Atlantic City’s first casino – Resorts –celebrates 45th anniversary in grand fashion

By Scott Cronick

Resorts Casino Hotel may not be the biggest casino in atlantic City, but it certainly is the most historic.

The first casino to open in atlantic City on May 26, 1978, it has withstood the test of time in pretty astonishing fashion. Despite being one of the smallest casinos in atlantic City, it has watched much larger and newer casinos – most notably Trump Taj Mahal, once dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World” – come and go while maintaining a successful and impressive presence.

This summer, starting this Memorial Day weekend, the inaugural atlantic City casino will celebrate its 45th anniversary with an array of amazing events, entertainment and promotions, including its annual Beach Ball Drop, a new ’70s-themed revue show, its first celebrity chef dining experience, major promotions and much more (see sidebar).

Where it all started

The Haddon House, a beautiful, wooden structure built by Samuel and

Susanna Hunt, opened on the current Resorts site in 1869 and was sold to Leeds & Lippincott in 1890. Six years later, the original wood building was razed and rebuilt as a brick building, spending an astronomical (at the time) $200,000 and renamed the larger, more stunning building Haddon Hall. a cross the street, Henry Leeds bought The Chalfonte House in 1900, an eight-story, $1 million brick building that was dubbed atlantic City first skyscraper, opening July 2, 1904. Haddon Hall went through more construction stages in the 1920s, adding an 11-story wing facing the boardwalk followed by a 15-story center and 11-story rear wings later in the decade. When Haddon Hall was completed, it was merged with the Chalfonte by Leeds & Lippincott by a skyway that still exists today.

The Chalfonte-Haddon Hall opened its doors as the largest at- lantic City hotel in 1929 with 1,000 rooms. It enjoyed great success and was considered one of the premiere hotels in the country.

“From the early days at the turn of the century when it was built as a wooden structure to later when it became Haddon Hall, it was always one of the nicest hotels in atlantic City, and I still it is because of the historic bones in this building are amazing,” said Resorts President and CEO Mark Giannantonio. “People from around the country and the world would flock to stay here. When Haddon Hall opened, it was one of the top hotels in the country catering to presidents and dignitaries from all over the world. The existing building has such historic legacy, and I think that’s because it’s such an amazing property is one of the reasons it has withstood the test of time.” after approximately six years, the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall was returned to its owners and reopened in the late summer of 1946, and instantly was successful again.

World War II, however, paused its success as the hotel became part of “Camp Boardwalk” along with 46 other atlantic City hotels taken over by the United States Military to train soldiers. Th military later merged it with the adjacent Traymore Hotel to become England General Hospital to treat soldiers.

“after it was re-established as a hotel, it’s amazing to look at the synergy with the Steel Pier, which was right outside these doors, and the Steeplechase and Million Dollar piers. The city worked in unison to drive tourism and conventions, and Miss america was a main staple of this city, and this hotel was a very important part of the early days. a I think it speaks to atlantic City and the staying power atlantic City has had for more than 125 years. The island has had so many challenges, but it’s still one of the most traveled destinations in america. That’s quite remarkable.

Transformation to Casino

Even though Resorts didn’t open until 1978, the path started 10 years earlier when Resorts International formed after learning of a planned fourth attempt to bring casino gam bling to New Jersey and limiting it to atlantic City. after extensive and expensive lobbying and eventually buying 55 more acres of land on the atlantic City Boardwalk after ac quiring Chalfonte-Haddon Hall from Leeds & Lippincott, Resorts Interna tional actually reduced its room count from 1,000 to 566 to make room for a casino, restaurants, shops and a showroom. after being briefly named The Palace Hotel in 1977, it was renamed Resorts International in 1977 and opened as a casino 10 a.m. May 26, 1978, drawing tens of thousands of people who waited in massive lines to get in after Gov. Brendan Byrne performed the ceremonial ribbon cutting and entertainer Steve Lawrence threw out the ceremonial first dice in a legendary photo where he is surrounded by politicians and Resorts executives.

Within a matter of months, Resorts International became the No. 1 grossing casino in the world.

Overseeing Resorts holds a special place in Giannantonio’s heart. He remembers working at the legendary Orsatti’s restaurant as busboy when he was 14 years old, remembering the day gaming was passed in the legislature and later waiting in line to get into Resorts when it opened. He eventually worked at Resorts, starting as a room service waiter in 1982 while a Stockton student, and holding many other jobs there before moving on to another casino.

“We waited in line and there was this excitement for a new era for atlantic City,” Giannantonio said. “a s a kid, I didn’t know atlantic City fell on hard times, but it did, and casinos were a catalyst for the future of atlantic City, and it really helped moved atlantic City forward, and Resorts was the first to do that. When it opened, it took the world by storm being the first gaming operation outside of Nevada. a s a teenager I remember going to Resorts and later the other casinos that were being built and taking photos with my camera thinking how the city was being transformed right before my eyes. and then when I came to work here for five years in the ’80s, it was an incredible learning lesson dealing with vibrant visitors or taking care of the stars backstage. What an incredible experience that was for any young man, and all that energy was just amazing. That’s frankly when I fell in love with the business and never left it.”

Entertainment was a major part of Resorts’ early success, hiring legends like Gene Kelly, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Don Rickles to headline. Jackie Gleason and the cast of “The

Honeymooners” even performed a show there.

“When you think of entertainment, even prior to gaming, there was the 500 Club and Skinny D’amato, who certainly had some of the biggest acts play there like Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack,” Giannantonio said. “For a while, atlantic City had some of the greatest entertainment in the world, whether at the Steel Pier or wherever. and then when Resorts opened, all of the big names played here first. and that is something that has also stood the test of time the last 45 years because atlantic City still has – on any given weekend – the greatest performances in america. and that is something to be really proud of as a destination.”

Ownership changes

Of course, other casinos – bigger and more extravagant - like Caesars atlantic City weren’t far behind, eroding Resorts’ initial success and leading them to selling it in 1987 to talk show host and entertainer Merv Griffin, who would use his status to attract even more entertainers and even filmed one of his game shows, “Ruckus,” at the resort. Griffin also would broadcast a New year’s Eve special on the rooftop of Resorts with local journalist David Spatz to receive incredible national exposure for Resorts.

Griffin spent $90 million making improvements to the property, but he couldn’t compete against the newer casinos opening, including Trump Taj Mahal next door, selling it to Sun International in 1998. Under Sol Kerzner, a $50 million expansion and renovation helped the property compete, but they decided to sell to Colony Capital at a significant loss. Colony also had its issues, but it did

↘Continued on 72 accomplish one major thing by building the 459-room Rendezvous Tower to boost its room inventory to 942 and help Resorts compete against its larger competitors. Without it, Resorts would likely not exist today.

Current ownership

The best thing to ever happen to Resorts was Dennis Gomes and Morris Bailey. The former Tropicana Casino and Resort president Gomes and Real Estate Magnate Bailey bought the casino out of default from Colony and initially transformed it to a Roaring Twenties theme when it was purchased in 2010.

after Gomes’ shocking death in 2012, Bailey took over operations and entered an agreement with Mohegan Sun to manage the casino, eventually hiring Giannantonio as president, another brilliant move that has paid off in the long run.

“Morris and Dennis really strategized and invested and transformed this property,” Giannantonio said. “Dennis’ untimely death was just a shock to everyone, including me. When I came here following his death, it was a little surreal to be honest.”

Under Bailey’s ownership, Resorts added Margaritaville on the boardwalk, the Landshark on the beach, renovated the entire casino floor as

Resorts Anniversary Celebration

Friday, May 26

Noon to 5 p.m.: Entertainment on boardwalk featuring The Kilted Rogues Bagpipers, Brittany Lynn from Philly Drag Mafia, New york Bee Gees, “Disco Inferno”

1 p.m.: Opening of the Sea with Kelsey Grammer, Mayor Marty Small Sr.

1 to 7 p.m.: Free anniversary tote bag for Star Card members

5 p.m.: Beach Ball Drop on boardwalk

9 p.m.: New york Bee Gees in Superstar Theater all day and all summer: Pop-up bar Lounge78 and sand sculptures by John Gowdy well as most of its rooms, teamed up with DraftKings to open one of the nicest sportsbooks in the city and added great restaurants like Doughertys Steakhouse & Raw Bar and a world-class convention center, while recently spending $5 million to renovate its pool to include a retractable dome.

But all of it was done with respect to the history of the property.

“We spent about $175 million here since Morris bought the property in 2010,” Giannantonio said. “We try to keep the historic architectural aspects of the property as best we can. When you go to the dining level where Capriccio’s and Dougherty’s Steakhouse are, much of that architecture is painstakingly kept because you can’t duplicate it. you can fake it, but when you look at the Capriccio veranda and the arched walls with stone columns, you can’t replicate that. This is all real architecture with the original frescoes. The ceiling in front of Dougherty’s is all original. We have gone through great efforts to preserve the historic value of this building.”

Saturday, May 27

2 to 10 p.m.: Free pull of first slot machine to win $10,000, receive commemorative gift

Sunday, May 28

4 to 9 p.m.: $100,000 promotion, including $45,000 grand prize

Anniversary celebration

Of course, no anniversary would be complete without a massive celebration, and Resorts’ 45th anniversary will begin this weekend, starting 1 p.m. Friday, May 26, when “Frazier” star Kelsey Grammer, who is in town regularly to promote his Faith american Brewing Co., will join Mayor Marty Small Sr. to host the annual opening of the sea, followed by boardwalk entertainment including the Kilted Rogues Bagpipers, Brittany Lynn from Philly Drag Mafia and the New york Bee Gees at 2 p.m., who will later perform a ticketed show in the Superstar Theater at 9 p.m., along with the Beach Ball Drop at 5 p.m. featuring 5,000 beach balls.

Other weekend activities include a Resorts’ 45th anniversary tote bag giveaway, sand sculptures throughout the property by renowned local artist John Gowdy – a monopoly board, lifeguard boat and lifeguard, Mr. Peanut, and the iconic building – and the debut of Bar One’s latest pop-up installment titled Lounge78, which will be open all summer and maybe even longer.

On Saturday, May 27, guests can get a free pull on the very first slot machine – a 1975 Bally Honey Money - that went live at Resorts to possibly win $10,000.

On Sunday, May 28, Resorts will have a $100,000 promotion with a grand prize of $45,000.

Starting June 25 and continuing to Oct. 29, the revue show “Disco Inferno,” an allen Valentine production, will be performed every Sunday evening; and Giannantonio promises other big promotions.

Other big news includes the arrival of a major celebrity chef concept to be announced soon that will be located on the boardwalk, as well as a major expansion of Landshark.

The future of Resorts

Giannantonio is not just bullish about Resorts’ future, but the future of the whole city, predicting this summer will be one of its most successful in years.

But he is particularly adamant that Resorts’ 45th anniversary celebration this summer will be one of many more to come.

“We are a people company, and we not only invest in the property, but in our team members, who are our greatest asset,” Giannantonio said. “This company is not worried about next month or the quarter or even the year, it’s about long-term sustainability of the property, and we are on strong footing and compete with the largest properties in town when it comes to customer service, fun and excitement. The future of Resorts is to continue to innovate. If we keep investing in the property and our employees, that’s what will make us successful for the next 45 years.”

(For more information go to ResortsAC.com, and to watch the retrospective Resorts video, go to Resorts Casino Hotel’s YouTube page.)

Scott Cronick is an awardwinning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – "Off The Press with Scott Cronick" - 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also coowns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.