I did actually win something at the auction:

9 BOXES OF 500 AKU AKU ROOM KEY CARDS (4500 Total) !!!!!

So what, you may wonder, could I possibly do with that many fricken Aku Aku room keys? Why, put a sticker on the backsides and make them into BUSINESS CARDS, of course!

Swell idea, hunh?

Now I just gotta get printing 4500 stickers...

This... may take a while.

On 2006-11-22 01:36, Tiki Lee's wrote:
Aloha agian!

I thought I'd let you all know that I did actually win something at the auction:

9 BOXES OF 500 AKU AKU ROOM KEY CARDS (4500 Total) !!!!!

So what, you may wonder, could I possibly do with that many fricken Aku Aku room keys? Why, put a sticker on the backsides and make them into BUSINESS CARDS, of course!

Swell idea, hunh?

Now I just gotta get printing 4500 stickers...

This... may take a while.

That's a great idea Lee!

I need a few of your cards for my referral area at my shop
( and 1 for my collection area too). :)

On 2006-11-22 01:36, Tiki Lee's wrote:
Aloha agian!

I thought I'd let you all know that I did actually win something at the auction:

9 BOXES OF 500 AKU AKU ROOM KEY CARDS (4500 Total) !!!!!

So what, you may wonder, could I possibly do with that many fricken Aku Aku room keys? Why, put a sticker on the backsides and make them into BUSINESS CARDS, of course!

Swell idea, hunh?

Now I just gotta get printing 4500 stickers...

This... may take a while.

..with that many i think you should send one to every member of tiki central...you'll still have plent to use as business cards.

On 2006-11-22 01:36, Tiki Lee's wrote:
I thought I'd let you all know that I did actually win something at the auction:
9 BOXES OF 500 AKU AKU ROOM KEY CARDS (4500 Total) !!!!!

You can always glue them together and use them as coasters.

Or if you are going to sell some of them off, I'll buy some from ya.

The Aku Aku statues were in front of The Tropicana during the reign of the Benzart Tikis. Then, when they tore 'em all out, one ended up in Sunset Park.

Are you sure about that? The Tropicana moais looked pretty different in the photos I've seen. There are some other accounts of the relationship (or lack of it), as well as a picture, on this old thread.

I always thought there was only one Aku Aku moai, but both Ben and bigbro say "moais" in that other thread. Were there more than one of the featherstone Aku Aku moais?

And BTW, what's the plural of "moai"? How about "moaice", or "mo' ice" if you're from Hawaii.

-Randy

On 2007-02-02 16:20, aquarj wrote:

The Aku Aku statues were in front of The Tropicana during the reign of the Benzart Tikis. Then, when they tore 'em all out, one ended up in Sunset Park.

Are you sure about that? The Tropicana moais looked pretty different in the photos I've seen. There are some other accounts of the relationship (or lack of it), as well as a picture, on this old thread.

I always thought there was only one Aku Aku moai, but both Ben and bigbro say "moais" in that other thread. Were there more than one of the featherstone Aku Aku moais?

And BTW, what's the plural of "moai"? How about "moaice", or "mo' ice" if you're from Hawaii.

-Randy

7 Moai were carved out of featherstone for the Aku Aku vegas.
( actually they were carved behind Disneyland )

Trop's tiki were made of cement, the black ones out front, besides all of the Beauties made by BENZART out of wood, while he was there.

if this helps?

sad to see pictures of the Stardust and the old hotel section! :(

I was lucky enough to see Wayne perform on my first trip to Vegas, in 2002 & B.B. King in 2005. I really loved that place, especially the look & feel of The Wayne Newton Theatre. I must say, the cocktail waitresses looked like they came with the place. Nothing like a few octogenarians in skimpy cocktail outfits! I give the management kudos for not replacing them with modern-day silicone-filled bimbos. I must admit, they were very sweet. I only wished I'd had the foresight to talk to a few of them about the golden days. Lee, if you've got any of those room keys left, I would love to have one. PM me if you do.