Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Mob Museum and my new fedora

Museum, photograph taken in May, 2012, by Larry Gauper, ©2012, all rights reserved

Above is a photo (click on it for a larger image) of the landmark legacy of the popular three-term Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, Oscar Baylin Goodman. His leadership of the city ran from 1999 to 2011 but his history as a criminal defense attorney for some of the Mob boys goes back several decades. During his career, Goodman represented some of the leading figures in organized crime including Meye Lansky, Nicky Scarfo, Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein, former Stardust Casino boss Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal and, most notably, the late Tony "The Ant" Spilotro, a Chicago mobster who set-up shop in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year (2012), the Mob Museum opened in downtown Las Vegas and I bought a ticket and enjoyed walking through three floors of criminal artifacts and history, from the 1920s forward. This building is a former federal court house and post office an you'll be able to watch a multi-media show in the second floor court room where Senator Estes Kefauver conducted hearings on organized crime in Nevada and throughout the United States.

It was in the gift shop, as I was leaving, that I spotted the fedora I'm wearing in the picture at the top of this blog. It reminds me of one of the hats the late Frank Sinatra wore. On your next trip to Las Vegas, I suggest you make it a point to visit The Mob Museum, just off Fremont Street downtown. Admission prices are reasonable; seniors, kids and Nevada residents all get a break. For more information, click on this link: www.theMobMuseum.org

1 comment:

by Larry Gauper said...

Excellent piece of art, Scott, and thanks sharing and for your comment. We took our elementary school granddaughter through the Mob Museum and she enjoyed it, didn't get frightened. They see - just by accident - a lot more on TV these days. Like your closing line "...to the nearest pear." :-)