THE WORLD FAMOUS CONGO ROOM WAS THE SAHARA'S BIG TOURIST DRAW. STAN IRWIN, THE ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR, BOOKED THE BIGGEST AND BEST PERFORMERS OF THE DAY ... LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PICTURES ... BUDDY HACKETT OWNED A LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF THE SAHARA HOTEL... JOHNNY C. (LATE NITE HOST) ALWAYS BOOKED SEVERAL WEEKS IN THE WINTER EACH YEAR AT THE CONGO ROOM ... REMEMBER, THE TONIGHT SHOW USED TO BE BROADCAST FROM NEW YORK CITY AT NBC STUDIOS. JUDY GARLAND'S ONLY OTHER LAS VEGAS APPEARANCE WAS AT THE NEW FRONTIER IN THE VENUS SHOWROOM. SHE DID TERRIBLY ... TOO MUCH VODKA! LIBERACE SOLD OUT HIS SHOWS .. THE LADIES LOVED HIM AND MADE THE HUSBANDS GO WITH THEM TO THE CONGO ROOM. LAS VEGAS ALSO HAD THE COPA ROOM AND THE STARLITE ROOM (D.I.) ... THE CONGO ROOM, ALONG WITH THE LOUIE PRIMA SHOW IN THE LOUNGE AFTER THE MAIN SHOW, WAS THE BEST PLACE TO BE SEEN IN TOWN. IF YOU EVER HAD A CHANCE TO SEE AN OLD DINNER SHOW AT ONE OF THESE GREAT SHOWROOMS, YOU WERE VERY LUCKY INDEED. ENJOY THE PICTURES AND SOME GOOD MEMORIES! THANKS FOR LOOKING, RICH BURGEL