LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas has always attracted talented performers, and on July 23, 1956, Nat King Cole was on the marquee at The Sands.
However, even though he performed on the main stage, Cole could not stay on property.
Due to segregation, he had to stay at a different hotel and was not allowed in the dining room. Cole, and other performers like Sammy Davis Jr., were often escorted off stage and off property after their shows.
Cole went on to expose the segregation of The Sands during a live broadcast from the Copa Room. Four years later, the Moulin Rouge Agreement would lead to the end of segregation in Las Vegas casinos.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
