Monday, May 16, 2005
Ill-gotten gains
In the mid-1940s, the mob started to plough its ill-gotten gains into Las Vegas.
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, an associate of Mafia boss Meyer Lansky, started construction on the Flamingo Hotel, one of the first hotel casinos on the Strip.
It opened in 1946 with giant pink neon signs and replica flamingos on the lawn. Many thought him crazy for building a "luxury" hotel in the middle of nowhere.
Warren Beatty portrayed Bugsy in the 1992 film of the same name.
# posted by Michael P. Whelan : 9:41 PM
