This new book explores the roots of the Chicago mob, taking readers from its early days before Al Capone, through Prohibition and bootlegging, and finally to Las Vegas, where Chicago’s influence grew unnoticed. Discover how the Outfit’s beginnings and early leaders set the stage for its future dominance, making Las Vegas a key hub in … Read more
Betting on your favorite team wasn’t legal in Nevada until the 1940s, but you could always find a local bookie who would lay a line for you. At the Country Club in Lake Tahoe, you could talk to Doc at the bar, any night after 9 pm, and get a bet down. Nickel lines were … Read more
Thomas Hull built the El Rancho in Las Vegas as part of his chain of “El Rancho” hotels in Gallup, New Mexico, and Fresno and Sacramento, California. The 63-cabin resort was designed as a way-station, a break for families to enjoy on their trip through Nevada, featuring amenities like a large pool and horseback riding … Read more
Wow, people used to actually get dressed up to visit the casinos in Las Vegas! This scene from the mid-’50’s may have been staged, but there were many more people going to a nice dinner and a show back then. Back then, dinner shows to see stars like Rose Marie, Jimmy Durante, or Joe Brown … 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
“Bugsy” Siegel’s story begins with a tough childhood in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg district, where no one expected the skinny kid to leave a lasting impact, which can inspire curiosity and empathy in the audience. Siegel was already street-wise by the age of nine, rolling drunks and stealing from merchants, and he and Moe Sedway set up … Read more