Episode 5 - The Mob Museum

WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:09.679 Well, how do you, folks, and good morning, afternoon or evening, 2 00:00:10.039 --> 00:00:14.560 wherever and whenever you may be listening. My name is Tim and welcome 3 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:19.359 to one day in so cal. Whether you've lived here your entire life or 4 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:23.600 visiting from across the world, whether you only have one day in so cal 5 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:27.039 or one month, I want to share some of the coolest, most fun 6 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:31.519 and most unique things to do right here in southern California, whether that's solo 7 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.479 or with friends and family. So join me on my next adventure and hopefully 8 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:48.520 yours. Right now on one day in so cal. Welcome to episode five 9 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:54.799 of the one day in so cal podcast. It's Friday August and I'm recording 10 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:58.799 from beautiful right with California. visit me on the web. One day in 11 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:03.039 SOCAL DOT COM, one day in social dot com for the latest episode, 12 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.079 travelog videos, interactive map of where I've been, social media links and more. 13 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.400 Now I know your time is valuable, folks, and I'm especially humbled 14 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:15.159 that you would really spend some time with me. In return, I hope 15 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:19.560 I can give you some information, tips and Hidden Jim Ideas on some of 16 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.680 the best that Sokel has to offer. All right, so where did I 17 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:29.640 go this week. Take it away, Mr Frank Lefty Rosenthal and Tony the 18 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:40.040 ants below trow. At that time, Vegas was a place where millions of 19 00:01:40.040 --> 00:01:42.439 suckers flew in every year on their own nickel and left behind about a billion 20 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:48.239 dollars. But at night you couldn't see the desert that surrounds Las Vegas. 21 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:55.239 But it's in the desert where lots of the town's problems are solved. A 22 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.439 lot of holes in the desert and a lot of problems are buried in those 23 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:01.519 holes. Sept you gotta do it right, I mean you gotta have the 24 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:06.480 hole already doug before you show up with a package in the truck. Otherwise 25 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:09.159 you're talking about half hour, forty five minutes to dig it, and who 26 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:13.360 knows it's going to be coming along that time. Before you know it, 27 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:16.000 you gotta dig a few more old Whoa, Whoa, whoa. Alright, 28 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:20.879 Jeez, take it easy, guys, this is a family show. Just 29 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.639 mute. Tony here. Where is it, Nikki? Where is it Joe? 30 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:29.199 On that ever so cheerful note, have you guys figured out where I 31 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:32.280 went this week? Well, since I'm still here recording, it was fortunately 32 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.560 not a hole in the desert Um. But the subject, the subject matter 33 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:40.280 of where I went is not exactly a family friendly affair, however. But, 34 00:02:40.759 --> 00:02:44.800 as ended last week, it's time for a road trip, and a 35 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:49.719 road trip I did take this week. I visited Las Vegas, Nevada. 36 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.439 Las Vegas and southern California are easily within striking distance of each other, only 37 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:57.560 three hours, or maybe four, depending on where you are at. Southern 38 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.319 California, Um, those that come to visit so I'll often visit Las Vegas, 39 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:05.639 given the reasonably short proximity, and often vice versa. It's as simple 40 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:09.159 as a drive up interstate fifteen and you are there. Now I've been to 41 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:13.599 Las Vegas dozens of times, but two things in Las Vegas that I have 42 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:19.080 never done or the mob museum in downtown Las Vegas and muster by circus lay 43 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:23.960 at treasure island or actually, for that matter, any certus lay. I 44 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:29.039 have never seen circus delay and I got to finally do that on this trip. 45 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:31.759 Now I know what some of you are thinking. Hey, I thought 46 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:35.319 this was the one day in so cal. PODCAST, one day in so 47 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.199 cal, obviously referencing southern California. Don't worry, the vast majority of my 48 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.319 focus and attention is going to be on things to do right here in southern 49 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:46.319 California. So the thing is, though, many of us in so cal 50 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:50.680 escape for a weekend of fund in Vegas so often that it's almost practically part 51 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:54.080 of southern California and our culture. Also important to note that many tours I 52 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.439 have met in southern California have added Las Vegas as part of their travel plans 53 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:00.719 and on the opposite, opposite end, many tourists that I've met in Las 54 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:05.120 Vegas, you know, have added Southern California as part of the travel plans, 55 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:09.560 and that's because it's such an easy drive. As I said, three 56 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.919 or four hours down man state fifteen and you can be in any location and 57 00:04:13.960 --> 00:04:15.639 there's so many options to travel. There many options coming, you know, 58 00:04:15.720 --> 00:04:20.879 short flights, rental cars, buses, they're even bright line is even coming 59 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:28.600 out and bringing a high speed rail between Apple Valley and uh Las Vegas, 60 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:31.959 with extensions going to Palmdale and Rancho Cucamonga, which will connect with the Metro 61 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:38.800 link and other transportation options. I'm not exactly a transportation fiend, but trains 62 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:42.199 I do make an exception for. They're usually pretty pleasant and fast and convenient. 63 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:48.040 Um. So the distance between Las Vegas Strip and Los Angeles is only 64 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:54.360 about two or fifty miles or so, and it's only four, maybe five 65 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:59.160 hours. Again, depends where you live. Um, but maybe five hours 66 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:02.079 if you haven't learned how attempt fate with the California High Petroleat but for most 67 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:04.680 of us, three or four hours. For me about three from where I 68 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:10.079 live. So, all that said, I'M gonna make exceptions from time to 69 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:14.959 time and occasionally travel outside of the nondefined borders of southern California. The rule 70 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.839 I'm gonna lay out for this exception is simple. I have to be able 71 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.519 to drive to a location within a couple of hours, one day Max. 72 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:26.879 So you're not gonna be seeing any yellow stones or Caribbean episodes anytime soon, 73 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.680 unless I start running out of things in southern California to do, which isn't 74 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:35.319 likely anytime soon. Um. On this particular trip, I stayed at the 75 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:40.519 Helpton embassy suites and all sweets hotel, located near the Las Vegas Convention Center 76 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.199 and about a mile east of the Strip itself, so technically off strip, 77 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:48.920 but this was a beautiful hotel with a huge open lobby area that stretched upwards 78 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:54.079 of twelve stories, included a free breakfast buffet in the morning and, most 79 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:59.519 important to meet, no stupid ridiculous resort fees. Oh I hate resort fees, 80 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:03.439 guys. But unfortunately there was paid parking, which I've always opposed, 81 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:08.560 for paying guests. Um, photos will be on the website, by the 82 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:13.319 way, one day, at scale dot com. But I get why, 83 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:16.439 uh, you know, I get why there's paid parking. Um, it's 84 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.480 such a it's an area so close to the Strip and a lot of people 85 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:24.399 would take advantage of the free parking lot if they didn't charge something for it. 86 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:27.920 I guess at least that's the reasoning. No excuse for the MGM, 87 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:31.000 grand though I mean, or any MGM resorts. They got plenty of parking. 88 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:34.160 They always have. They just want to make extra money in that case. 89 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:36.680 So with all that, house, keep you out of the way. 90 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:43.279 Let's start with my trip to the mob museum. The mob museum, officially 91 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.120 the National Museum of Organized Crime and law enforcement, is a history museum located 92 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:50.920 in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The museum building itself is a historical artifact, 93 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:56.480 built a nine to serve as both the city's post office and Court House, 94 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:00.680 and it's also registered on the National Register of store places. The mob 95 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.399 museum is only two blocks away from the Fremont Street experience, so tourists have 96 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:09.800 easy access by public transportation, whether you are staying in downtown Las Vegas or 97 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:14.879 the Strip. In two thousand in the United States government sold the building to 98 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:18.680 the city of Las Vegas for one dollar, with stipulation be restored to its 99 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:25.079 original look and be used for cultural purposes for the public. When the building 100 00:07:25.160 --> 00:07:28.079 was sold to the city, the mayor of Las Vegas was good old Oscar 101 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:32.959 Goodman, who is a famous mafia attorney, having represented famous monsters such as 102 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:40.439 Meyer Lansky, Nikki Scarfo, Herbert Fat Herbie Blitztein, Phillip Fillionnetti, Frank 103 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:46.399 Lefty Rosenthal, Jamille, Jimmy Wood Jr and, of course, the infamous 104 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:50.079 Anthony Tony the ants Pilotro, who was made famous by Joe Pashi in the 105 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:57.279 hit film casino. So perhaps not too surprising. In the year two thousand, 106 00:07:57.319 --> 00:08:01.759 two tiers after city purchased the building, he proposed a mob museum. 107 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:07.079 Interestingly enough, the idea faced early opposition from Italian American groups who uh didn't 108 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:11.519 like the idea of, you know, that dark past, that dark history, 109 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:13.839 being brought back to life. and Ain't Nice. Huge bit museum on 110 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:18.800 three, four levels. Uh, even more interesting, the FBI fully supported 111 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:22.839 the idea, including the former head agent of Las Vegas, Ellen Nolton, 112 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:28.360 who later joined the museum's board of directors. So, after some typical back 113 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:31.919 and forth in politics and how it goes, the museum was officially open to 114 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:41.960 the public on February. Isn't that Valentine's Day? In conjunction with the Valentine's 115 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.919 Day massacre? They do have that here too. I'll go into that in 116 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:48.399 a little bit here. So entrance, entrance fees. So entrance to the 117 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:54.679 mob museum is children tenant under our free law enforcement officers and active or retired 118 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:03.360 military students are six the happy our discount after five pm Sunday through Friday and 119 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:09.879 before eleven am on Saturday only. And currently organized crime members getting for free, 120 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.960 but you actually have to be an irrespectable organized crime family under this low 121 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:18.320 life street gang junk. Just kidding about the free entry part, not about 122 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:22.759 the street gangs. There are also a few interactive experiences offered the crime lab 123 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:28.639 allows you to explore the work of forensic scientists, fingerprint and analysis and DNA 124 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:31.600 profilers, as well as medical examiners. I didn't go on there, so 125 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:35.320 I don't know if there's a corpse you can check you out or anything, 126 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:39.120 but it looks pretty cool in high tech and even the everybody was kind of 127 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.399 fitting in the roles as far as employees they were wearing white lab suits and 128 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:46.799 our lab coats and everything else. Um, the distillery tour and tasting explores 129 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:52.080 a variety of housemade distilled spirits at an actual working distillery. Then there's the 130 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:56.919 firearm simulator, which is described as an immersive training experience where you will make 131 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:01.559 split second decisions that law enforcement serves encounter daily on the job. Um, 132 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:05.840 you'll be led through a training video and live royal place scemios. Uh. 133 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:11.279 Finally, actually, that was it. The interactive experiences worked by upgrading your 134 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.919 past from general admission to DLUXEA premier. So I didn't do any of these 135 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:18.240 things, particularly he wasn't in shipping the firearm simulator. Um, I've had 136 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:22.240 enough real life experience with this stuff that I didn't feel like going in there 137 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.279 and doing it again, and I've had a lot of training scenarios in this 138 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:30.480 in this aspect Um. So yeah, I didn't need to go and show 139 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.759 up my skills. Besides, usually those things are designed to kind of teach 140 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:39.440 you why you're doing it wrong. So there'll be something like like I I've 141 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:43.600 had, just to get offul slightly off topic, I've had training simulators where, 142 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:46.879 Um, big screen in front of you, you have a firearm, 143 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:50.440 not a real gun, but, you know, a laser simulator firearm that 144 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.759 looks and fills like the real thing, and then you have some girl come 145 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:58.399 out and you know they're having a domestic and she's got like her her breast 146 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:01.679 kind of almost hanging out, you know, and what it's designed to do 147 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.080 is try to distract you and the next thing you know the husband runs around 148 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:07.320 the corner with a knife and stabs you. And the whole point is don't 149 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.000 get distracted by these kinds of things. I thoroughly remember that, uh, 150 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:16.279 and that was a lesson learned and after that I've never let things like that 151 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:20.080 try to distract me. Have always been focused around my surroundings. Um. 152 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:22.360 So I don't know if they have something like that in here. I wouldn't 153 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:26.240 be surprised. It is Las Vegas after all. But Um, if you've 154 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:30.759 never done a firearm Um, you know, shoot or no shoot stimulation. 155 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:33.159 This is uh, this is something really fun to do and it will actually 156 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:37.200 kind of show you what really cops and law enforcement have to go through every 157 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:41.080 single day. One more little side note. I do remember watching a youtube 158 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:46.360 video a while ago where somebody really critical of police and police shootings said, 159 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:50.279 you know what, I can do that so much better than you and these 160 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.840 cops. You know, I'm not gonna shoot anybody, anyone in there. 161 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:58.720 And he got his rare and added to him. You know, over and 162 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.919 over and over again where or he was just afraid to shoot, or even 163 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.480 when he did shoot, it turned out to be an innocent person and he 164 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:09.720 walked away like wow, I get it now, this split second decision stuff 165 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.679 the general public just doesn't understand because they don't they don't deal with it. 166 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:16.320 Back to this though. Um, you can upgrade to any of these interactive 167 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:22.000 experiences by upgrading from general admission to deluxe or premier. Deluxe is and features 168 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:28.519 all day admission and one interactive experience. The premier passes offers all day admission 169 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:35.120 and to interactive experiences. So, you know, when I when I walked 170 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:37.879 into this building, the mob museum, one of the first things I saw 171 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:43.440 when I parked my car was basically it was a wall and on it was 172 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:48.600 the real deal casino. But it wasn't Robert De Niro and Joe PESCI and 173 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:54.279 Sharon stone. It was the actual, you know, lefty Rosenthal and and 174 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.120 uh, you know, the whole crew that was there, and it was 175 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:03.159 either actual paintings that looked realist stick um of how they looked. I'll have 176 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:05.799 that photo on the website. But that's when I knew, like, thankfully, 177 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:07.879 yet, or at least I thought, that this was gonna be, 178 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.519 you know, this wasn't gonna be some this was gonna be the real deal. 179 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:15.799 I was gonna actually kind of learn some of the real history of the 180 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:18.759 mob in the mafia, and I kind of assumed, and usually when I 181 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:22.200 go to these places, I was assuming correctly, that this was gonna be 182 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.679 all that Las Vegas Crime and Afia and and basically the whole casino, you 183 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:31.120 know, Um Movie, Um, basically, Um, you know, the 184 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:35.480 truth brought out. Um. So I walked in, I tied myself. 185 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:39.039 I thought maybe I could get through this in two or three hours and then 186 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:43.600 I'd be out. I could get going home and because this was the last 187 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:46.840 thing I was doing before I headed home from Vegas, so I tied myself 188 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.279 and the mob museum at ten forty one hours, or ten forty one am, 189 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:56.519 and I left at sixteen fourteen hours, or four fourteen PM. That's 190 00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:00.600 five hours and thirty three minutes. I could hardly believe of how long I 191 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.120 was in this museum when I finally walked out, and that's a testament how 192 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:07.000 much I enjoyed the exhibits. A couple of things to note. I didn't 193 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:09.639 have I didn't do any of the extra offerings that were offered, such as 194 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:15.320 the crime lab of the shooting simulator Um, and I did eat here for 195 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:18.879 forty five minutes. They have a pretty nice little speakeasy we'll talk about in 196 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.120 a bit here also to know it was very, very crowded, which shouldn't 197 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:26.879 be much of a surprise as all Las Vegas is packed Friday through Sunday, 198 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:30.960 especially in the summer. I did stop to view and read and watch almost 199 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.440 all the exhibits. It's spent about ten minutes in the gift shop because it 200 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:37.360 was so crowded, though, it took away from the enjoyment a little bit. 201 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:41.159 Um, I'm not suggesting they do um, they limit guests coming in 202 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:45.519 because this is a very popular museum that a lot of people visit. But, 203 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:50.360 Um, it did take extra time to get through the exhibits because of 204 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:52.000 that. Sometimes I had to wait for someone to finish reading something on the 205 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.600 wall before I could proceed and get close enough to read the small text. 206 00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.639 Um. And sometimes people were waiting on me, and you know how that 207 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.320 is when you're trying to read something like maybe your friend comes up to you, 208 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:05.240 hey check it, read this real quick, and you're reading and you're 209 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:09.080 looking at your friends staring at you, big smile and you're like okay, 210 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:13.759 you know, I'm reading it, and you kind of like you know, 211 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.279 it's kind of hard to concentrate when when when someone's expecting you to read something 212 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:20.200 really quick and we'll fast or waiting on you and uh, you know you're 213 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:24.120 holding them up. I don't know, maybe some of you guys don't have 214 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:26.000 that experience, but I always hate, you know, people waiting on me 215 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:31.519 when I'm trying to do something like read or or watch a clip or something, 216 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.120 a film clip or something like that. Maybe it's just me, but 217 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:39.799 the museum itself takes up the entire building and its spread on four levels. 218 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.559 The very top level of the museum is dedicated to the birth and rise of 219 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:48.559 the Mafia in the United States. This will go into details on how and 220 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:52.120 why the Mafia started. You learn about immigration to the United States, poverty 221 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:56.559 and crime and really how these groups started to form together for both economic advantages 222 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.480 and protection. There's a really good, great display here donated from the family 223 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:04.440 of New York Police Department officer Louis Green and his time in the NYPD after 224 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:11.480 he was hired, serving until n you'll have basically got his gun there and 225 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:15.879 some of his equipment and pictures from, you know, his his unit, 226 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.720 and it's just really cool just to get a little glimpse in the life of 227 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:23.320 a police officer who largely served with the thirties, the Great Depression and, 228 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:27.080 you know, the Mafia really taken power in New York and uh, it's 229 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:30.240 really cool to kind of just see the other side and I'm glad they show 230 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:34.960 the police side of this of these things as well. Now, one famous 231 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:38.879 Italian saying that kind of stuck with me is quoted here at the museum, 232 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:44.440 and it goes like this. I came to America because I heard the streets 233 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.399 were paid with gold. When I got here I found out three things. 234 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:52.480 First, the streets are not paved with gold. Second, they aren't paved 235 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:57.080 at all. Third, I was expected to pave them. That's my horrible 236 00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:03.279 Italian accident. I don't even know except that was. But that kind of 237 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:08.920 sums up immigration in America in the you know, early in the early part 238 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:12.759 of the century or last century, Um, a lot of people came here. 239 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:21.039 They're being persecuted religiously, UM, politically, um, really hard, 240 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.720 terrible lives. They came here and they just heard so many amazing stories, 241 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:29.119 including that that the streets were literally paved with gold, and they got here 242 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:33.160 and found out that's not the case. But they didn't pack up and go 243 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:37.200 home, did they know? They they worked hard for the American dream and 244 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:41.319 a lot of them achieved that, fortunately, and those that did it or 245 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:45.599 wanted the basically fast track to the good life, that's where the mafia came 246 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.559 in on another side. Now, you know, I always fondly remember watching 247 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.079 Steven Spielberg's an American tell where all the mice around the ship singing. You 248 00:17:52.119 --> 00:18:00.920 know how tragic their old country lives were. Poor me, but but there 249 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:06.680 are no chats in America on the streets are paved with g okay, and 250 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.720 then I'm not going to see that whole thing, but you know what I 251 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:11.240 mean. That's a great movie too, and that really kind of gives you 252 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.279 the the idea of what these immigrants were going through and what they were hoping 253 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:21.119 for and the reality, unfortunately, when they got there. Um. So 254 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:27.160 the second floor features exhibits on the ground Bait breaking key father hearings and actual 255 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:33.519 historical courtroom is actually here where one of the father hearings was took place and 256 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:40.680 Um, basically it's got all the original furniture. It's the actual original courtroom. 257 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:44.079 You can sit in there. Some projectors come down and and there's a 258 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:48.720 whole display of actors on the projector re enacting key father hearing key moments, 259 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:55.720 as well as original footage. It's just amazing to see. Um, the 260 00:18:55.799 --> 00:19:00.200 key father hearings are really key and crucial in American history because this was, 261 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:03.960 I don't want to say the turning point, but this is where the American 262 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.400 mob was basically brought to light, not just to all levels of government from 263 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:14.240 top down, but to the American public as well. And for whatever crazy 264 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:19.519 reason, Um, the FBI decided and decided. You know, hey, 265 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:25.759 it still doesn't exist and they weren't denial for another seven years. But Um, 266 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:29.079 this, uh, this courtroom little scene is pretty amazing to watch some 267 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:32.200 of these mobsters, you know, on on the stand, being questioned and 268 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:36.039 either invoking their fifth mement rights or, in some cases walking out and having 269 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:40.839 to start a prison time because they were in contempt to Congress or the hearing 270 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:45.119 itself, I should say. Um. But there's a couple other things on 271 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:48.799 this floor that I want to mention. There's also a pretty gruesome wall of 272 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:53.279 Mafia murders, complete with bodies after the fact and during the investigation. If 273 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:56.519 you do not want to enter this section of the tour, there is a 274 00:19:56.599 --> 00:20:00.480 door to the right and a sign that warns you that allow you to bypass 275 00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:03.279 this. Obviously, if you've got kids or you know you're maybe a little 276 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:07.599 sensitive to that kind of thing for whatever reason. Um, you know, 277 00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:10.960 maybe skip that part. On this level, there's also a small snack shop 278 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:15.119 where you can purchase items, just water, coffee, light snacks, Um. 279 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.519 But the courtroom itself, I think it's The star of the show on 280 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:22.400 the second level and the fifty minute documentary will really kind of almost make you 281 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:27.720 feel like you're there in the courtroom experiencing this and, uh, learning about 282 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:36.200 the mob for the first time. Um. So when people are asked what 283 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.480 is the best mafia movie out there, I think we all know what the 284 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:42.599 answer is to that, right the Godfather. Um. Same. You know, 285 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.880 the Godfather is an absolutely amazing film for more than one reason and stood 286 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:53.119 the test of time passed all the critics for a good reason. Um. 287 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:59.920 But in my personal opinion, my favorite Mafia movie is casino and always had 288 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.680 has been. When I entered this museum I was expecting most exhibits to be 289 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:08.640 on crime and the Mafia's role in Las Vegas, bringing the really bringing casino 290 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:14.240 to life in reality from the you know, partial fiction that it is. 291 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:18.200 There is some of that, but the museum takes on the history of the 292 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:22.480 Mafia in the United States as a whole and even some international crime organizations. 293 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.839 I was hoping to see stuff like maybe tone of the ants confiscated guns or 294 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:32.519 maybe a suit left the Rosenthal war, but no dice there are plenty of 295 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:34.960 guns and situtes that. You'll find suits worn by infamous l a gangster Mickey 296 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:40.440 Cohen and New York Crime boss, you know, Salvatore Banano. You also 297 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:44.000 find guns for both law enforcement and Mafia members, including one owned by lawn 298 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:49.039 for one owned by law for officers like officer Green. The city of Las 299 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:52.400 Vegas was true to their word and they really did destroy this building to its 300 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:57.920 original nineteen three art deco look and feel. The the whole thing just screams 301 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:03.079 art deco. The elevators are original and even have that old fashioned little pointer 302 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:07.039 dial that kind of you know, slowly moves across to indicate which Florida car 303 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:11.200 is on. The bathrooms are marble and even the stalls are that old fashioned 304 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:15.440 short door where anyone can see and stare at you if you stand up, 305 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.759 so you have to sit downter squats remain hidden. If you've been in an 306 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:22.480 old building, really old building, it spender story, you know you know 307 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:27.279 what I'm talking about. Uh photos on the website. The Post Office UH 308 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:32.000 service windows are used as a ticket booth now and the basement has been restored 309 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:38.640 as a real brewery and speakeasy. Um so parking. Let's get onto parking, 310 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:42.039 I guess, because if you're bringing a car, if you're traveling from 311 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:45.079 so called to Las Vegas, or you're gonna do the you know, the 312 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.880 other way, the journey the other way. Um, you're gonna need, 313 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:52.000 uh, if you had a rental car, you're gonna need some parking. 314 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:56.400 So there is a parking there. There is a parking. There is parking 315 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.000 here at the mob museum, but unfortunately it does call. It's managed by 316 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:04.880 a third party parking company and is right next door. Parking is eight dollars 317 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:08.400 for four hours. For Free options, you can try to find parking around 318 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:12.960 the blocks um surrounding the museum. It's pretty safe, given the area that 319 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:19.359 you know approximately get Fremont street well patrolled and lots of tourists. But unfortunately 320 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:23.759 forcing, forcing guests to pay for parking has become a necessity and busy tourist 321 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:29.559 areas. It allows parking spaces for guests to come and enjoy the attraction while 322 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:33.880 kind of shunning or discouraging others from just parking there and, you know, 323 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:38.039 leaving their cars there and taking up space who aren't visiting the attraction itself. 324 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:44.960 Regarding food at this at the mom museum. There are two food options here. 325 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.799 Um, as mentioned earlier, the second floor has a snack bar that 326 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:51.000 carries a few necessities to get you through the rest of the tour, including 327 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:55.519 coffee, Soda, water, Light Pastries and other snacks. And this was 328 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.480 important to me because, uh, once I got to the third floor, 329 00:23:57.640 --> 00:24:00.559 I was thirsty as heck and I thought I was gonna have to wait all 330 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:03.839 the way down, you know, wait all the way to the wait until 331 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:08.039 I got to the basement, basically to have something to drink. But luckily 332 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:11.480 on the second floor they thought this out. And if you need a little 333 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:15.400 pick me up to get through the rest of the tour, they get through, 334 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:18.680 uh, the wall of gruesome murder photos. Then you know it's here 335 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:25.079 on the second floor. But if you are really wanting to eat, then 336 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:27.880 save your savior, hunger. Has that had the right word? To Save 337 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:33.839 Your Hunger? Um, hold off for a bit because arguably the coolest room 338 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:38.039 at the mob museum is the speakeasy in the basement. The basement speakeasy can 339 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:42.759 be accessed in two ways. If you've already purchased the ticket and enjoying the 340 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:45.839 museum, you can you only need to ride the elevator take the stairs down 341 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:49.200 to get it to it. Upon arrival in the basement, they'll be walking 342 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:52.720 down a long hallway and finally reach a speakeasy on your left. If you 343 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:57.559 purchase the optional brewery tour, you'll be making a right the brewery tour features 344 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:03.200 actual it actual basically distillery and brewerty that actually makes alcohol for some of the 345 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:08.799 drinks that you can order at the speakeasy. But if you want the full 346 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:15.039 experience or you're not visiting the museum itself, you certainly have to go through 347 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:18.960 the hidden side entrance, just like you've seen in the movies. This side 348 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:22.240 entrance is located on the east side of the mom museum building, down a 349 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:25.880 set of stairs to a freshly painted green door that contrast to the drab and 350 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:30.400 cement surrounding it. Upon knocking on this door, a small window will slide 351 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:36.400 open from the top and two eyes will be poking out at you. You'll 352 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:41.279 be asked for the password. Oh crap, what is the password? We 353 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:44.640 did even get the password? Well, hopefully you did, because if you 354 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:48.119 don't know the password, you're not getting into this establishment, at least not 355 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:52.640 this way. Uh, this door will not open without the password. So 356 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:57.839 here's how you get the password. Go on the mob museum website and Click 357 00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:02.839 on the speach geasy pay age and the password will be there. The password 358 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:07.839 when I went was cat's pajamas. Once you present the correct password the eye 359 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:11.039 level, many window will slide shut and you'll be standing there for a few 360 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:15.839 seconds wondering if you gave the right password before finally the bolt will be loosening 361 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:19.720 from the other side and the door will slide open, allowing you access. 362 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:25.799 The speakeasy itself is set up just tell an actual speakeasy might have looked back 363 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:30.119 in the rolling twenties during the probition area. There's also informative and entertaining exhibits, 364 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:33.720 videos and artifacts here to tell the story bestly of the roaring twenties, 365 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:38.160 which saw the rise of flappers jazz. The mob Um, a well stocked 366 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.599 bar with handcrafts at cocktown menu and weekly live music create a lively environment inspired 367 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:49.640 by a bygone age. Now I have a secret to tell here. Some 368 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:56.920 of you already know I have never consumed an alcoholic beverage in my entire life. 369 00:26:57.319 --> 00:27:03.000 Never I even went through four years of in the Marine Corps without drinking. 370 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:07.079 Needless to say, I was often giving rides back, you know, 371 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:10.839 from the Bar, for marines that needed away home or cleaning up their messes 372 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.960 on a Friday night, as I was often the only person not drunk within 373 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:18.000 a mile radius. Um, and as cool as, to speak, easy 374 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:22.279 was, I'm still upstanding from alcohol. So there are three options for those 375 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:27.200 of us, uh, those of US squares, they don't drink. There's 376 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:32.880 the keep sober cocktail with Grenadine, lemon and elder flower tonic. There's the 377 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:37.720 teetotaler with pair and Ginger Shrub and spiced black tea syrup, served hot or 378 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:42.519 cold. Then there's what I had, the Raspberry lavender fizz with raspberry, 379 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:48.279 lavender, Lemon and soda water. Absolutely amazing from start to finish. Um, 380 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:52.160 this was amazing. This reminded the last time I had something this good 381 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:59.000 was probably cars land. Actually, uh, this is probably the Disney californiadventure 382 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:06.400 rededication. Um, they had something like this at the Oh my gosh, 383 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:10.599 it's gonna Escape me, but they basically had something this like this where. 384 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:15.039 I for to drink there and it was just as amazing. Um. anyways, 385 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:18.000 back on track. Each non alcoholic drink is seven dollars. They also 386 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:22.480 have coffee, espresso, Latte, cold brew, MOCHA and Cappuccino. Now 387 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:25.960 for the alcohol, which is why most of you are here. They have 388 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:30.359 coffee cocktails, drafts, bourbons, Rye whiskey bottles like bud wiser and peffably, 389 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:34.160 ribbon wine by the glass, including red, white and sparkling wine like 390 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:40.039 champagne. Much of the wine is imported. Um Hungry? There are several 391 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:42.680 options to nine hare as well, and you might find some of these items 392 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:48.319 in a typical sports bar. Pretzel Bites with Beer, cheese, hummusplate with 393 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:52.400 all of us and toasted Pea classic deviled eggs, the nine inch cheese pizza 394 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:56.119 with additional toppings, which is what I had, meatballs with Marinera and Mozzarella, 395 00:28:56.839 --> 00:29:02.680 a charcouterie. I'm a sailing right, Charkou Turi Plate with a selection 396 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:07.720 of meats and cheeses with pickled vegetables, spicy mustard and toast beer. Braised 397 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:12.640 beef sliders with White Cheddar, spicy a Elie and pepper relish. For Dessert, 398 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:15.880 the rum runner cake is topped with pineapple, rum raise and ice cream 399 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:21.240 and rum caramel caramel sauce. The Sicilian style cheesecake, which is also what 400 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:26.000 I had, is made in the speakeasy itself and is a Ricoda cheesecake topped 401 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:32.359 with Strawberry Champagne Campote. Finally, the Afacatto is an espresso poured over vanilla 402 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:36.240 ice cream. A shot of liquor can be added for five bucks. Keep 403 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.920 in mind this is a proper bar, so you must be twenty one or 404 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:42.160 over to enter the speakeasy. Another reason I don't necessarily recommend the mom museum 405 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:48.319 for children the speakeasy is the speakeasy is open Monday through Wednesday noon to ten 406 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:52.640 PM, and Thursday through Sunday the speakeasy is open noon to midnight. So, 407 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:57.079 speaking of kids, Um, the mom museum might be a no go 408 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:02.880 for most young young your kids. I could see teenagers maybe like in this, 409 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:07.640 or maybe even some, you know, more mature preteens, but uh, 410 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:10.240 you're five year old is probably not gonna have the most fun time here. 411 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:14.599 Outside maybe the inner you know, the shooting simulator and the Crame Lad. 412 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:18.759 Maybe there's just not a lot of interactive things to do here and there's 413 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:22.000 a lot of displays with a lot of reading. On top of that, 414 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:26.440 there are some pretty graphic images here and they don't they don't hide. UH, 415 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:30.319 they don't hide these images. They are on full display exactly how they 416 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:33.039 were shot and taken, which I appreciate. Out of a History Museum for 417 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:37.880 sure. Um, I'm talking photos of mobsters shot in the head, their 418 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:42.359 corpses spilling brain matter and blood onto a cold, hard asphalt kind of images. 419 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:47.000 So some of your parents, uh, you know, even though you 420 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:49.440 let your kids play call of duty all nail on, you may not want 421 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:53.400 them to see these kind of things. Um. So, as far as 422 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:57.079 safety and concerns, the mob museum is well within the bounds of downtown with 423 00:30:57.079 --> 00:31:03.680 its casinos and the Fremont Street experien downtown Las Vegas is immediately Um, immediately 424 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:07.839 surrounding the street. The freemaster experience is very well patrolled by police and security 425 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:11.640 and a safe far cry from how it was maybe even twenty years ago. 426 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:17.079 That's because, you know, the resurgence of downtown Las Vegas, uh, 427 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:21.000 at the Freemont street experience and all the attractions they have their the casinos really 428 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:25.640 want, you know, a safe experience for the guests because they've really had 429 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:27.680 a lot of success, you know, pulling a lot of tours from the 430 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:33.640 traditionally going to the Las Vegas Strip. So it's almost like a mini strip 431 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:37.839 in itself with the freemaster experience, and very well, very safe. Even 432 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:41.519 when I went that night after touring the mob museum, Um, they had 433 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:45.519 they had a bunch of parties going on on the freemaster experience. He had 434 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:48.920 to go through a metal de textures to get on just because of a special 435 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:53.240 event, you know, with the seniors and everything else. Um. But 436 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.440 all that said, I definitely would not straight out of the immediate downtown area 437 00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:02.440 or venture on foot any air between downtown and the stratosphere hotel, which is 438 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:07.079 now called the strato hotel. By the way, it's a pretty hard neighborhood. 439 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:12.599 Anywhere past the stratosphere in downtown is Um. Anywhere past the stratosphere is 440 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:15.160 pretty tough neighborhood, and downtown it's kind of like an island of waste, 441 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:19.160 is exception to that rule, and if you drive through this on your way 442 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:24.039 from the Strip to a to downtown, you'll see what I mean. So 443 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:28.599 I didn't drive all the way to Vegas just to see the mob museum, 444 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:31.279 though it was certainly worth to drive in itself. I also went and saw 445 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:38.599 muster by circlay. This show has some incredibly or incredibly this show has some 446 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:45.400 incredible live music that has played along with performances. Um, CIRC the slay. 447 00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:50.400 come for the stunts, but stay for the music. So I'm gonna 448 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:53.000 show a quick montage here of a couple of minutes of some of what I 449 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:57.680 heard. Some of this music is just absolutely amazing. Um. I fortunately 450 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:00.839 didn't have my sound record with me, so I had to kind of use 451 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:05.960 my phone. So just know whatever you're hearing, it's twice as good. 452 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.920 Um. So here's some of those clips of what I heard. A start 453 00:33:09.000 --> 00:36:04.679 to slay must by start to slay us to St Stu, S W, 454 00:36:09.679 --> 00:37:47.599 SOM S it. Alright. I hope you guys enjoyed some of that as 455 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:53.039 much as I did. Some of that music was just absolutely amazing, Um 456 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:57.280 and, you know, paired with the actual performance it self, was just 457 00:37:57.440 --> 00:38:02.920 breathtaking in anyways. So start to slay and more specifically muster by certslay. 458 00:38:04.760 --> 00:38:07.360 I have wanted to see certus lay for years, but the big question was 459 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:12.440 where do I start? Most of their performances have rave reviews and I was 460 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:19.199 initially drawn to Oh at the Bolagio um, but because it's the Bellagio, 461 00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:27.079 naturally everything is highly overpriced. Tickets were going for about hundred fifty Um for 462 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:30.679 halfway decent seats. So I settled from must after getting more than more than 463 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:35.360 one suggestion that it was the best, not necessarily the best certain lay, 464 00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:38.280 but the best one to start off with. I'm sure of whether or not 465 00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:43.599 I would even like certus lay. I went with the muster and I am 466 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:49.239 halfway ashamed to admit that I was very hesitant to see muster, as it 467 00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:52.599 came off with such a weird and strange vibe, almost like a horror movie, 468 00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:58.440 which is a Jenner, a genre I'm not very fond of. After 469 00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:01.840 all, life is enough of a horror and sometimes that's all you need. 470 00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:07.119 I mean the few clips I could muster on Youtube and some of the promotional 471 00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:13.039 pictures look borderline terrifying. The giant fat adult baby with that creepy voice, 472 00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:19.679 um running around, Um, the human snail, that sort of ring master 473 00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:22.679 looking guy who ends up trapping a small cage and being dragged off by God 474 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:28.719 knows what to God knows where. The half insane usher running around throughout the 475 00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:35.519 audience acting, Um, messing around with guests and spilling popcorn all over them. 476 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:40.199 I mean, this thing just looked like it was demented circus or something, 477 00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:45.159 but I am happy to report it didn't end up being creepy or scary 478 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:52.079 at all. It was actually pretty comedic, dramatic with the stunts and really 479 00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:55.840 entertaining. Um, as creepy as that forty year old fat baby initially was, 480 00:39:55.920 --> 00:40:00.039 he was absolutely hilarious, even picking out someone in the audience to be 481 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:06.880 running around. You know, basically that became a gag throughout the entire production. 482 00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:09.440 He would pop back up between scenes and and, you know, be 483 00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:13.639 doing something and then like where's mom, mother, she is, and uh, 484 00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:15.760 you know, sometimes you have a flashlight and uh, it was just 485 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:20.239 pretty cool. He would interact with the with the audience, throwing a ball 486 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:23.159 out, a big Red Ball, and here, you know, four to 487 00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:28.360 five year old guy acting like a little baby. It was almost perfect. 488 00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:32.480 Um, this isn't your traditional Broadway stage show. There really isn't a story 489 00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:37.639 to at least a mustere at all. It's different scenes with different moments you 490 00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:45.519 are experiencing. Best Way I can describe this uh, I think it's basically 491 00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:52.320 like a circus, but much more imaginative and with much better music. The 492 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:55.840 music is perfectly choreographed, with a live band and singers to what you're witnessing. 493 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:59.960 Instead of a clown, you have a half demented usher in a four 494 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:02.360 defriber all fat baby and a diaper. Instead of circus animals, there are 495 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:07.400 some alien looking creatures that kind of, sort of half resemble a giraffe and 496 00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:12.920 kind of sort of half resemble a snail. But aren't the stunts of gymnastics 497 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:16.079 are what has really made curt to slay famous. It's hard to imagine, 498 00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:19.639 at least for me, that the human body, the human body, is 499 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:22.599 even capable of some of the stunts I was witnessing life. These performers, 500 00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:29.239 in my ever so humble opinion, should be in the Olympics, or probably 501 00:41:29.280 --> 00:41:31.519 some of them were in the Olympics doing gymnastics, and now they're here in 502 00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:36.800 Vegas living the good life, hopefully. Um. Honestly, folks, they 503 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:39.239 were that good. Some of the stunts like there's no, there's no way, 504 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:43.719 I don't care how much they practice, this is not gonna happen. 505 00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:46.880 And it did. Um, it was just yeah, it was. Wow, 506 00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:52.239 it was. It was definitely a very entertaining and definitely worth, basically 507 00:41:52.280 --> 00:41:57.159 worth a trip if you ever are in Vegas. Um, there's a large 508 00:41:57.159 --> 00:42:00.400 snack bar here that features plenty of snacks, just popcorn, water, minesota 509 00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:06.320 and of course this is Vegas. Alcohol. Um. and honestly that's about 510 00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:08.119 as much as I want to say about starts dislays. I wouldn't want to 511 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:13.480 ruin any surprises for you. I'm not sure if I would pay full price 512 00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:19.480 for tickets. Definitely not hundred fifty like Um for, you know, halfway 513 00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:22.440 decent seats that were at oh it Blagio. But if you can find a 514 00:42:22.480 --> 00:42:28.360 deal group on coupon code one of those ticket boots off the strip like that's 515 00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:35.079 located between Mgm Grand and Uh Planet Hollywood, Um, it's certainly worth your 516 00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:37.679 time and even paying full price. I think you would like it and it 517 00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:44.320 would be worth your money. So just a few thoughts here that I want 518 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:46.880 to share. Um, going back to the mob museum real quick, a 519 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:52.199 few thoughts. Good and bad, mostly bad. The it's good and bad, 520 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.760 mostly bad. The Mafia is an integral part of our American history, 521 00:42:55.760 --> 00:43:00.519 whether we like it or not. I think what makes the mobs so fascinating 522 00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:04.320 to people like me and you, both the historical aspect of it and the 523 00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:07.960 groups that exist today in the United States, is probably the secrecy behind them, 524 00:43:08.039 --> 00:43:13.159 as well as the conspiracies resulting in theorized connections to pivotal moments of new 525 00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:16.400 as history, such as the Kennedy assassination, for example. And yes, 526 00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:22.679 folks, you heard me right, the Mafia still exists today. You've probably 527 00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:24.920 been told they've been completely decimated. The FBI, you know, took them 528 00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:30.000 to the cleaners. They don't exist. Uh, that was that was a 529 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:34.400 bad time in American history. We've moved on. That's that stuff is in 530 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:38.719 Mexico now. No, that is simply not true. Even today there are 531 00:43:38.760 --> 00:43:44.920 still arrest being made and murders are being solved. The Mafia is just a 532 00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:49.599 much, much more selected and careful when planning their money making schemes in the 533 00:43:49.639 --> 00:43:54.119 background or even going as far as a hit. Even as recently asleven there 534 00:43:54.159 --> 00:44:00.199 were just department indictments, and even today barrels with human remains continue need to 535 00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:05.320 be found at a receding like meat Um, probably done in by Tony the 536 00:44:05.400 --> 00:44:10.440 ants pilotro today's Mafia operates much more in the shadows and generations past and already 537 00:44:10.519 --> 00:44:15.000 underground. Organization has gone gone much further underground since the honor that was the 538 00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:20.000 Elmerto was broken in the eighties. You'll still find the New York five families 539 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:23.599 operating deep in the shadows. Mafia has also located in other major cities like 540 00:44:23.679 --> 00:44:29.440 New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Pole New Jersey is not a city, but Um, 541 00:44:29.480 --> 00:44:32.639 the state of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The infamous Chicago is still technically 542 00:44:32.679 --> 00:44:37.079 they're operating, along with the Midwest family such as Detroit, Denver, Kansas 543 00:44:37.119 --> 00:44:42.159 City, St Louis, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Some have definitely gone defunct, 544 00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:45.880 but a lot of these operations are still there. Um Mafia groups operating the 545 00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:51.800 south to Florida, said Dallas, New Orleans, and even in the West 546 00:44:51.800 --> 00:44:57.559 Coast in Los Angeles. Um, probably on a much, much smaller scale 547 00:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.079 because we, as far as I know, we don't know who is the 548 00:45:00.119 --> 00:45:06.440 boss of the Los Angeles Crime Family, but they technically still they're still there. 549 00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:12.519 And Uh, another final note I want to stay here is Um. 550 00:45:12.559 --> 00:45:17.000 We've talked about the mafia on this podcast today, but I want to say 551 00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:21.920 we've really glamorous the Mafia in American culture, from television shows to movies, 552 00:45:21.960 --> 00:45:27.239 to museums and tours. But the sad reality, as folks, these people 553 00:45:27.320 --> 00:45:32.159 were ruthless, cold blooded killers that only cared about money and power. And 554 00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:36.440 if you stood in the way of either of those two things, whether you 555 00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:40.679 were a made man or just some helpless guy, you know, living his 556 00:45:40.800 --> 00:45:45.920 life, Um, they wouldn't have even thought twice. You would have been 557 00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:51.280 done, you would have been gone. Now I've often thought of how stressful 558 00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:53.280 in existence as a soldier in one of the Mafia families must have been like. 559 00:45:54.079 --> 00:45:58.800 Yeah, always looking over your shoulder, always wondering if they suspect you 560 00:45:58.920 --> 00:46:02.360 correctly or in correct you know, being a rat or taking a little bit 561 00:46:02.440 --> 00:46:07.440 from the scam Um. I mean there's there, especially at the mom museum. 562 00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:12.280 There's tells like this all over. Uh. There was poor William Action, 563 00:46:12.360 --> 00:46:16.440 Jacktion, action, being slang for juice man, who was basically a 564 00:46:16.519 --> 00:46:21.000 juice man is basically an enforcer and a collector, you know, for debts 565 00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:27.039 and everything else. Um, and this guy was brutally tortured in the most 566 00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:32.519 horrific ways imaginable over days until he finally succumbed to his injuries, tortured in 567 00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:37.119 such a way that I can't even repeat it on this podcast because I'm not 568 00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:40.519 sure if kids are listening. Tortured because he was approached by the FBI, 569 00:46:40.599 --> 00:46:45.559 who made him an offer to have him become an informant, and, being 570 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:49.440 the loyal mobster he was, he turned it down. Um, I could 571 00:46:49.480 --> 00:46:52.760 just imagine that conversation. You know, piss off, but the boss has 572 00:46:52.800 --> 00:46:57.800 heard that. Somewhere along the way he met with the FBI in some way 573 00:46:57.840 --> 00:47:05.360 and suspected him of being a rat and Um, and they tortured him and 574 00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:07.440 demanded that, hey, you better tell us you're in the formant. And 575 00:47:07.440 --> 00:47:12.239 he you know, he didn't budge. No, I'M NOT UM. You 576 00:47:12.280 --> 00:47:15.360 know, he was a loyal member of the Mafia and they killed him. 577 00:47:15.480 --> 00:47:19.599 Then there was an innocent amateur bystander, another example, by the name of 578 00:47:19.679 --> 00:47:22.960 Arnold Schuster, who he was just a clothing salesman, an amateur detective, 579 00:47:22.960 --> 00:47:27.519 who was Um in a minor way, involved in the capture of a bank 580 00:47:27.599 --> 00:47:30.800 robber named Willie, the actor Sutton Um. So he was being interviewed on 581 00:47:30.840 --> 00:47:36.599 TV after that fact. This was back in nine two or some sometime in 582 00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:40.000 the fifties, uh, the head of the Gambino crime family, Albert Anastasia, 583 00:47:40.840 --> 00:47:45.599 ordered Mr Shuster's murder when he saw him being interviewed on TV. He 584 00:47:45.679 --> 00:47:51.199 said, I cast ask weels hit that guy, uh, and they followed 585 00:47:51.199 --> 00:47:54.800 his orders and murdered him because he was an amateur detective. He wasn't, 586 00:47:55.280 --> 00:48:00.480 you know, impeding any of them, any of the mafia's businesses are. 587 00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:02.440 He didn't disrespect the you know, any of the Mafia members. They just 588 00:48:02.440 --> 00:48:07.599 just saw him on TV and he had that power, the power of life 589 00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:12.400 and death, over just the average American citizen, basically a dictator. That 590 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:16.239 is not what America is about, folks, and for you know, I'm 591 00:48:16.280 --> 00:48:21.719 glad that the Mafia is basically a former glory of itself, because nobody should 592 00:48:21.719 --> 00:48:25.440 have that kind of power in this country. Um. All that said, 593 00:48:27.239 --> 00:48:29.840 I do want to say one other thing. The Mafia at least had some 594 00:48:29.960 --> 00:48:31.840 class for the most part. Despite that, accept, you know, the 595 00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:37.239 exceptions I just mentioned. These, uh, these thugs and street gang whod 596 00:48:37.280 --> 00:48:40.599 ones we have running around now or just as liable to kill you, you 597 00:48:40.679 --> 00:48:44.199 know, for walking down the sidewalk, for your stupid watches. They are 598 00:48:44.280 --> 00:48:46.920 to shoot you and everyone else around you in a crowd just to get one 599 00:48:47.039 --> 00:48:52.559 rival game member. We've seen that happen in both cases. So for the 600 00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:53.639 most part, and I want to be clear, not always, but for 601 00:48:53.679 --> 00:48:57.760 the most part, when it was time to clip someone, at least the 602 00:48:57.800 --> 00:49:02.719 American mafia hit the right freaking I so any more fame members listening? Please 603 00:49:02.719 --> 00:49:07.000 don't black me, Um, and seriously, don't let me leave me alone. 604 00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:10.679 UH, there's lots of things I want to do here on earth still, 605 00:49:10.719 --> 00:49:15.000 and lots of podcast shows I want to share with everyone, Um, 606 00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:17.719 and you have my respect, at least in that aspect. Um. Well, 607 00:49:17.760 --> 00:49:22.280 quality even. How about that? Well, that's gonna do it for 608 00:49:22.280 --> 00:49:24.440 this week's episode of the one day and so cal podcast. Thanks for listening, 609 00:49:24.440 --> 00:49:29.119 folks. We'll see you next week. As I returned back to southern 610 00:49:29.119 --> 00:49:31.960 California, what am I doing this week? I'll give you a tiny hitt 611 00:49:32.840 --> 00:49:47.159 bicycles. Thanks for listening, folks. Please visit the website one day in 612 00:49:47.280 --> 00:49:52.639 so cal dot com and, if you enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing. 613 00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:55.280 Feel free to leave me tips and Info on how I can improve. Thanks 614 00:49:55.320 --> 00:50:02.199 again. Back the blue e