When the Mob Ran Vegas: Stories of Murder, Mayhem and Money
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Author:Steve Fischer
Release Date:1/7/2005
Reviews:5
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Rating: 4 Fischer identifies Old Vegas's famous and and infamous
This book took me back to the days when I used to feel guilty visiting 'sin city.' I had heard it was run by the mob and I eyed every beady-eyed, felt-hat wearing male I saw with ill-concealed suspicion. Who were they?
Meyer Lansky, Sam Giancana? Joey Adonis, Johnny Roselli?, Tony Accardo? Until I read this book I didn't know that most of the mobsters had already been popped, knocked off or whatever happened to them in those days.
I spent a part of my honeymoon at the Sands, 'Ole Blue Eyes' stamping and scrapping ground. One evening we joined a large crowd that had gathered to watch a lone gambler at a blackjack table hunched over the biggest stack of chips I had or have ever seen. We didn't get a good look at him, for we were cautioned to stay a respectful distance from the table, but I wonder now if he may have been Howard Hughes. Fischer tells us that Hughes often bet as much as $100,000 per hand.
I still have the drinks menu, a Tiki mug and some swizzle sticks from the Aku Aku Restaurant at the Stardust where I had my wedding dinner. It was interesting to learn from Fischer's book that Tony Cornero, the Stardust's builder, fell over dead after being presented with a $25.00 bill for drinks at the Desert Inn. If he languished for any length of time I expect he knew how we felt when we were presented with our drinks bill at the Stardust!
This book is crammed with interesting facts about those who built the old Vegas. Go to Fischer's website for a stunning Old Vegas slide show. [...] |
Rating: 5 Great Gift For People Who Enjoy Vegas
Though I've never been to Las Vegas, I got this book for myself and also copies for some friends who frequent Las Vegas. I enjoyed the stories - very colorful characters! And, I got hearty 'thank you's' from the people I gifted with this book. My sister took hers with her on her latest trip and read it on the flight and enjoyed it tremendously.... she said it gave her a new perspective of the place. A friend at work took it with her on a cruise and read it by the pool. She then mailed her copy to her daughter who lives in Las Vegas. I highly recommend this book for its many quick, interesting stories and also because it makes a great gift. |
Rating: 5 LAS VEGAS......THE LAST FRONTIER
STEVE FISCHER IS A GREAT LAS VEGAS HISTORIAN...HIS BOOK DETAILS THE LIVES OF THE EARLY LAS VEGAS MOVERS AND SHAKERS AND IS A FASCINATING BOOK TO READ FOR ALL AGES..IT WOULD BE A GREAT COMPANION GIFT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO READ ABOUT...'WHEN THE MOB RAN LAS VEGAS' |
Rating: 4 The Early Days
A very factual and interesting take on the early days of Vegas. I was dancing there at the time and the first nude showgirl (Lisa Malouf) is my dearest friend. |
Rating: 5 WHEN THE MOB RAN VEGAS
Really an interesting read - great book. I love Las Vegas and go often and this really added a juicy new perspective to the town and its history.
It was really handy that each chapter was a free standing story so I could read a chapter or a few chapters when time permitted. |
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