Caesars Palace was a product of the creative mind of Jay Sarno and the financial backing of the Mob-controlled Teamsters Union pension fund. The Roman Empire-themed resort was an immediate sensation that changed the trajectory of Las Vegas. In this panel discussion marking the resort’s 60th anniversary, Jay Sarno Jr., eldest son of the Caesars founder, will recall the epic 1966 opening and his father’s eccentricities as he built one of the city’s most revered resorts. Bill Weinberger Jr., longtime Caesars executive, will remember the fascinating celebrities, athletes, and underworld characters who filtered through the iconic Strip property. Las Vegas historian David Schwartz will put it all in context, explaining how Caesars Palace helped transform Las Vegas into an international destination.
1960’s Caesars photo credit: Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Speakers
Jay Cameron Sarno
Jay Cameron Sarno (often referred to as Jay Sarno, Jr.) was born in 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Las Vegas in June of 1965 when his family relocated because his father was building his most successful hotel, Caesars Palace. Starting at 13, Jay worked at Circus Circus repairing and running bumper cars, and assisting in the executive office during the construction of the first 400-room hotel tower. Jay moved to San Diego in 1979 to become one of the original employees and ultimately President of what would evolve into Cal Omega, a manufacturer of casino gaming equipment. Once the company became part of a major route operator in Nevada, Jay obtained his Nevada Gaming License at age 25. In 1987 Jay founded Crescent Design, Inc., to offer consulting design services for the casino gaming machinery. That firm evolved to become the world leader in high-pressure testing of medical devices. In 2020, after 33 years of operation, Crescent Design was sold to Machine Solutions. Jay has worked there since, overseeing the electrical aspects of new product development. Jay and his wife Julie are involved with many theatres and other charities in the San Diego area, attending over 120 plays, readings, concerts, and fundraising events each year. They were honored in 2021 as San Diego's Champions of the Arts.
Bill Weinberger
Cleveland native and 1963 Cornell Hotel School graduate, Bill Weinberger worked in the Investment Banking business until his move to Los Angeles in 1974 when he accepted a position with Caesars World, Inc., parent company of Caesars Palace. He transferred to Caesars Palace in 1977 and became VP-Casino Marketing. Among his duties was bringing Formula 1 racing to Las Vegas as the president of the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982.
David G. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Schwartz is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner, professor, and gaming historian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. From 2001 to 2018, he was the director of the Center for Gaming Research within University Libraries, where he maintained the gaming collections. Schwartz has written and edited or co-edited 12 books in his area of specialty, gaming history, including “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas,” on developer and hotelier Jay Sarno.
