{{Short description|American architect (1917–2001)}}
{{distinguish|text=The Adventures of Aggie writer Martin Stern}} {{Infobox person | name = Martin Stern Jr. | image = | spouse = {{marriage|Doris Sonia Nathanson|1947}}<br>{{marriage|Chantal Mastey|1967}} | image_size = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|4|9|mf=y}} | birth_place = New York City, New York | death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|7|28|1917|4|9}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California | education = University of Southern California (1936) }}
'''Martin Stern Jr.''' (April 9, 1917 – July 28, 2001) was an American architect who was most widely known for his large scale designs and structures in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is credited with originating the concept of the structurally integrated casino resort complex in Las Vegas.<ref name="UNLVXanaduHistory"/><ref name="Illia"/>
== Early life, education and career == Martin Stern Jr. was born in New York in 1917. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1930's to work in the movie industry as a studio sketch artist.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |date=2001-08-01 |title=Martin Stern Jr.; Architect Shaped Vegas |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-01-me-29439-story.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He graduated from the University of Southern California before briefly working for Paul R. Williams. In 1945, he opened his own practice in 8912 Burton Way, Beverly Hills. His early work in Los Angeles included custom homes and garden apartments like Manchester Gardens, Wilshire-La Cienega Gardens, and Belford Gardens. He also designed apartment and office buildings. He then had a brief hiatus from architecture when he served in the U.S. Armed Forces around 1950.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Chase |first=Charles E. |last2=Horak |first2=Katie E. |last3=Keylon |first3=Steven R. |date=October 2012 |others=Architectural Resources Group |title=Garden Apartments of Los Angeles: Historic Context Statement |url=https://www.laconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Garden-Apartment-Context-Statement.pdf |journal=Los Angeles Conservancy |publisher= |pages=92}}</ref>
After his military service, he returned to work. He collaborated with William Cody on the Tamarisk Country Club in Palm Springs, as well as multiple shopping centers, housing tracts, homes and coffee shops.<ref name=":2" /> Stern was probably best known in Los Angeles for three Ships coffee shops opened in 1956 and 1957 by Emmet Shipman. One was in Wilshire Boulevard and Glendon Avenue in Westwood, another in 1016 La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles, and the third in 10705 Washington Boulevard in Culver City.<ref name=":1" />
In August 1947 at the Pueblo Oratorio in the Chapman Park Hotel, Stern married Doris Sonia Nathanson (1919–2008). Doris was the daughter of Abraham Nathanson of Philadelphia.<ref>"Weddings," ''Los Angeles Times'', (July 27, 1947), B5.</ref> Martin and Doris had two sons. After they divorced, in 1967 Stern remarried to Chantal Maspey, with whom he had a son and a daughter.<ref>"Obituary of Martin Stern," ''Daily Telegraph'', (September 8, 2001), 25.</ref>
==High-rising Las Vegas== thumb|Las Vegas transformed by high-rises Martin Stern Jr. designed the International Hotel, which later became the Las Vegas Hilton, and the first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, two pivotal Martin Stern Jr. projects with entrepreneur Kirk Kerkorian in 1969 and 1973, which set the pace for the transformation of Las Vegas from a low-rise sprawl<ref name="ElRanchoVegas"/> of motels, clubs and parking lots into an extravagant high-rise metropolis.
''The Daily Telegraph'' (London) wrote of the first Stern and Kerkorian project in its September 2001 eulogy<ref name="UNLVXanaduSternFourEulogies"/> to Stern: "The International, whose tri-form 30-floor tower contained 1,519 rooms and became the most imitated building on the Las Vegas Strip, provided the model for the Bellagio, Treasure Island, Mirage and Mandalay Bay, among other hotels." When it was completed, the International was the largest hotel in the world.
The first MGM Grand, with more square footage than the Empire State Building<ref name="Illia"/> and in its turn the largest hotel in the world, burned in 1980 in what is considered the worst disaster in Nevada state history. As the ''Telegraph'' observed, this loss only seven years after the hotel was completed was devastating to Stern. The MGM Grand was nonetheless rebuilt within eight months and reopened. It was sold in 1985 and rebranded as Bally's and is now Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Construction magnate Del Webb was another major client with whom Stern worked on many projects, including twenty years of elaborate stages of expansion of the Sahara Hotel and Casino between 1963 and 1983.<ref name="LasVegasMikeyHistory"/>
==Legacy==
=== Death === Martin Stern Jr. closed his architectural practice in 1996 and donated many of his drawings and plans to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library. He died on July 28, 2001, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Chantal, four children, four grandchildren, and his sister.<ref name=":1" />
=== Archives === The extensive Lied Library and Architecture Studies Library inventories<ref name="UNLVSpecCollStern" /><ref name="ArchitectOfLasVegas" /><ref name="SpecialCollections" /><ref name="Inventory" /> of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Special Collections<ref name="UNLVSpecCollGeneral" /> document more than one hundred Martin Stern Jr. projects between 1951 and 1989, several of which — including the near-legendary Xanadu envisioned in 1975<ref name="UNLVXanaduHistory" /><ref name="UNLVSpecCollStern" /> — were never built. [http://digital.library.unlv.edu/skyline Dreaming the Skyline: Resort Architecture and the New Urban Space] is an online collection from UNLV Libraries Digital Collections that includes several hundred images of Stern's work, including architectural plans and photographs.
== Selected works == Nearly half of Martin Stern Jr.'s projects were in Nevada while another quarter were in California. The rest were in other states including Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Utah, and in at least three other countries: Australia, Japan, and Slovenia, which was then part of Yugoslavia.
The following partial listing by decades sketches less than one third of Stern's work.
===1950s=== *1951: 10401 Wilshire Apartment Building, Los Angeles, California<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://digital.library.unlv.edu/objects/sky?page=4&CISOOP1=exact&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOBOX1=Martin+Stern,+Jr.+Collection&CISOROOT=/sky|title=UNLV Libraries Digital Collections: Results|website=digital.library.unlv.edu|access-date=2018-09-16}}</ref> *1954: Clark Market, Torrance, California *1955: Encino Village, a subdivision of 400 homes in Encino, Los Angeles, California.<ref name="EncinoHistArch" /><ref name="EncinoLab" /> *1955: Holiday Hotel Reno in Reno, Nevada - the birthplace of the World Series of Poker. *1958-61: Mountain Shadows (later a Marriott resort) in Scottsdale, Arizona (Demolished) *1959: Del Webb's Towne House, on Market between 7th and 8th Streets in San Francisco, California. (Demolished) *1959 Sahara Hotel (Tunis Tower), Las Vegas, Nevada<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Sands Hotel and Casino c.1967.jpg|thumb|Sands Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas]]
===1960s=== [[File:Las Vegas Hilton.jpg|thumb|Las Vegas Hilton, formerly the International Hotel]] [[Image:Ships coffee.jpg|thumb|Ship's Coffee Shop sign]] *1960: Paradise Valley Country Club, Paradise Valley, Arizona *1963: Ship's Coffee Shop,<ref name="ShipsRoadside"/> Los Angeles, California, in the space age Googie style which ''The New York Times'' credited Stern with pioneering.<ref name="Martin NYT"/> *1963: Beverly Hills, California Public Library.<ref name="BeverlyHillsPublicLibrary"/> *1963: Sahara Hotel, (Alexandra Tower), Las Vegas.<ref name="BeatlesSahara"/> *1963: Harvey's Lake Tahoe (Mountain Tower) *1964: The Mint (tower addition), Las Vegas *1964: Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, Maui, Hawaii<ref name="Kaanapali"/> *1964: Del Webb's Ocean House (later acquired by Hilton Hotels) in Mission Bay, San Diego, California. *1965: Sahara Tahoe Hotel<ref name=":0" /> *1965: Sands Hotel (tower and renovation) Las Vegas, (Demolished)<ref name=":0" /> *1966: The Silver Slipper Hotel, known for its giant rotating rooftop silver slipper, Las Vegas. Purchased in 1968 by Howard Hughes. *1969: King's Castle (later the Tahoe Hyatt) in Incline Village, Nevada *1969: International Hotel, with Kirk Kirkorian. The International Hotel was purchased by the Hilton Hotels Corporation in 1970 and renamed the Las Vegas Hilton in 1971.
===1970s=== thumb|Bally's Hotel and Casino, formerly the MGM Grand, Las Vegas [[Image:Sahara Hotel Casino Las Vegas (entrance).jpg|thumb|The Sahara Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas]] *1970: Kuilima Hotel and Golf Course, North Shore Oahu at Kahuku, Hawaii (originally a Del Web Resort; later known as the Turtle Bay Resort)<ref name="Kuilima"/> *1971: Harold's Club Reno *1971: Little America Hotels in Paradise Valley, Flagstaff and Tucson, Arizona and in Salt Lake City, Utah. *1973: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino with Kirk Kirkorian. Rebuilt after the 1980 MGM Grand fire. Sold in 1986 and reopened as Bally's Las Vegas. *1974: Las Vegas Hilton Benihana Village (addition). *1974: Riviera Hotel (Monte Carlo Tower), Las Vegas, (Demolished) *1975-79: The Mint Las Vegas - now part of Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel<ref name="MintLasVegas"/> *1978: Sahara Hotel (Tangiers Tower), Las Vegas *1979: Rainbow Plaza Resort Hotel, Niagara Falls, New York *1979: The D Las Vegas Resort *1979: Ibusuki Hotel, Ibusuki, Kagoshima, Japan
===1980s=== *1982: Breakwater Island Resort Queensland, Australia *1982: Valley Bank, Spring Valley, Nevada *1985: Nova Gorica Hotel/Casino, Nova Gorica, Slovenia *1986: Darling Harbour Hotel, Darling Harbour, New South Wales, Australia *1986: Harvey's Lake Tahoe (Lake Tower) *1987: Embassy Suites Hotel, South Lake Tahoe, California *1988: Rivera Hotel (Monaco Tower), Las Vegas, (Demolished) *1988: Normandie Club, Gardena, California
=== 1990s === [[File:Stardust Hotel And Casino.jpg|thumb|Stardust Hotel and Casino, West Tower, Las Vegas]] * 1990: Flamingo Hotel (tower renovation), Las Vegas * 1991: Stardust Hotel (West Tower), Las Vegas (Demolished)
==References== {{Reflist|35em|refs=
<ref name="UNLVXanaduHistory">{{cite web |url= http://gaming.unlv.edu/Xanadu/history1.html |title= The Hidden History of the Xanadu. |work= University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research |access-date= 2006-11-05 |archive-date= 2017-07-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170701074049/http://gaming.unlv.edu/Xanadu/history1.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Illia">{{cite web|url=http://www.swcontractor.com/news/nvhistory/ |title=Nevada Swings Into the Seventies. |author=Tony Illia |work=Southwest Contractor |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929204743/http://www.swcontractor.com/news/nvhistory/ |archivedate=2011-09-29 }}</ref>
<ref name="ElRanchoVegas">{{cite web |url= http://gaming.unlv.edu/ElRanchoVegas/story.html |title= The El Rancho Vegas Story: History and Recollections. |work= A Presentation of the UNLV Special Collections |access-date= 2007-07-14 |archive-date= 2018-06-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180601155824/http://gaming.unlv.edu/ElRanchoVegas/story.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="UNLVXanaduSternFourEulogies">{{cite web |url= http://gaming.unlv.edu/Xanadu/MartinStern.html |title= Remembering Martin Stern Jr.: Architect of the Modern Casino Resort. |work= UNLV [http://gaming.unlv.edu/ Center for Gaming Research] |publisher= <br /> • "Martin Stern Jr., 1917-2001." [http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/ Las Vegas CityLife.] <br /> • "Martin Stern Jr. paved way for large integrated properties." in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. <br /> • "Martin Stern Jr.: A Photographic Reminiscence, Architect Shaped Vegas." Los Angeles Times. <br /> • "Martin Stern." The Daily Telegraph, London |access-date= 2006-10-30 |archive-date= 2019-03-01 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190301144652/https://gaming.unlv.edu/Xanadu/MartinStern.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="LasVegasMikeyHistory">{{cite web |url= http://www.lasvegasmikey.com/sahara.htm |title= Sahara. |author= Las Vegas Mikey |work= Las Vegas History }}</ref>
<ref name="UNLVSpecCollStern">{{cite web |url= http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/martinstern.html |title= Martin Stern Jr. UNLV Libraries Special Collections |work= UNLV Lied Library |access-date= 2006-10-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060901121055/http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/martinstern.html |archive-date= 2006-09-01 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="ArchitectOfLasVegas">{{cite web |url= http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/lasvegas/martinsternjr.html |title= Martin Stern Jr., Architect of Las Vegas |work= UNLV Architecture Studies Library }}</ref>
<ref name="SpecialCollections">{{cite web |url= http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/rsrce/stern1.html |title= Martin Stern Special Collections |work= UNLV Lied Library and Architecture Studies Library }}</ref>
<ref name="Inventory">{{cite web |url= http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/sterninv.html |title= Martin Stern Inventory |work= UNLV Lied Library |access-date= 2006-11-06 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060901121107/http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/sterninv.html |archive-date= 2006-09-01 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="UNLVSpecCollGeneral">{{cite web |url= http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/index.html |title= UNLV Special Collections |work= UNLV Department of Special Collections |access-date= 2007-07-14 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060901111358/http://library.nevada.edu/speccol/index.html |archive-date= 2006-09-01 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="EncinoHistArch">[https://encinovillageheritageassociation.blogspot.com/ The History and Architecture of Encino Village.]</ref>
<ref name="EncinoLab">[https://hereinvannuys.blogspot.com/2006/01/laboratory-for-living-encino.html Laboratory for Living: Encino.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108175411/http://hereinvannuys.blogspot.com/2006/01/laboratory-for-living-encino.html |date=2006-11-08 }}</ref>
<ref name="ShipsRoadside">[http://www.roadsidepeek.com/coffeeeats/coffeeshop/ships/ Roadside Peek: Ship's Coffee Shop.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828065312/http://www.roadsidepeek.com/coffeeeats/coffeeshop/ships/ |date=2006-08-28 }}</ref>
<ref name="Martin NYT">{{cite web |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9401E1DD173CF931A3575BC0A9679C8B63 |title= Martin Stern Jr., 84, Architect, Dies; Redefined Vegas Skyline |author= Douglas Martin |work= The New York Times |date= 2 August 2001 |quote= Martin Stern Jr., an architect who pioneered the eye-popping Googie-style coffee-shop architecture of Los Angeles and then brought his exuberant vision to the skyline of the Las Vegas Strip...}}</ref>
<ref name="BeverlyHillsPublicLibrary">{{cite web |url= http://www.beverlyhills.org/presence/connect/CoBH/Library/EventsAndExhibitions/75thAnniversary/Library-EE-75thAnniversary |title= Beverly Hills Public Library 1929-2004: A Brief History. }}</ref>
<ref name="BeatlesSahara">{{cite web |url= http://vegasnews.squarespace.com/vegas-buzz-vegas-news-service/2005/5/16/las-vegas-timeline.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050525150451/http://www.vegasnews.squarespace.com/vegas-buzz-vegas-news-service/2005/5/16/las-vegas-timeline.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2005-05-25 |title= Las Vegas timeline |quote= The Sahara Hotel, where The Beatles stayed in 1964 during their only Las Vegas performance. ''(Photo, The Salt Lake Tribune)'' }}</ref>
<ref name="Kaanapali">{{cite web |url= http://www.kbhmaui.com/about/history.html |title= History of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel }}</ref> in Kaanapali, Hawaii.
<ref name="Kuilima">{{cite web |url= https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/LETTERS-TO-TRAVEL-2601598.php |title= Turtle Bay's lost gamble. |author= |work= San Francisco Chronicle |date= 16 October 2005 }}</ref>
<ref name="MintLasVegas">{{cite web |url= http://www.unlv.edu/centers/gaming/centennial/raising_the_stakes3.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20110609163805/http://www.unlv.edu/centers/gaming/centennial/raising_the_stakes3.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2011-06-09 |title= A Centennial Celebration of Las Vegas Gaming: Raising the Stakes |work= University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries }}</ref>
}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stern, Martin Jr.}} Category:1917 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Place of birth missing Category:Place of death missing Category:20th-century American architects Category:Architects from Nevada Category:USC School of Architecture alumni Category:Artists from Las Vegas