By Matthew MacKenzie
The MGM Grand in
Las Vegas began in the 1970s as a small nautical-themed hotel. By the mid-90s the Hotel and Casino had become the largest hotel in the world. It had a performing arts theater on-site, and featured a full monorail system.
History
MGM initially opened in 1975 as the Marina Hotel and Casino. Decorated in a nautical theme, it was renamed the MGM Marina in 1989. Kirk Kerkorkian, the owner, built around the original building to enlarge it, rather than to destroy the hotel.
Size
In 1993, after building a 5,500 room, 30-story hotel tower of emerald green glass, the MGM officially became the largest hotel in the United States. It sat on roughly 112 acres and welcomed guests in the lobby with its Wizard of Oz decor.
Fun Fact
In 1993, Barbara Streisand was the first act to perform in the Garden Arena of the hotel, a large venue for performing artists located on the hotel's grounds. The Arena seated more than 16,000 people and marked Streisand's first concert in more than 20 years.
Significance
In 1995, the most expensive theatre production at that time, EFX, began its run at the MGM Grand and ran until 2002. The colorful show featured such famous performers as Rick Springfield and David Cassidy, and featured a new headliner every two years.
Features
Also in 1995, the famous monorail which linked the MGM Grand with Bally's Hotel began service. Characters from the Wizard of Oz and Las Vegas showgirls were on hand to promote the rail. The track later linked with the southern section of the Las Vegas Monorail.
About the Author:
Matthew MacKenzie has been a writer for over eight years. He attended the University of Montana and majored in political science. Mackenzie received his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University and is a licensed lawyer. His work has been published on various websites.
