Foot traffic to the 29^th floor proved lacking shortly after the hotel opened. The showroom was converted into a cinema in 1970, and the casino was typically quiet, as most players wanted to stay downstairs where all the action was; the lounge had to compete with the far more popular Skybar on the 31^st floor. In April 1971, Landmark announced a $750,000 plan to convert the entire 29^th floor into sixteen suites, expand the Cascade Terrace Coffee Shop, and add a lounge to the casino.¹² The popular Mandarin Room restaurant was moved to the 27^th floor to replace the Towers restaurant. The west side of the facility also received a remodel due to the expansion of the coffee shop. The second-floor area of that expanded space yielded new administrative offices. The Nighthawk Lounge was added to the casino along the south wall in an area previously designated for keno. The keno boards could still be viewed above the performers on stage.

Hughes had left Las Vegas in November 1970, and Landmark, though it did show profits in 1971 and 72, lost an average of $500,000 monthly.¹³ The Landmark Theatre was renamed the Supper Club, and the Skybar was renamed Sky Top Rendezvous.

In 1971, Sean Connery returned to his role as British Secret Service Agent 007 James Bond for the filming of Diamonds Are Forever. This installment takes Bond to Las Vegas, where he must unravel a plot to take over the world by his nemesis, Blofeld. Producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli was a longtime friend of Howard Hughes. When Hughes learned that the Manager at the Landmark had denied Cubby and his crew access to film there, he sent a message directly to him: “Tell Cubby he can shoot anywhere, anytime, in any of the hotels I own.”¹⁴ With that, the Landmark’s exterior elevator shaft was used in a scene.

Later that week, while Cubby and his wife slept, their hotel room was broken into, and they were robbed. In a strange twist akin to the movie Broccoli was making, hotel security suspected chloroform gas was used to ensure the Broccolis did not wake up! The following night, the Broccolis found two men standing outside their door waiting for them. One explained, “Compliments of Mr. Howard Hughes, Mr. Broccoli. Our orders are to stay here ‘round the clock until you leave.”¹⁵

On February 24, 1971, Elvis Presley had just finished a run at the International and headed across the street to catch the combined Jimmy Dean / The Imperials / Dottie West show. The showroom was so packed each night that people were being turned away. Elvis was disguised so fans would not mob him. Landmark employees turned him away, so he humbly left without revealing his identity. The following night, he arrived for the show as himself and was permitted entrance without question.

In 1974, William Bennett and William Pennington offered to buy the Landmark. Every time they made an offer, Hughes raised the price. They eventually purchased Circus Circus instead. Bennett later commented, “At the time, I thought the Landmark was the best of the two properties. I think I was wrong. I lucked out.”¹⁶

Landmark’s General Manager, Ed Milligan, had the Sky Top Rendezvous converted from a piano bar to a discotheque in February 1975, the first in Vegas. A radio transmission antenna was installed on the roof so station KLAV could begin broadcasting live from the 31^st floor from midnight to 3 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Milligan expected the change would save money on entertainment and be more attractive to potential guests.¹⁷ KLAV disk jockey Dick Knight spun records focusing on the “middle of the road” crowd (30-35 age range). He also offered exposure to visiting artists who brought demo tapes to share on the air.¹⁸

The 22,000-member Culinary Workers Union and 3,000-member Musician and Stagehands Union went on strike on March 11^th, 1976 over rejected pay increases. In a showing of solidarity, members of the Operating Engineers Union and the Teamsters Union refused to cross picket lines to go to work. This forced the closure of several hotels, including the Landmark. Guests were informed to check out by noon on the 12^th, and security guards were posted at all doors.¹⁹ The strike ended after costing the state an estimated $98 million over seventeen days, and Landmark reopened on March 27^th.²⁰

Howard Hughes died on April 5^th, 1976, of kidney failure. His death left a vacuum within his vast empire, which saw many people step up and attempt to gain control. Ultimately, no will could be substantiated, so his fortune was split among his many cousins.²¹ Hughes Tool Co. had been sold by Hughes in 1972, and ownership of the Landmark was transferred to the new Summa Corporation, which was formed to handle Hughes’ business interests. In an analysis of the business and its viability, brokerage firm Merrill-Lynch recommended that Summa Corp. be reorganized after Hughes’ death and offered for public sale on the stock market. The Landmark, television station KLAS-TV, and North Las Vegas Airport would be sold as part of this plan. The report stated that Landmark “has proven highly inefficient for hotel/casino operations and, in the opinion of Summa Corporation’s management, does not warrant further investment.”²²