When Lucky Luciano organized the first Commission of the American Mafia, the cities with representation were all large, heavily invested in the riches from Prohibition, and had a ready delivery system for the booze that came in, usually along waterways and docks controlled by gangs. Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland (although each currently seeing a decline … Read more
The Mob didn’t start the gambling in Nevada, and especially not in Las Vegas. In fact, they were relative latecomers, since Nevada had gambling for years before it was officially legalized in 1931. Because Nevada was such a large state with such a small population, there wasn’t much reason to invest capital to set up … Read more
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 … Read more