Ann Meyers Queen of Hearts — First Woman Casino Owner (1976)

👑 First Woman to Purchase a Casino in Las Vegas — Alone

From concentration camp survivor to casino owner. From food stamps to $7.1 million.

In 1976, Ann Meyers became the first woman in history to purchase a casino in Las Vegas — alone, as a single mother of two daughters. Two and a half years earlier, she was on food stamps.

Born in Yugoslavia in 1934, she survived concentration camps during Tito's post-WWII persecution of ethnic Germans. She arrived in 1970s Las Vegas with nothing.

She bought the crime-plagued Casbah Hotel in 48 hours — without realizing it was known as "hooker haven."

📊 EDITION STRUCTURE

After Early Access, remaining editions will be available exclusively through international gallery partners at gallery prices (+50-60%).

👠 "Six-Inch Heels and a Pantsuit"

With no money left, Ann moved into the hotel with her two young daughters for six months. She worked 10-12 hour days to transform it.

"One day she'd mingle with Vegas elites; the next, she'd repair the roof in 6-inch heels and a gorgeous pantsuit."

In 1990, she rebranded it as "Ann Meyers Queen of Hearts Hotel" — offering "four-star service" at budget prices. Despite battling drugs, prostitution, and code violations, she persevered for 28 years.

📅 The American Dream Timeline

• 1934 — Born in Yugoslavia
• WWII — Survives concentration camps (Danube Swabian)
• 1970s — Arrives Las Vegas, single mother, food stamps
• August 20, 1976 — Purchases Casbah Hotel (first woman solo casino owner)
• 1990 — Rebrands to "Queen of Hearts"
• 2004 — Sells for $7.1 million
• February 2, 2010 — Demolition (Ann attends ceremony)
• 2016 — Photographed by Ludo Cazeba at The Neon Museum

💎 Why This Matters

IMMIGRANT RESILIENCE
Holocaust survivor → Food stamps → Casino owner → $7.1 million exit. This is the American Dream in its purest, most improbable form.

WOMEN PIONEER
While Betty Willis designed signs, Ann Meyers owned a casino. This represents ownership — capital, risk, 28 years of perseverance against an entire male-dominated system.

🖼️  Museum-Quality Mounting

• Archival pigment print on museum-grade photographic paper
• Face-mounted to optical acrylic with aluminum composite backing
  
• Professional hanging system included
• Strictly limited edition, signed and numbered by the artist
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• Produced by certified fine art laboratories
• Production time: 7-12 business days

❤️ Social Impact

10-15% of sales support The Neon Museum Las Vegas Sign Conservation Fund.

Photographs from The Neon Museum, Las Vegas collection.

📜 Certificate of Authenticity

• Numbered certificate signed by the artist
• Historical documentation (Ann Meyers, immigration history, American Dream)
• Edition number and total clearly stated

"It's the American dream. If you work hard in America, this is what you can accomplish."
— Ann Meyers