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Sharks in the Desert

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Sharks' a Fine Vegas History and Biography Combination

by Howard Schwartz
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John Smith, one of Nevada's finest newspaper columnists and authors (the Bob Stupak bio, No Limit Stupak biography and the Steve Wynn bio, Running Scared among others) has penned one of the best biography-history combination books ever with Sharks in the Desert: The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas (400 pages, hardbound, $24.95). His book is a new arrival at Gambler's Book Club. It focuses on those folks who made big money in the casino business, or as the publisher (Lyle Stuart) puts it: "From the made men to the corporate tough guys -- they're all here. Things only appear to have changed. The corporate hard-asses have the same goal as the mobsters who preceded them: to make as much money as possible without regard to who gets destroyed in the progress."

How HAS Las Vegas changed since the early days? Who were the visionaries, the entrepreneurs, those who anticipated what it has become today? Also, what changed the perception of Las Vegas as an "outlaw city," to "a community that prospered because it remained intriguing and was able to constantly reinvent itself"?

From Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, the Flamingo and El Rancho to the earliest days of the Frontier and Stardust, Smith takes us on a historic trip, focusing on the people, their dreams, what went right, what went wrong and how it all led to the Las Vegas we know today.

It's a journey down memory lane with a cast of characters -- some gunned down, others who became billionaires. Packed with photos, a tremendous index of names and places and facts drawn from more than 100 books and other documents, the book presents Johnny Rosselli, Marshall Caifano, Frank Costello, Ralph Lamb, Tony Spilotro, Frank Rosenthal.

There's much territory to cover and yet Smith does it well. He continues with the roles of Moe Dalitz, Estes Kefauver, Jimmy Hoffa, Sid Wyman, Morris Shenker, Howard Hughes as the century rolled on and times changed.

The book shifts to the downtown area with Jackie Gaughan and Mel Exber, back to the Strip for Bill Bennett and Jay Sarno, Ralph Engelstad and Bob Stupak.

Two of the city's most important people who get plenty of attention are Steve Wynn and Benny Binion. Remember Meshulam Riklis at the Riviera? Smith reminds us, while examining what went right and wrong at the original Aladdin, later at the Tropicana. He focuses on the rapid rise of the Fertitta and Boyd families and their many successes, the visionary William Harrah; then moves to "relative newcomers" Sheldon Adelson, Carl Icahn, the Maloof family, Peter Morton (the Hard Rock), and the sometimes mysterious but respected Kirk Kerkorian.

This is one heck of a book about one heck of a city and as one wise guy once said: "... the place (Las Vegas) remains one thing above all else: Irresistible."

The complete saga of Las Vegas from its early roots with the mob to modern corporate times is presented in a lively history of the city's real rulers in SHARKS IN THE DESERT: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND CURRENT KINGS OF LAS VEGAS. Many made their fortunes developing the casino business the city is most famous for today - but many myths have surrounded their activities - myths which columnist Smith dispels in an investigative history which tracked mobsters and their connections to the city's rich and monied.

This book is a fun read if you are someone who is familiar with Las Vegas. The book indeed delivers on what the subtitle, "..The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas" states. Each chapter is more or less devoted to discussing a specific person and the impact they had on setting the stage for the evolution of Las Vegas. I imagine those of you who have never been infatuated with Las Vegas will want to pass on this one.

Based on some of the anecdotes, it seems amazing that some of the Vegas hotels are still open today. The mobsters and the so called "straight laced" owners who ran (or still run) the hotels come off as either extremely brilliant or totally incompetent. It is no wonder that most of the Strip hotels have all been swallowed up by one or two companies. The author also seems to question if some hotels are completely honest when it comes to gaming.

The problem I had with the book was perhaps I was expecting something more chronological and dramatic. Instead, the book is like a compilation of old newpaper columns that are all put together in one place(of course, maybe that is not a surprise since the author is a newspaper reporter). Much like other books of that nature, the reading becomes almost repetitive and seems easier to take over a long haul rather than a week or two of reading cover to cover. Also note that there are a few typos and errors that make it seem like someone did a spellcheck with a computer rather than really proofreading it.

If you can stick with this type of book, you will probably enjoy it. Now this is the first book about Las Vegas I have read so I can not compare it to anything but I've got to believe there is probably something a bit more compelling.

With "Sharks in the Desert" John L. Smith wrote one of the best books about Las Vegas ever. This book has a lot of substance and it is full of information. Although it's nonfiction, it reads like a novel. Lots of valuable quality research are packed into the 400 pages. Although we have seen the TV specials about Las Vegas history, it was so refreshing to read John's book -- this is a great read from the first page to the last. The reader learns about today's casino moguls and the harsh but real techniques to separate casino patrons from their money. It also tells the story how like a gigantic masterplan Las Vegas rose from the barren desert into today's Sodom and Gomorrah. Smith is excellent in telling it like it is and this book is a great educational tool for anyone who wants learn more about the meadows, i.e. Las Vegas, and the people who developed this desert oasis in the past and who run this town like clockwork presently.

This is one of the easiest, most organized and fun reads of Las Vegas history that I have ever read. The short chapters easily keep your interest and the way the book is laid outl, you can set it down for a while (although that is not easy to do) and return to it without loosing track of anything. I loved it!

This book gives you the real story behind the Vegas gaming legends. Nobody does justice to this topic like John L. Smith. His research is impeccable.

An outstanding book for those interested in the development of gambling in the United States. I am actually using this in a course I am teaching next semester on the history of gambling. Also if you like to read about "tough guys" this is a book for you.
Well done. Well researched.

This man says that Benny Binion said the quote, I Do My Own Damn Killing on Dec. 25th 1989, the day of Benny's death. I find nothing he writes about Binion to be true or researched at all.

He repeats the childish, silly, FBI planted story that Benny Binion offered Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratianno a 25 per cent interest in a brand new casino Benny would build if he and several mafia biggies would eliminate Russian Louie, Benny's old bodyguard, a deal worth tens of millions. Then the Weasel waited 18 months and then killed Russian Louie in front of several people, some of whom joined him in Witness Protection. He testified against many mob buddies, but no charges against Benny. He prints silly gossip, and thing I know are false. The story was the mob didn't ask for pay for a few years, and then only $60,000. Only one man was the source of that lie, and a researcher would know it. His bibliography mentions no books. This is entertaining, crap history.

Benny didn't leave Dallas in 1946 with 2 million. He still had big action in the Lone Star State and was worth tens of millions, and didn't need to risk it all with cheap hoods.

The FBI, IRS, and gaming people watched Benny his whole life. In 1978, he visited the White House and may have been in line for his long sought Presidential pardon. That is when the FBI released the childish story by Jimmy "the Weasel" Fratianno. When a reporter called Benny, he said, "Tell them FBIs, I was perfectly capbable of doing my own damn killing." That was 32 years after he came to Las Vegas, and a decade before this cut and paste author said he said it. Makes me doubt all his stories as to credibility. As an author, I value research!
Texas Poker Wisdom

John L. Smith once again sends packing the legions of wanna-be biographers of Las Vegas legends. Critical to the accuracy is the Author's own disposition as a native Las Vegan. Only this perspective grants immunity from cliche. In bringing these events to the page, nobody else comes close.

The reader will comprehend much of why Las Vegas, where I personally grew up, is such a tough town to break in to, why the locals don't trust newcomers, and the dynamics of the power sturcture. Required reading if you are moving to Las Vegas.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Vegas -- from the Mafia days to the current town. Well written and puts you there!!