Mob Museum

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Just read about this in the newsletter and remember a vague mention of it before. I think this is a fabulous idea for people like me who find the mob stories fascinating. I can't quite think of what they are going to put in there though. At the moment you can drive around Vegas and see the (in)famous sights where lots of activities took place. What can they house in the old courthouse turned Mob Museum? I can only think of pictures and perhaps part of Lefty Rosenthal's car after the bombing or something along those lines. Whatever they have, I can't wait to see it!

[JMVegas5866]

The building on Stewart Avenue in front of the DTC where the Mob Museum will make it's home served dual purposes as a post office and court house. The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse was the newest restoration and preservation project recently completed. It was originally built in 1931 and completed in 1933 and today it looks beautiful than ever. The next restoration project to be completed is the 5th Street Grammar School, though I am not sure what the future use of it will be. Both landmarks are on the Nevada National Register of Historic Places and will forever be a part of Las Vegas :)

You'd be surprised to what is left even though most of everything appears to be gone. Just because it is gone doesn't mean some of it wasn't salvaged and stored away.

[8888]

a mob museum is a great idea. of course they will deny its existence.:)

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

The building on Stewart Avenue in front of the DTC where the Mob Museum will make it's home served dual purposes as a post office and court house. The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse was the newest restoration and preservation project recently completed. It was originally built in 1931 and completed in 1933 and today it looks beautiful than ever. The next restoration project to be completed is the 5th Street Grammar School, though I am not sure what the future use of it will be. Both landmarks are on the Nevada National Register of Historic Places and will forever be a part of Las Vegas :)

You'd be surprised to what is left even though most of everything appears to be gone. Just because it is gone doesn't mean some of it wasn't salvaged and stored away.

That's what I like to see, parts of Vegas that they don't want to rip down! I know the building they are referring to. I can't wait to see it as the museum.

a mob museum is a great idea. of course they will deny its existence.:)

LOL! :D

[Denny]

Hi Jacqui!

I'm really excited about the Mob Museum. Dennis Arnoldy - the retired FBI agent who is a source for my books - is on the advisory board. And the former SAC of the FBI's Las Vegas office has made statements that the feds are going to fully support the effort and provide audio and video surveillance materials.

Also, I'm going to host a couple of shows on Blog Talk Radio. The first starts on December 21, and will be a multi-segment presentation about writing. My second effort, which begins on January 4, will be a weekly show called Las Vegas and the Mob. I'll have guests and guest co-hosts from both sides of the law, as well as entertainers, journalists, and maybe a politician or two, from the Tony Spilotro era.

The focus will be on the crime situation in those days, but I anticipate a lot of discussion about Sin City itself. Listener call ins will be encouraged. I think the program will be of interest to Vegas enthusiasts, even if they aren't necessarily crime buffs. The shows will be archived and can be accessed at any time.

I've got my page set up on the BTR site. You can see it at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin

Denny

[Boston_Bill]

I love the idea of the Mob Museum. I love watching any program that has info on the old mob.

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Hi Jacqui!

I'm really excited about the Mob Museum. Dennis Arnoldy - the retired FBI agent who is a source for my books - is on the advisory board. And the former SAC of the FBI's Las Vegas office has made statements that the feds are going to fully support the effort and provide audio and video surveillance materials.

Hi Denny! I'm glad Dennis Arnoldy will be involved because not many people know more about events of the time than him! I'd love to see the audio and video surveillance materials. I can't wait for it to open now!

Also, I'm going to host a couple of shows on Blog Talk Radio. The first starts on December 21, and will be a multi-segment presentation about writing. My second effort, which begins on January 4, will be a weekly show called Las Vegas and the Mob. I'll have guests and guest co-hosts from both sides of the law, as well as entertainers, journalists, and maybe a politician or two, from the Tony Spilotro era.

The focus will be on the crime situation in those days, but I anticipate a lot of discussion about Sin City itself. Listener call ins will be encouraged. I think the program will be of interest to Vegas enthusiasts, even if they aren't necessarily crime buffs. The shows will be archived and can be accessed at any time.

I've got my page set up on the BTR site. You can see it at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin

Denny

That's fantastic Denny! I had a look at your site and it looks great, I will definitely be listening!!

[sean]

Just read about this in the newsletter and remember a vague mention of it before. I think this is a fabulous idea for people like me who find the mob stories fascinating. I can't quite think of what they are going to put in there though. At the moment you can drive around Vegas and see the (in)famous sights where lots of activities took place. What can they house in the old courthouse turned Mob Museum? I can only think of pictures and perhaps part of Lefty Rosenthal's car after the bombing or something along those lines. Whatever they have, I can't wait to see it!

Does anybody know when it is scheduled to open? I will be out there in March.

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Does anybody know when it is scheduled to open? I will be out there in March.

Hi Sean (haven't seen you around for a while!). I think it will be a wee while before the museum opens. I've read a couple of things about it and they seem to forecast a later, rather than earlier, opening. Perhaps Denny will know. If anyone knows about the Mob and anything around it (the Mob Tour at the Greek Isles is based around Denny's book!) then he'll know.

[sean]

Hi Sean (haven't seen you around for a while!). I think it will be a wee while before the museum opens. I've read a couple of things about it and they seem to forecast a later, rather than earlier, opening. Perhaps Denny will know. If anyone knows about the Mob and anything around it (the Mob Tour at the Greek Isles is based around Denny's book!) then he'll know.


Jacqui, three kids under 5 keep you extremely busy. I am sure that Oscar will have a wing dedicated to himself.

[Denny]

The opening date of the museum varies depending on who you talk with. I've heard anywhere from 2010 to as early as late next year if everything goes well. I certainly hope it's sooner than 2010.

I'm lining up some pretty good guests for my Las Vegas and the Mob radio show. So far I've gotten former FBI agents Dennis Arnoldy, Lynn Ferrin and Donn Sickles, former mobster Frank Cullotta, radio personality Tru Hawkins, entertainer and Mob Tour operator Robert Allen, "Connie," who worked for Lefty Rosenthal at the Stardust, former Clark County ADA Jim Erbeck, and former Metro detectives Gene Smith and a guy I'll call "Louie" for the time being.

There are several more I either haven't been able to get hold of yet or that haven't decided whether or not to come on.

Merry Christmas!

Denny

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

I can't wait to hear the show Denny! There are so many names on that list that I'd love to hear tell their story, Gene Smith being one of them... and of course Frank!

[Denny]

I spoke with a source from the city of Las Vegas today who said the 2010 opening date is probably pretty accurate. There are a variety of reasons for the length of time it will take to complete the project. Funding, of course, is always an issue. But one of the main reasons is that the building is on the federal registry of historic sites. As such, all renovations have to meet very strict guidelines. That results in a "go slow" approach, to make sure everything is done according to Hoyle.

I plan to have a guest on my Internet show in March or April, to provide a status report and answer listener questions.

Denny

[sean]

The opening date of the museum varies depending on who you talk with. I've heard anywhere from 2010 to as early as late next year if everything goes well. I certainly hope it's sooner than 2010.

I'm lining up some pretty good guests for my Las Vegas and the Mob radio show. So far I've gotten former FBI agents Dennis Arnoldy, Lynn Ferrin and Donn Sickles, former mobster Frank Cullotta, radio personality Tru Hawkins, entertainer and Mob Tour operator Robert Allen, "Connie," who worked for Lefty Rosenthal at the Stardust, former Clark County ADA Jim Erbeck, and former Metro detectives Gene Smith and a guy I'll call "Louie" for the time being.

There are several more I either haven't been able to get hold of yet or that haven't decided whether or not to come on.

Merry Christmas!

Denny

Any chance on getting either Frank Rosenthall or Allan Glick?

[Denny]

I tried to get interviews with both of them when I was researching for my books. Things didn't work out then, and I'm doing no better now. But I'm still trying. Maybe lightning will strike.

Denny

[Denny]

FYI - Frank Cullotta will be doing a live interview on Vegas radio station KDWN on January 3, following the 10 a.m. newsbreak. You can catch the stream on the KDWN site at http://www.kdwn.com

Denny

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

FYI - Frank Cullotta will be doing a live interview on Vegas radio station KDWN on January 3, following the 10 a.m. newsbreak. You can catch the stream on the KDWN site at http://www.kdwn.com

Denny

That's excellent Denny, thanks! That's 6pm my time so I'll have to set an alarm to remind me to open my laptop and listen in!

Re: Frank Rosenthal - I would LOVE to hear an interview with him. You can ask him questions on his website (www.frankrosenthal.com) but an interview would be so much better! I keep looking out for his old show online because I'd love to see it but unfortunately haven't found it yet.

[sean]

FYI - Frank Cullotta will be doing a live interview on Vegas radio station KDWN on January 3, following the 10 a.m. newsbreak. You can catch the stream on the KDWN site at http://www.kdwn.com

Denny

Denny

I just got your book for Christmas. I can not wait to start reading it.

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Denny

I just got your book for Christmas. I can not wait to start reading it.

Which one did you get Sean? Was it The Battle for Vegas vs The Mob or Cullotta? Once you start reading them you can't put them down!

[Denny]

Sean,

Please e-mail me if you have any questions about the book and I'll try to answer them for you.

Thanks, Jacqui!

Denny

[sean]

Which one did you get Sean? Was it The Battle for Vegas vs The Mob or Cullotta? Once you start reading them you can't put them down!


I got Cullotta for Christmas. Last Christmas I got The Battle for Vegas and I was done with that book in about 2 hours. That book was great.

[sean]

FYI - Frank Cullotta will be doing a live interview on Vegas radio station KDWN on January 3, following the 10 a.m. newsbreak. You can catch the stream on the KDWN site at http://www.kdwn.com

Denny

I caught most of the interview on line today while at work. It was longer than I thought that it would be. Most interviews last only 30 minutes but Frank was at least an hour. I wish I could have heard the entire interview.

It was a great interview.

[Denny]

Thanks, Sean.

Yes, we were expecting about 20 minutes and Heidi kept him on for two hours. We were so pleased with the way things went that we're talking about doing a two hour special down the road.

Denny

[Denny]

My new Blog Talk Radio show - Las Vegas and the Mob - kicked off last night. It's an hour long and will be on each Tuesday night at 8:30 Pacific. Guests for upcoming segments will include the former lawmen, mobsters, entertainers, casino people, and reporters who lived and worked in Vegas during the Spilotro era.

You can listen in live or play the archived shows at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin

You can see the video feed at: http://www.liveatthestudio.tv

Denny

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Fantastic show Denny!! I wasn't able to download it as a podcast but I managed to get it onto my iPod from the MP3 version. It was a great show! I'm really looking forward to listening to Robert Allen coming up and all the other great guests you have lined up. This sounds like a winner!

[Denny]

Thanks, Jacqui.

Speaking of Robert Allen, we were talking about all the UK people that take the Mob Tour and I mentioned you. He said he'll comp you to a Tour next time you're in Vegas.

Denny

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Thanks, Jacqui.

Speaking of Robert Allen, we were talking about all the UK people that take the Mob Tour and I mentioned you. He said he'll comp you to a Tour next time you're in Vegas.

Denny

Oh my goodness Denny, that's great news!! Thank you so much!!

[Denny]

If you're interested in the history of the Stardust shows Lido De Paris and Enter the Night, there's a site you might want to check out. It's run by Lou Anne Harrison - a former dancer in both shows. She's posted a lot of great photos. The URL is http://www.castandcrewreunion.com.

Denny

[Denny]

My guest on the Las Vegas and the Mob show on February 12 will be Jack Miller, former enforcement agent with the Nevada Gaming Control Board during the Tony Spilotro era. He'll talk about gaming scams, whether payouts were in fact better during the mob days, his encounters with Spilotro, and a rather funny episode he had with Oscar Goodman while giving testimony at a Spilotro-related deposition. You can listen to the program at www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin. You can listen and watch at http://liveatthestudio.tv. The show is on live at 8:30 pm PST. The audio is archived shortly after the program is over and can be replayed as a podcast.

Denny

[Jacqui, Duskette8]

Hey Denny, I received my Cullotta DVD today. I can't wait to watch it.

The show is excellent... I download it to my iPod and listen to it in work. It's great!

[Denny]

The Las Vegas and the Mob show for Tuesday, February 19, will feature "Connie," a lady who worked in an executive position at the Stardust for Glick and Rosenthal. She'll be on for approximately the first half hour.

I'll also be joined in-studio by former dancers Lou Anne Harrison and Karen Burns. Karen owns many of the original costumes from the old shows and will bring some of them to display. I understand they're gorgeous. If you can catch the show live at 8:30 pm Pacific, you might want to watch it at http://liveatthestudio.com so you can see the costumes.

Denny

[Denny]

I've posted a new video on YouTube. You can check it out at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDoiaehi4tY

Denny

[Denny]

If you listened to last Tuesday's show, you heard me say that on future programs we'll discuss specific incidents regarding the battles between the law and Spilotro in more detail. Two of those are the shooting of Frank Bluestein and the Bertha's burglary.

The Bluestein event and its aftermath is tentatively scheduled for April 8. That incident was dramatized in Casino in the scene showing a guy getting out of his car holding a foil-wrapped sandwich being gunned down by the police. In the movie, when the cops discovered the man was actually unarmed, a gun was planted next to the body. I plan to have one of the two officers who did the shooting, his partner from earlier in that evening, and their boss on as guests. Their account and the records from the coroner's inquest tell a different story.

Bertha's wasn't depicted in the movie, but is considered to have been a major turning point in the war between law enforcement and Spilotro's gang. I don't have a date for that program as of now.

Denny