I just found this incredible rendering of the Las Vegas Dunes Hotel from 1962 that shows the original concept by Chicago-based architect Milton M. Schwartz. Compare this with the actual as-built hotel that I showed in my January 30, 2011 blog. Notice that the rendering depicts the original 1955 hotel portion still standing, complete with the giant sultan on the roof. Also, there is no Dome of the Sea, which actually ended up being built where the Sultan had been located after they demolished the “old” hotel in 1963.
Called “The Diamond of the Dunes,” the new 22-story $8 million addition became the most ultra-modern hotel ever erected in the desert city.
About Peter Moruzzi
Author and historian Peter Moruzzi is passionate about the middle decades of the 20th century: its nightlife, classic dining, and architecture.
Born in Concord, Massachusetts and raised in Hawaii, Moruzzi graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and later attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. In 1999, he founded the Palm Springs Modern Committee (PS ModCom) an architectural preservation group. He is the author of "Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground," "Palm Springs Holiday: A Vintage Tour From Palm Springs to the Salton Sea," "Classic Dining:Discovering America's Finest Mid-Century Restaurants," "Palm Springs Paradise: Vintage Photographs from America's Desert Playground," and "Greetings from Los Angeles." His latest pictorial history, "Greetings from Las Vegas" will be available in September, 2019.
Peter Moruzzi's Mid-Century 
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Peter – I am Milton Schwartz’s daughter. I am very flattered by your wonderful commentary as I’m sure he would be. Thank you! It’s so nice to know that his memory lives on through your (and others’) appreciation of the buildings he designed.
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That is very educational read
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You’r quite right on this piece
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Hi, Peter: are you interested in the SS United States? Since it is mid-Century AND our country’s Flagship I thought you might want to be involved.
let me know, Mary Villalba, Sec., SS United States Conversancy
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“Remote TV and Radio (No Extra Charge)!” Can you imagine the luxury?
Notice that the back of the postcard takes up the entire left side for all the printed hype, leaving only a small box on the right on the bottom for any abbreviated message someone wanted to send. That probably wasn’t even allowed in postal regulations; only the address was to be on the right. But, of course, with all the superlatives that had to be listed, it’s understandable.
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And that was one big postcard to mail for just a nickle.
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That rendering is absolutely gorgeous; from the placement of the building, the color selections, and the detailed entourage, it captures the entire essence of the 1960’s and the Dunes Hotel. What a great find!
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Carlos, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I won this on eBay. I had never seen this early rendering before and never imagined that they once intended to keep the original hotel in place – complete with the Big Man on the porte cochere. I’m glad you understand my excitement. If you want I can send you the higher resolution image via email.
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