Brian,
A lot of the original MGM Grand $1 checks turned different shades of brown (the one on the left) from handling and simple exposure. I have seen them from the origianl off white color to darker than your example. That was not the original color! As for the letters being chopped off, just a printing error or simple wear, from looking at the scan.

In the BJ speed checks of the 1st issue at the MGM, I did have a $1 that was blue, not green. I don't think there was ever a consensus on what it was. Error or back up chip?