Howard Hughes' alleged purchase of the Silver Slipper casino to dim its bright sign is a popular Las Vegas myth that needs correction. Here are the true facts about this historical event:

The myth claims Hughes bought the Silver Slipper casino because its rotating shoe sign, featuring 900 lightbulbs, disturbed his sleep at the Desert Inn hotel across the Strip. However, this story is demonstrably false.

Key facts that disprove the myth:

• Hughes kept his curtains permanently drawn 24/7, making any external light irrelevant
• He purchased the Silver Slipper in April 1968, well after starting his casino buying spree in March 1967
• The nearby Frontier's sign was actually larger and brighter
• The myth originated from an erroneous Las Vegas Review-Journal report that was later quietly retracted

The real story behind Hughes' Las Vegas acquisitions:

Hughes initially occupied the Desert Inn's top floors as a guest but refused to leave. When the owners demanded his departure, his aide Robert Maheu suggested buying the hotel as a solution. This sparked Hughes' casino purchasing spree, which included:

• Desert Inn ($13.2 million)
• Sands ($14.6 million)
• Frontier ($23 million)
• El Rancho Vegas ($7.5 million)
• Castaways ($3 million)
• Landmark ($17 million)
• Silver Slipper ($5.4 million)

The Silver Slipper's sign later stopped rotating, likely due to mechanical failure rather than Hughes' intervention. The casino was sold in 1988 and demolished, but the iconic sign was preserved and now resides in the Neon Museum's collection on Las Vegas Boulevard North.

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