Oral history interview with Marie Antoinette Antonio conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on December 4, 2021 for Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project.
Marie reflects on her upbringing in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines and her love of music that came from her mother. Marie talks about studying music in college and traveling with her husband to Guam to become a music teacher at a Catholic school before immigrating to San Jose, California. She shares the culture shock they faced adapting to life in the United States and the higher cost of living in California, which caused the couple to move to Las Vegas. Marie discusses her life in Las Vegas, traditions and cultural celebrations she partakes in, and the American Dream.
A Minsky's showgirl in a beaded costume and feathered headdress poses with a chest of coins and a poster for an Aladdin promotion. A security guard is standing behind the chest of coins. A row of slot machines is visible behind her. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
A Minsky's showgirl in a beaded costume and feathered headdress poses with a chest of coins and a poster for an Aladdin promotion. A security guard is standing behind the chest of coins. Rows of slot machines are visible behind her. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
A Minsky's showgirl in a beaded costume and feathered headdress poses with a chest of coins and a poster for an Aladdin promotion. A security guard is standing behind the chest of coins. Slot machines are visible behind her. The poster reads "Just like the good old days Month of June celebration you can win a ton of money." The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Four Minsky's showgirls in beaded costumes and feathered headdress drop handfuls of coins into a chest for an Aladdin promotion. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Eight female dancers in white bikini costumes and feather boas posing in front of a painted backdrop curtain. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Five female dancers in white bikini costumes and feather boas posing in front of a painted backdrop curtain. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
A female dancer backstage in the dresssing area wearing a rhinestone bikini top, satin bikini bottom costume with a feathered headdress. A cabinet with other costume pieces is visible in the background. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
A female dancer backstage in the dresssing area wearing a rhinestone bikini top costume with a feathered headdress. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard
A female dancer backstage in the dressing area wearing a front-tied bikini top costume with a thong bikini bottom and fishnet tights. A feathered costume piece is visible on the dressing table. The Aladdin opened on April 1, 1966 and closed on November 25, 1997, and was imploded on 7:30pm, on April 27, 1998, except for the Aladdin Theatre to make way for the construction of an entirely new casino. The new Aladdin was scheduled to reopen on August 17, 2000, at 6:00 p.m. The opening was delayed while the Clark County building inspector completed its fire safety testing. Another delay was caused by last-minute repairs to the casino surveillance system. The new Aladdin finally opened the next day at 7:45 a.m. The casino was sold in bankruptcy on June 20, 2003 to a partnership of Planet Hollywood and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Renovations were carried out in stages, allowing the resort to remain open throughout. The retail space formerly known as "The Desert Passage" was converted into the Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile Shops" and the theatre formerly known as the "Aladdin Theatre" was converted into "The AXIS". After the casino was renovated, it was reopened as "Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino" on April 17, 2007. Site Name: Aladdin Hotel (Las Vegas, Nev.) Street Address: 3667 South Las Vegas Boulevard