Posted on 03/30/2011 4:44:23 AM PDT by decimon
LAS VEGAS – Speakeasies, bootleggers, gun-wielding crime bosses and tough-guy accents pay homage to Las Vegas' mob roots in a pair of new attractions showcasing Sin City's criminal history.
An interactive attraction featuring gangster memorabilia and commentary from film mobsters James Caan, Mickey Rourke and Frank Vincent opens Wednesday on the Las Vegas Strip. And Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, a former mob defense lawyer, plans to launch his Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement later this year.
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Asked about the mob's decline, Goodman jested, "The real mob disappeared a long time ago. That's the reason why I became mayor. I had no more clients."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I’m no gambler but I find Vegas to be a very interesting place for a few days. Anymore than that and you’ll suffer from sensory overload and or be broke.
That’s when it’s time to leave to see the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Death Valley, etc...
I guess boss Harry wanted to get the family more respect.
I always appreciate these articles on Las Vegas’s past, saying (like this one) that the “mob” left a long time ago. I don’t think that’s accurate, but it sounds good.
The mob didn’t disappear, they simply migrated into politically protected unions.
The “mob” did leave long ago. It couldn’t compete with the government.
I think 'a long time ago' refers to the mid 1980's.
1986 is when Tony 'The Ant' and his brother Michael got 'whacked'(1) back in a Chicago suburb. They weren't beaten to death in that Indiana cornfield as shown in Casino. By the 1990's the Mob was basically out of business in Vegas. That's when legit Corps starting buying and building casinos/resorts.
(1) They were beaten 'almost to death' and were buried 'alive'. Some dirt was found in their lungs during the autopsy. And the Wiseguy who screwed up the hit and burial was later whacked himself.
I am at the Vegas airport right now. Been here for a few days. They are advertising the attractions all over the place.
Yes, Vegas is interesting, but as a friend said, it is just a thin veneer that you see. What is underneath would turn your stomach.
Goodman jested, “The real mob disappeared a long time ago. That’s the reason why I became mayor. I had no more clients.”
Nope, they went corporate and legal.
I never, ever wanted to spend more than 2 days in Vegas.
However, I spent 10 days in Vegas for Christmas and New Years.
I spent my time sleeping and everynight I went to a show. Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, Jubilee, Elvis, Beatles and more.
Fabulous!
I will never spend more than 2 days in Vegas again.
Last year my wife and I took a trip out west that included visiting a number of national parks, including Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, but also featured three days in Las Vegas. We enjoyed the Vegas sidetrip, but seeing the natural wonders of the American West is still by far the greater attraction to us.
We saw the Phantom and the Beatles both excellent shows on our three day Vegas jaunt last September. Good grief, was it hot. But I could do without the Mexicans shoving porn in my face every time I walked down the strip with my wife.
Those were amazing shows.
I sat in the row before the Chandelier and when it came down I thought “Hope no peed their pants.”
Best Phantom I have ever seen.
Then there was the Beatles. I didn’t listen to their music growing up but what an amazing story.
They showed the Beatles born, the end of WWII, the childhood of the Beatles, Churchill’s death, then their emergence, Vietnam, Imagine folded into peace marches and then “Back in the USSR”.
I would recommend anyone spend the $$$ and get seats all the way at the top so you can take in everything.
The show is a 360 degree Kaleidoscope of entertainment. With light shows on the walls, the curtains, Angels from the rafters and the most amazing floor show that comes from so many angles you will wish you had the proverbial nose bleed seats.
There isn’t another way to see the show.
I must have seen a different Beatles show. I saw the thirty dollar cheapie tribute one. It was still pretty good. It even had a guy who was a spitting image of Ed Sullivan. The guy did a comedy thing between the songs.
This is the one I saw. I sat in section 305 at the top.
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/love/default.aspx
Near the top of the page look for “View Trailer” and just below it you will see play.(click it)
Next time you go you have to see it.
That's already been done. They made a movie about it after the guy stayed for years, though.
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