| The Commercial Casino History Part 3
The Commercial Hotel continued its "big-name" policy after the war and was joined by its rival directly across the railroad tracks through downtown Elko, the Stockmen's Hotel Casino. Once the Mayor Hotel, the 102-room building was bought by R.C. "Red" Ellis and A.C. Bingham who changed the name to the Stockmen's they opened a lounge in August of 1946 to take advantage of the country fair crowd around Labor Day. A few weeks later, on October 4, the name of the room was changed to the Round-Up Room and opened with "Hi" Davis and his orchestra, with Ann Triola, a singing comedy star. The Andrini Brothers rounded out the show. Following the first show were stars Margaret Whiting, Burl Ives, Alfred Drake, Rex Allen and Tennessee Ernie Ford. 
Elkoans and their visitors never had it so good as when the Crumleys and Ellis were in competition; and the prices were right . there was never a cover charge or minimum. Hotel patrons saw the most beautiful floorshows in the world. Entertainment was fabulous, hard to believe and it didn't cost more than a drink or two at one of the hotels. All this was offered at a time when drinks were 25-cents apiece!
In 1946another hotel, the Ranchinn, was built and opened by young Crumley. Elaborately dedicated on December 18, the "super motel" one of the first ever built after the war, had a second-floor clubroom, an elegant bar and cabaret, fine Chinese Food, and the highest gambling limits in town. Tex Ritter, "America's most beloved Western Star," and Henry Busse, the famous "Hot-Lips Trumpet Man" entertained at the Commercial's Christmas show to honor the Ranchinn's opening. The Intermountain West's biggest professional rodeo came to Elko in 1948 and the first Annual Silver State Stampede Rodeo was not exclusively a local show, casinos in other Nevada towns also sponsored it. Bing Crosby, Elko's Honorary Mayor, officially opened the celebration that featured the nation's foremost riders, ropers, bulldoggers and area entertainers. Top attractions were booked into the local nightspots. The Rocky Mountain Playboys performed in the Round-Up Room; while The Lounge featured stage and screen favorites, Professor Lambert and Pinky Lee, in its "Stampede Revue." In short, "no expense had been spared, no stone left unturned and nothing was left out" in order to make the Stampede a success. In 1951, a movie premiere was scheduled to be held in Elko and elaborate citywide preparations began for the three-day festivities. Fifteen thousand windshield stickers were pasted on vehicles entering town: "We are coming back for the World Premiere of "Here Comes the Groom." Storefronts and windows, street lamps and "public conveyances" were decorated to give the entire community a holiday atmosphere. The eyes and ears of the nation were focused on Elko when the premier showing of Paramount Picture's "Here Comes the Groom" starring Elko's honorary mayor, Bing Crosby, was held. More than a hundred Hollywood celebrities, newsmen and political dignitaries arrived in charted planes at the Elko Airport. Their coming was witnessed by the largest gathering of people in the history of the city. |
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