El Morocco (West Las Vegas) facts for kids
| Address | 1322 North E. Street Las Vegas, Nevada United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Sarann Knight-Preddy |
| Opened | 1945 |
| Closed | 1958 |
The El Morocco was a famous club in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a lively spot on the city's West Side, where people went to have fun and enjoy music.
Contents
El Morocco's Early Years
The El Morocco club first opened its doors in 1945. It was started by Frank Wilson. At first, it was a bar that also had slot machines for people to play.
Around 1948, the club closed for a short time. It soon reopened with more games, like blackjack, craps, and poker. In 1955, a fire sadly destroyed the original building.
A New Owner Takes Over
In 1957, a very important person named Sarann Knight-Preddy came back to Las Vegas. She had previously run a club in Hawthorne, Nevada. This club was special because it was the first one licensed to a Black woman.
Sarann Knight-Preddy started working at the rebuilt El Morocco. She became the new owner and ran the club from 1957 to 1958. After she left, the club closed down. The building was later torn down because of damage from vandalism.
The New El Morocco
A new club, called the New El Morocco, was built on the same spot. It opened on March 11, 1959. One of the new owners was Oscar Crozier. He worked to connect casino owners with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This group worked for equal rights.
Oscar Crozier tried his best, but the business did not do well. The New El Morocco closed on February 9, 1960, less than a year after it opened.
Reopening and Final Closure
The New El Morocco reopened again on October 2, 1963. This time, Val Ruggerio was in charge. The club was licensed for many games, including blackjack, craps, poker, and slot machines. However, Val Ruggerio later moved away to Reno. He closed the New El Morocco for good on April 28, 1964.
