The last post about the Woodrum's conundrum illustrated a link to old Vegas in more ways than one. Casino owners used to hang out in the coffee shop.
Yep, remember when the used to be called Coffee Shops? And that did NOT mean the Starbucks kiosk. I suppose today they are usually referred to as Cafes, and are the only place you can grab a meal 24 hours a day, ordering up breakfast at 5pm.
The most famous casino tycoon to hold court in the coffee shop, was of course Benny Binion. In fact, his favorite booth was his office.
In this 2004 Review Journal piece by John L. Smith entitled "Downfall of Horseshoe shoves Benny Binion's legend into past" Lee Barnes, author of "The Lucky" describes the scene.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jan-20-Tue-2004/news/22981712.html
"I remember when I was on the Sheriff's Department, either as a detective or sergeant, watching Benny conduct court in his booth (in the Horseshoe coffee shop)," Barnes recalls. "Anybody could be there with him. You'd see anybody from Harry Claiborne to some crossroader just sitting there talking with Benny. I only met him a couple of times, but I liked Benny."
It seemed everyone liked Benny, or at least they respected him. He had a checkered past to say the least, including a murder rap or two, but he was a man of the people. Sure his business was to take your money, but he would at least share his coffee, his famous Texas Chili and his booth, before he sent you back home to lick your wounds.
The Binion family story is a great American tragedy, and plenty has been written about it.
(you may want to start here.)
http://www.1st100.com/part2/binion.html
The latest chapter may seem minor in comparison to murder, mayhem and legends lost, but it is rather sad and telling none the less.
You see, Benny Binion's proud equestrian (or as Benny would probably prefer a cowboy and his horse) statue which stood for over 20 years on a corner across from his casino's parking garage has unceremoniously been moved to a hallway in the South Point Casino.
Over at Leavinglv.net as always they are on the case and cover the event with their usual aplomb.
http://www.leavinglv.net/benny.html
As much as I resented the movement of Benny's statue, as did his old pal, Mayor Oscar Goodman, the statue was plucked from it's granite base none the less. His son Jack, even made the unfortunate comment that is was "a classy move."
I'm certain Michael Gaughan identifies with Benny, the two even share an eerie resemblance especially on horseback. But while Michael gained entre to the casino world through his father, the colorful and still kicking Jackie Gaugan, men like Benny earned it the hard way.
Of course a picture is worth a thousand words, and as you can see (in my next post) Michael is trying to fill Benny's boots and saddle. I commend Mr. Gaughan for his support of the National Final's Rodeo (you can thank Benny for bringing it to Las Vegas) and other equestrian sports (the South Point boasts a busy state of the art equestrian center), but his acquisition, removal, and placement of Benny's statue just ain't right.
Plopped down on a piece of carpet in the hallway between the executive offices and the coffee shop (er, cafe) where Michael is known to eat his lunch, affords Mr. Gaughan the luxury of walking by and paying homage to the real cowboy spirit that Benny embodied. But Benny's other admirers, all the little people who lost to him, all those that liked him, the ones that are just learning of Las Vegas history and are curious about his legend, are robbed of the opportunity to gaze on his bronze image across from the house that Benny built and pay tribute to a true original.
Sure the statue is close to the entrance of the equestrian center and across from the bucking bronco halters on the wall, but it has no pedestal, no plaque, no special lighting -- nothing that says, this is Benny Binion, and don't you forget it, dammit!
At least it is spitting distance from the coffee shop.
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