Brooks, Robert Lee, 1907-1995

Robert Lee "Bob" Brooks, who owned the Seven Seas popular Polynesian nightspot in Hollywood, California, built the Nevada Biltmore at the corner of Main Street and Bonanza Road in Las Vegas, Nevada. It opened on June 22, 1942 to much acclaim and attracted top names in entertainment. It consisted of a hotel, casino, and 32 detached bungalows. Brooks recreated his Seven Seas nightclub at the resort. He sold the Biltmore in 1944 and the property then changed hands several times. It reopened briefly as a resort for African Americans in 1949. After several tumultuous years, it reopened as the Shamrock Motel. By the early 1960s, it became the Shamrock Furniture Store. Bob Brooks continued to operate the Seven Seas Nightclub in Hollywood until 1964. He invested in land throughout the Las Vegas valley and owned the Royal Hotel on Convention Center and a Travelodge on the Strip. Bob Brooks passed away in 1995.