Early 20th Century in Las Vegas
Do you know how contemporary Las Vegas emerged? Do you know how it became a city? Today, we'll examine the early 20th-century development of Sin City.
Yes. There was a time that the Mob controlled Las Vegas.
The Mob arrived in Las Vegas in 1945, lured by the prospects of enormous profits from legalized gambling. Bugsy Siegel was one of the most prominent members of organized crime to arrive in Sin City. He's one of the people who shaped the history of Las Vegas. He constructed the Flamingo, which was one of the city's first major hotel and casino complexes, in 1947. However, after incurring significant losses, his Mob associates, including Meyer Lansky, assassinated him.
But the great story of the Flamingo encouraged more ventures, and new casinos sprung up along the Strip as more Mob investors brought their money into the city. Among them were Thunderbird in 1948, the Desert Inn in 1950, the Sahara and Sands in 1952, and the Dunes, Royal Nevada, and Riviera in 1955.
You can learn more about the Mob and what they did in Las Vegas at the Mob Museum.
It's no secret that the Mob significantly contributed to the development of contemporary Las Vegas in the 20th century. But by the late 1950s, their dominance had begun to reduce. The Nevada Gaming Commission was established, with its role being to license and oversee gambling operations.
The Commission formulated the "Black Book," which curtailed the freedom of gangsters and sought to remove corruption from the gambling industry. It vigorously enforced the law and removed corrupt public officials from office, and succeeded in separating crime organizations from casinos. Corporations took their place.
In the 1960s, Las Vegas continued to grow, mainly because of the publicity that popular entertainers brought. Some big names include Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra.
Tourism declined slightly in the early 80s after a fire killed over 80 people at the original MGM Grand Hotel in November 1980. But, of course, there were entrepreneurs who would ensure the city thrived again. For instance, Steve Wynn, who operated the Golden Nugget Casino, used the recession and the negative publicity to acquire and renovate old casinos and build new ones. For example, he was responsible for constructing the lavishly expensive Mirage, which opened in 1989.
The city's overall growth accelerated in the late 80s to match its growing tourism and gaming industries.
Bugsy Siegel and the Mob
Yes. There was a time that the Mob controlled Las Vegas.
The Mob arrived in Las Vegas in 1945, lured by the prospects of enormous profits from legalized gambling. Bugsy Siegel was one of the most prominent members of organized crime to arrive in Sin City. He's one of the people who shaped the history of Las Vegas. He constructed the Flamingo, which was one of the city's first major hotel and casino complexes, in 1947. However, after incurring significant losses, his Mob associates, including Meyer Lansky, assassinated him.
But the great story of the Flamingo encouraged more ventures, and new casinos sprung up along the Strip as more Mob investors brought their money into the city. Among them were Thunderbird in 1948, the Desert Inn in 1950, the Sahara and Sands in 1952, and the Dunes, Royal Nevada, and Riviera in 1955.
You can learn more about the Mob and what they did in Las Vegas at the Mob Museum.
Kicking the Mob Out of Vegas
It's no secret that the Mob significantly contributed to the development of contemporary Las Vegas in the 20th century. But by the late 1950s, their dominance had begun to reduce. The Nevada Gaming Commission was established, with its role being to license and oversee gambling operations.
The Commission formulated the "Black Book," which curtailed the freedom of gangsters and sought to remove corruption from the gambling industry. It vigorously enforced the law and removed corrupt public officials from office, and succeeded in separating crime organizations from casinos. Corporations took their place.
Growth in the Popularity
In the 1960s, Las Vegas continued to grow, mainly because of the publicity that popular entertainers brought. Some big names include Elvis Presley, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra.
Tourism declined slightly in the early 80s after a fire killed over 80 people at the original MGM Grand Hotel in November 1980. But, of course, there were entrepreneurs who would ensure the city thrived again. For instance, Steve Wynn, who operated the Golden Nugget Casino, used the recession and the negative publicity to acquire and renovate old casinos and build new ones. For example, he was responsible for constructing the lavishly expensive Mirage, which opened in 1989.
The city's overall growth accelerated in the late 80s to match its growing tourism and gaming industries.