The Roots of Reno

Yup – it’s a new book. Your chance to discover how Reno grew from a tiny town below Lake Tahoe into the renowned “Biggest Little City in the World,” inspiring curiosity and pride in local history.

Of course, this little ditty is written by yours truly, and I’m sorry to say it’s not perfect. For instance:

It’s not hardcover, but for $14.99 in softbound, you save about $10 on the book’s price.

The University of Nevada Reno does not endorse it – they were only interested in publishing my books if their editorial board could chop-out anything they found to be unsavory about the characters, unflattering facts, stories that contradicted long-held beliefs and confused those beliefs by introducing FBI records or court transcripts, etc., but that did allow me the leeway to use actual records, newspaper reports and the account of witnesses who lived in the area in the 1930s and worked in the casino industry.

It’s not going to be on every bookstore shelf – although you can order it at nearly 25,000 bookstores in the US – or online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many others.

In addition, there are 30 vintage photos and a 13-page index of names and places, which deepen your connection to Reno’s past. I had plenty of help from great casino men and historians like Bill Pettite, Sil Petricciani, Fran Pettite, and Anthony Manzo, ensuring the story is well-grounded and trustworthy.

It’s fun to read, informative, well-researched, and well-documented, without unnecessary footnotes, making it accessible to history buffs and locals interested in Reno’s colorful past. It tells the story of how Reno grew into what a 1920s East Coast magazine called “Sodom and Gomorrah,” a town of ill repute and easy morals that featured women, whiskey, and gambling – all during prohibition and before legalized open-gaming.

If you’d like to explore Reno’s fascinating history further, click on the upper title or the book itself to learn more and satisfy your curiosity.

Thanks for reading – Al W. Moe