MGM Grand Theatre
3645 Las Vegas Boulevard,
Las Vegas,
NV
89109
3645 Las Vegas Boulevard,
Las Vegas,
NV
89109
1 person
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The MGM Grand Theatre, with 300 love seats, was located in the MGM Grand Hotel shopping arcade and presented classic MGM films. The theatre had classic movie theatre features, complete with a marquee, ticket booth and concession stand. To make the movie-going experience complete, a cartoon and newsreel were included. With tickets at a nominal price of $2.50, it was made profitable by its bar and cocktail service at a press of a button.
The MGM Grand Hotel history goes back to December 5, 1973, when it opened on the site of the old Bonanza Hotel, which is remembered for its first-run movie theatre.
Classics like “Gone With The Wind” and MGM Grand’s namesake “Grand Hotel” were included but newer films such as 1968’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” was also screened.
An exception occurred at times when Warner Bros. “Casablanca” was shown.
The MGM Grand Hotal was destroyed by fire November 21, 1980, and the reconstructed hotel, reopened July 30, 1981, with a movie theatre, but it closed in 1986.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
After the fire in November 1980, the Hotel reopened in July of 1981 and the movie theater did return. When the hotel was sold to Bally’s in 1986, the theater was closed.
In regards to Ron Pierce’s commentary above: The theater did not have a concession stand. So, no food (popcorn, hot dogs, candy, etc.) was sold. If anybody remembers, in the same area, there was a Swenson’s Ice Cream ‘joint’ & even so, you weren’t allowed to bring in anything from there. The theater was strictly drinks only - more than likely, booze & beer (2 drink minimum) for adults, and soda for kids. The showing(s) of “Casablanca” - sometime back in the 70’s, MGM (studios), along with United Artists, bought most - if not all - of the pre-1950’s Warner Bros. film catalog (“Casablanca” was part of the deal). Another “newer” MGM title, that was shown at the theater, was 1967’s “The Dirty Dozen” with Lee Marvin & Charles Bronson. What’s interesting about this - one of the reels, instead of being in English, was in a foreign language (Apparently, the studio didn’t bother to check beforehand. WHOOPS!)
After Bally’s took over the hotel, they basically kept the theater open for about a year. HOWEVER (and unfortunately), that was the end of the theater getting those MGM pristine studio prints. So, they started showing non-MGM movies. Amongst those titles that I saw there - “The Girl Can’t Help It” with Jayne Mansfield, Woody Allen’s “Take The Money And Run”, “The Fly” - the remake with Jeff Goldblum, And “A Shot In The Dark” with Peter Sellers.
The last movie to be shown there was “Diamonds Are Forever” with Sean Connery as
“Bond - James Bond - 007”.
The theater no longer exists - Bally’s tore it down & the area became its “Race & Sports Book”. Thought I’d add - Bally’s is now The Horeshoe.