On April 30, 1968, billionaire Howard Hughes purchased the Silver Slipper casino for $5.4 million from an investment group led by Maurice Friedman, T.W. Richardson, and Shelby Williams, all of whom had ties to organized crime. Originally opened in 1950 as part of the Last Frontier Village, the casino was first named the Golden Slipper. However, Hughes’ acquisition did not include his favorite aspect of the property: 33 oil paintings by Julian Ritter.
Julian Ritter, born Julian Stawski on September 19, 1909, in Hamburg, Germany, was a renowned 20th-century painter celebrated for his vibrant and provocative depictions of female nudes, showgirls, and clowns. Having studied at the Chicago Art Institute and later at the Art Center School in Los Angeles, Ritter developed a unique technique using glazes on skin tones to achieve a luminous quality reminiscent of Renaissance masters.
Howard Hughes did not buy the Silver Slipper for its famous high-heeled slipper sign, despite persistent myths. What captivated Hughes were Ritter’s paintings, which hung throughout the casino. According to Greg Autry, the world’s foremost collector of Ritter’s work, these paintings had a vibrancy that captivated onlookers, with people lining up at the Silver Slipper just to admire them.
Most of the paintings were later purchased by Autry and have remained in storage since his divorce in the 1990s. Exceptions include five paintings allegedly taken by Hughes-employed casino managers before the sale and six taken by Autry’s ex-wife.
Ritter’s artistic career began in the mid-1930s when he painted sets for Warner Bros., MGM, Paramount, and Universal movie studios. He also accepted portrait commissions from movie stars like Jimmy Stewart and Veronica Lake. Two major New York exhibitions in 1941 finally earned him public recognition. In 1950, encouraged by his brother-in-law, Ritter traveled to Las Vegas, hoping to sell his work to casinos.
At first, Ritter had no success, driving around the Strip in his 1949 Dodge Wayfarer filled with paintings. However, Bill Moore, the owner of the Last Frontier, eventually purchased all 13 paintings Ritter brought and commissioned 10 more for the new casino he planned to open in the Last Frontier Village.
The Silver Slipper’s art collection has not been officially seen since October 1988, when Autry acquired the paintings in a transaction that canceled a planned auction. Autry, who thrived in Southern California’s 1980s commercial real estate market, presented a cashier’s check to Hughes’ Summa Corporation office, surprising the receptionist. After verifying the check, she informed Autry that he had purchased the paintings and needed to remove them within 72 hours due to the casino’s impending demolition.
Margaret Elardi, who had purchased the Silver Slipper in August of that year, decided to demolish the building to create a parking lot for the Frontier, which she also owned. Once inside, Autry was awed by the condition of the massive Ritter paintings, despite their neglect. He discovered that the paintings had been screwed to the walls, some framed with railroad spikes and others covered with acrylic to protect them from bar fight damage.
Autry had the paintings cleaned and their frames restored. His admiration for Ritter led him to purchase his first work from the artist in 1983. After discovering the painting was a fake, Autry managed to establish a nearly 20-year friendship with Ritter, visiting him regularly and discussing a wide range of topics.
Following Hughes’ acquisition of the Silver Slipper, the previous owners attempted to claim the 33 Ritter paintings as personal property. Hughes took the matter to court and won, but he had to compensate the former owners for the paintings’ value, finalizing the purchase for $471,000 on October 28, 1970.
Both Hughes and Ritter have since passed away, and the Silver Slipper’s location is now a vacant lot near Resorts World. At age 76, Autry aims to find a new home for the casino’s former art collection, preferring to sell the paintings as a complete set to someone who will appreciate and publicly display them.
Interested parties can find more information by connecting with Autry through www.julianritter.com.
