Abstract
The Olind Jenni Scrapbook on Las Vegas Casinos (1974-1986) is a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, advertisements and promotions, and photographs relating to hotels and casinos owned by Jenni, including the King 8 Hotel and Casino, Ambassador Casino, and the Opera House Casino. The materials in the scrapbook document events, personnel, and publicity and promotions used to draw customers to the properties.
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Scope and Contents Note
The Olind Jenni Scrapbook on Las Vegas Casinos (1974-1986) is a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings, advertisements and promotions, and photographs relating to hotels and casinos owned by Jenni, including the King 8 Hotel and Casino, Ambassador Casino, and the Opera House Casino. The materials in the scrapbook document events, personnel, and publicity and promotions used to draw customers to the properties. A portion of the materials document an attempt by King 8 blackjack dealers Ardeth "Ardy" Hardy and Earl Arnall to set a world record for longest card game.
Access Note
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. Material in this collection may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives (special.collections@unlv.edu) for additional information.
Arrangement
Materials remain as they were received.
Biographical / Historical Note
Hotel and casino owner Olind Jenni was born in Lewistown, Montana in 1927. He left the family business of farming and ranching in 1961 to work for Western Hotels. Jenni moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1965 and began working as a commercial real estate broker and property manager, owning and building office and apartment complexes.
In 1974, Jenni and his business partner, Will Roberts, opened the King 8 Hotel and Casino at 3330 West Tropicana Avenue. The property consisted of guest rooms, a restaurant, and a bar. Gaming options were added until it became a full-service casino. The property was named for its rooms featuring king-size beds for $8.88 per night. Jenni and Roberts also opened a King 8 Hotel in Fairbanks, Alaska during the 1970s. The King 8 went through several ownership changes starting in the late 1970s and was reopened as the Wild Wild West Gambling Hall & Hotel in 1998 by Station Casinos.
In 1978, Jenni leased casino space in the existing Ambassador Inn at 377 East Flamingo Road. He operated the Ambassador Casino until its closure in 1982. Under different ownership, the building reopened as the La Mirage Casino, and later, Key Largo Hotel and Casino.
In 1979, Jenni bought the former 101 Club at 2542 Las Vegas Boulevard North. He reopened the business as the Opera House Casino and operated the full service casino without a hotel. Olind Jenni left Las Vegas after selling the Opera House Casino in 1986, and resides in Gilroy, California as of 2026.
Sources:
Jenni, Roger. Donor communication (saved in collection file). January 23, 2026.
Yandek, Christopher. "Ambassador, La Mirage, Anthony's, and Key Largo Hotel and Casino." Spinetti's Gaming Supplies, March 16, 2019. https://spinettisgaming.com/blogs/casino-gaming-history-news/key-largo
Yandek, Christopher. "King 8 Hotel and Casino and Wild Wild West." Spinetti's Gaming Supplies, March 9, 2019. https://spinettisgaming.com/blogs/casino-gaming-history-news/las-vegas-history-series-king-8-hotel-and-casino-and-wild-wild-west
Preferred Citation
Olind Jenni Scrapbook on Las Vegas Casinos, 1974-1986. MS-01225. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2026 by Roger Jenni; accession number 2026-002.
Processing Note
In 2026, Landon Paljusaj rehoused the scrapbook and wrote the finding aid in ArchivesSpace.
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Kristian Taketomo, Curator for Gaming Collections, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings on casinos and gaming in Las Vegas. All material that formed the original gift has been retained.