Bearing the slogan 'a Place in the Sun' The Sands resort opened on December 15th, 1952. The operators wanted the finest entertainment and promotion available, so they went to New York.
Jack Entratter of New York's famed Copacabana had been hired to handle publicity and Entertainment. In one of the most memorable openings it began on December 15th 1952 and extend through New Years Day 1953.

Jack used all the influence he had to ensure the opening was a success. He chartered planes to make pick ups at Hollywood, Houston, Chicago, New York, to name a few. He brought in 146 newspapermen and guests including Terry Moore, Esther Williams, Jane Powell, Fernando Lamas, Richard Widmark, Arlene Dahl, and Corinne Calvet all of whom were presented with bags full of newly minted silver dollars. Howard Hughes lent him his personal Constellation for a flight that delivered columnists and others from New York.

Johnnie Ray was contracted to appear for $8,500 for the opening week, but because the Hotel wasn't going to open on time they were forced to postpone. Johnnie Ray decided to ask for $20,000 a week and was told by Jack Entratter to go elsewhere. Jack didn't think Johnnie was worth that. Instead, opening entertainment was provided by Danny Thomas, Jimmy McHugh, Judy Collins, Chuck Nelson, and the Copa Girls.

Danny Thomas was a perfectionist who wrote his own material, sings and relates each story with absolute impact. Thomas was so emotional over being able to open the resort and being the center of all the attention that he lost his voice for the second show! The Bandleader Ray Sinatra went to the microphone and said Danny Thomas will not appear tonight but we have found some friends in the audience who will take his place To the audiences amazement the friends were Jimmy Durante, Ritz Brothers, Denice Darcel, Frankie Laine, Spike Jones, Jane Powell and Ray Anthony.
In true Old Vegas style not one of these stars would accept payment they were doing it to help Danny.

Following the 18-day booking of Thomas, Lena Horne performed before the room was taken over by Edith Piaf. Entratter planned to keep his attractions at the Hotel for six weeks due to the shortage at the time of Top named talent. There were seven properties in Las Vegas at the time who hired top named talent practically in wholesale fashion 52 weeks of the year causing a shortage.

The Copa Room was given very special care; it was described as one of the most flattering both to the performer and guest, in the country. The Theater had 385 seats and was designed for intimate or lavish big-scale productions.

Talent wise and contact rich, Jack (Smilin Jack) Entratter was the Entertainment Director who became the driving force behind the Hotel's world wide acclaim as the place. Entratter was a true Director of Entertainment.

From the outset he presented the biggest names in Entertainment. Entratter treated the performers like Royalty and the biggest stars in show business all played the Sands during his tenure. He always catered to the Stars and their families by throwing lavish parties for them and arranging special events such as Sinatra's wedding to Mia Farrow. It didn't matter who they were Jack treated everyone the same. He was the first one to give African American full and equal hotel privileges. Lena Horne, for example, was one of the first black performers to regularly play the Strip. Jack's history with Sammy Davis, Jr. was legendary.

Entratter spent about a million dollars on his shows in the first six months of the Sands opening, the results showed that it was money well spent as the flow of tourist money at the gaming tables was so profuse that the Hotel's entire cost of $5.5 million was paid off within that same six months

The Sands was THE Hotel of the 50's and 60's Entratter brought in Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack included Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. It was reported that Sinatra alone made $15,000 a week at the Sands.

Entratter tried to enforce a rule to discourage his stars from playing at the Hotel, even although their presence would invariably attract huge crowds – he encouraged them to hang out or deal instead. In his own words: If they lose in my place, they might go away hating me and I wouldn't be able to sign them again.

Tallulah Bankhead made her first nightclub appearance at the Sands for $20,000 a week in 1953. Broadway prophets shuddered and predicted that Entratter would fall flat on his face with this off-beat booking but they were wrong, Bankhead was a smash breaking the house record and was subsequently offered $100,000 to do a similar show in Texas for two weeks. Bankhead was bank nite for the Sands Hotel! And Entratter never doubted it.

Entratter felt that movie Star Van Johnson had cabaret possibilities but the movie star protested he didn't have the right material and surprisingly didn't have the money to buy it. Jack replied Don't worry I know a couple of writers in Hollywood who can write the material and I'll give you $10,000 advance on your salary to pay for it.

Johnson's performance was spectacular and as a special tribute most of the Hotel employees began wearing the Van Johnson Trademark bright red socks.

Entratter flew to Los Angeles looking for new Copa girls, he saw a dozen and said i'll take the first, third and ninth girls The bookers protested the girls you picked don't dance so good to which he responded I don't care if they never dance. They're beautiful and I want the beauty for the Sands.

In 1953 Sands celebrated her first year on the Strip by burying a nine foot long time capsule, with the assistance of Tallulah Bankhead who was appearing in the Copa room. While Entratter held open the door to the capsule, Bankhead placed one of her studio photos inside along with Bing Crosby's pipe, Ray Bolger's dancing shoes, Sugar Ray Robinson's boxing gloves, a wax impression of Jimmy Durante's nose, an autographed copy of Nelson Eddy's sheet music and a transcript of Louella Parsons interviewing Frank Sinatra on the radio, and a gold plate auto jack symbolizing Danny Thomas's climb to fame. The 12 foot capsule in the shape of a small rocket ship was lowered into the ground it was to be opened in the middle of the next century.

1955 the resort showcased the Clark Brothers, Nat King Cole, The Copa Girls featuring Chuck Nelson, Rosemary Clooney, Vic Damone, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee and Danny Thomas among others.

In 1956 in a totally white environment, Nat King Cole could only perform at the resort but was not allowed in the Casino. His daughters, Carol and Natalie couldn't get admitted to the Sands dining room to have breakfast.

Judy Garland performed at the Hotel in 1958.

During a Rat Pack performance in 1960, Dean Martin rushed over the Sammy Davis Jr., lifted him high off the floor and shouted “I want to thank the NAACP for this Trophy. Apparently Joey Bishop was the instigator. He whispered in Martin's ear and made the suggestion.

In 1960 the Copa Room showcased Allen & Rossi, Dave Burton, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Jerry Lewis, Johnny Mathis, Rowan and Martin, Red Skeleton, Frank Sinatra and Danny Thomas.

In 1961 the Rat Pack would have fun disrupting any shows they could. They raided the Eddie Fisher show at the Desert Inn and the Vic Damone/Jack Carter show at the Flamingo. Insiders said they were planning on hitting every resort before they were done.
In those days resorts didn't care if entertainers made fun of Vegas as long as their routines made money. Dean Martin used to tell his audiences, I'm the only entertainer who has 10% of four gangsters, and Hey, why don't we all run over to the Stardust and steal some light bulbs.

Also added to the entertainment in 1961 was Paul Anka and a show starring Frank Sinatra called the Ring-A-Ding-Ding Show.
In September of 1963 when Patti Page and Gary Morton opened, Elvis Presley and Anne Margaret were in the audience cheering them on.

In 1964 Jerry Lewis scheduled a third late show just for fellow entertainers who wanted to see him but couldn't because of their own shows.

In 1965 the Resort as well as the nation went into mourning at the death of Nat King Cole. Cole was a regular at the resort and died just one year short of performing for three decades.

In 1965 Dean Martin celebrated his Birthday at the resort, Sonny King came up on stage to sing Happy Birthday It was common for Dean to have had a few and miss the piano when he went to put his glass down. Sonny would run around the piano to push it towards Dean so he wouldn't miss. He also would tilt the mike towards Dean and before he could sing, snatch it back. They carried on like this and then they started pouring drinks over each other, then the cake appeared and was thrown around. The stage was a complete mess but everyone had a great time.

When Frank Sinatra teamed with the Count Basie Orchestra for a two week engagement more than 76,000 requests were received for the 14,000 available seats.

June 30th 1965 the New Celebrity Theater opened with Joe E. Lewis, Keely Smith and Sonny King. Whilst appearing at the Sands, Jerry Lewis became the National Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and he still is involved to this day.
The Celebrity Theater showcased Sam Butera, Buddy Greco, Louis Prima and Doc Severinson.

In 1969 when Danny Thomas was performing at the Sands he was personally asked by Howard Hughes to open the Landmark in July. Hughes called the entertainer a Good Luck performer and a good Box Office attraction. To Date, Danny Thomas is thought to be the only entertainer to open two resorts.

In 1969 the Copa Room showcased Don Adams, Vikki Carr, Diahann Carroll, Rodney Dangerfield, Sammy Davis Jr., Jack Jones, Alan King, Steve Lawrence, Dinah Shore, Danny Thomas, Mel Torme, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Rowan and Martin.
In the Celebrity Theater was Paul Gilbert, Buddy Greco, Bill Medley, The Mob, Louis Prima, Sam Butera, the Righteous Brothers and Ernie Stewart Trio.

In 1970 Jimmy Durante was celebrating 55 years in show business and played one of his last appearances with Sonny King at the Sands.

March 11th 1971 Sand's visionary Jack Entratter passed away. All of the entertainers he had worked with and assisted over the years mourned his death. He was greatly loved and respected.

In 1972 Joey Bishop revived an old custom of stars dealing 21 in the casino. Every night between shows Bishop strolled down and relieved a dealer of his post. The table was limited to $2 or $3 dollars limit maximum play. All players were winners. One night the table was so packed a player took a piece of chalk and drew himself an extra spot!

On November, 26th 1972 Robert Goulet had one heck of a Birthday when during his show at the Sands, Wayne Newton, Foster Brooks, and Sonny King walked on stage with a cake.

1973 the Copa Room had Pearl Bailey, Foster Brooks, Roy Clark, Sammy Davis Jr., Phyllis Diller, Don Adams, Lola Falana, Wayne Newton, Pat Cooper, Robert Goulet, Bob Newhart, Danny Thomas, Patti Page and Jerry Vale.

In 1979 Sands Showcased Tony Bennett, Shecky Greene, Joan Rivers, Lennon Sister, Alan King, Wayne Newton, Doc Severinson among others.

Ginger Rogers and Norm Crosby appeared in the Copa Room in 1981.

The Copa Room closed June 24th 1981 Nevada Governor, Robert List proclaimed June 24th to be Copa Room day in the state of Nevada.

The New Copa Room was opened March 17th 1982 there was only one celebrity who they felt could do the honors and that of course was Danny Thomas and the Copa Girls. The same billing as when they opened it 30 years before.

In 1983 the Copa Room showcased Chubby Checker, Marty Cohen, and salute to the 50's.

1984 the winners Circle showcased the Ink Spots.

1985 Copa Room showcased Outrageous Revue featuring Michael Clark as Michael Jackson.

In 1990 Sands Showcased Playboy's Girls of Rock & Roll and in 1991 Melinda, the first Lady of Magic and her Follies Revue.

1992 the Copa Room showcased the adult show Bare Essence, and, Viva Las Vegas.

1995 the Copa Room showcased glitz Musical Revue of the History of Las Vegas, Allen and Rossi, Rich Little and Viva Las Vegas.

The Last Stars to appear in the Copa room in 1996 were Elayne Boosler, Bobbie Collins, Jeff Dunham, Gallagher, Richard Lewis, John Pinette, Paul Rodriquez, Smokey Robinson, Rita Rudner, Neil Sedaka, Frankie Valli, and finally the last show to perform was Viva Las Vegas.

June 20th 1996 the Sands was already closed but made one last appearance in the movie Conair with Nicholas Cage. The Hotel was transformed, light bulbs replaced, weeds removed and slot machines put back in the Casino for the final take of the plane crashing into the Hotel. For a resort that hosted Hollywood's finest it was appropriate that she go out Hollywood Style with a blast.

If you have any information about the history of entertainment at this property please do contact us, we aim to update this section of the site as frequently as possible so that we can ensure as accurate as possible correct historic information.