Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Archives

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel California Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Murder Frank Nitti It Really Happened Meyer Lansky Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) Movies / Movie Stars / Entertainers / Celebrities

Movie Starlet Murdered by Mobster?

1934-1935 Today, 80 years later, the circumstances of actress Thelma Todd’s death remain a mystery, and the case still is one of Hollywood’s infamous unsolveds. A deep cover-up precluded the truth about the incident from…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Bugsy Siegel’s Hidden Safe

1972 Twenty-six years after the gangland assassination of mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and his debut of the Flamingo in Las Vegas, a trap door was discovered in one of the hotel-casino’s offices when the carpet…

Beldon Katleman Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Boulder Club (Las Vegas, NV) Casino History El Cortez (Las Vegas, NV) Fremont Street--Las Vegas Gambling History Gambling: War Gaming History Golden Nugget (Las Vegas, NV) It Really Happened Las Vegas Club (Las Vegas, NV) Meyer Lansky Monte Carlo (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada Sin City United States Western Club (Las Vegas, NV) William J. Moore

Alleged Vegas Gambling War Brews

1949 The article, “Las Vegas Gamblers Arming in Control Battle,” ran on the front page of a Los Angeles newspaper in the third week of December, to the chagrin of Nevada gambling regulators, casino owners,…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History Gambling Gambling History Gambling Laws / Regulations: U.S. Revenue Act of 1951 Gambling License Gaming History Nevada Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee Politicians / Politics: Kefauver Committee: Contempt of Congress Pro-Gambling Efforts Salvatore "Sam" Maceo United States

Despite Ridicule, Nevada Politician Protects Gambling

1933-1954 His unfavorable personal opinion about gambling notwithstanding, Patrick “Pat” A. McCarran (D-Nev.) — U.S. Senator between 1933 and 1954 — acted repeatedly on the industry’s behalf. Had he not, it’s likely gaming wouldn’t have…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Gaming History Jimmy Durante Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – Holiday Season Launch

1946 Which famous hotel-casino debuted in Las Vegas, Nevada the day after Christmas in this year? Hint: Jimmy Durante was the grand opening star; while on stage he destroyed a $1,600 piano (a $20,000 value…

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel Casino History Did You Know? Gambling History Nevada Quick Facts United States

Quick Fact – So Done

1946 Mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s wife, Esta (née Esther Krakower) filed for divorce in Reno, Nevada after 17 years of marriage. The two had wed when she was 18 and he was 23. In the…

Hot Springs: Illegal Gambling Mecca, Criminal Hangout

1860s to 1960s “The loose buckle in the Bible Belt” and “Las Vegas before Las Vegas had water” — these were Hot Springs, as described in the press (Hot Springs, 2013). This Central Arkansas city…