Out of the Desert

The place was a little bit of Las Vegas, but without any gambling tables yet, and just two minutes from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. A salmagundi of Italian marble, Japanese carpet, matched rosewood, Hawaiian monkeypod wood, gold foil and tropical fish, the Sahara Inn is like a movie set for a dream sequence in a musical starring George Jessel and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Complete with boot-shaped swimming pool, fully grown palm trees and a still uncompleted 1,400-seat auditorium, it cost $10.8 million, and is staffed with waitresses appropriately undressed.

The room called The Sultan's Table has a mosquelike dome, a 25-foot "grape tree" (from which wafts the artificial fragrance of grapes), and ten strolling violinists. "I wanted them to play Stradivaris," said Sahara's Host Manny Skar, who was once convicted of burglary, "but my insurance wouldn't cover it." Manny is aggrieved that local newspapers have been digging up his past. "It is callous and unkind to repeatedly allude to my mistakes of long ago. Some of the people whom I know may not be entirely antiseptic. But most are banking, labor, civic, industrial, philanthropic leaders and members of the press." The grand opening last week was graced by Bobby Darin and George Kirby--with such headliners as Jack Leonard, Vic Damone, Keely Smith, the Kingston Trio, Joe E. Lewis and Ella Fitzgerald booked for future stands. Rooms run from $12 to $45 a night, and all guests are automatically insured for $5,000 while registered and for eight hours after checkout. "It will be great for the three-hour layover," said one seasoned traveler.

On opening night, guests wandered around the huge pool (where during daylight hours bikini-clad "starlets" would bring the indolent customer a drink or a cold cut) under the flickering light of a huge gold torch, which belched flames.

But most excitement was caused by the waitresses. Their flowing harem pantaloons caught on chairs and customers; the snaps gave way, entangling legs, chairs and customers in a delicious fricassee.

Cried George Jessel: "It's the most beautiful place of its kind."

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