Date Posted: January 6, 2025, 07:55h.

Last Updated: January 5, 2025, 11:19h.

In the almost three years since the inception of this regular Casino.org series, we have looked into numerous extraordinary tales that were widely believed to be myths.

Many times, we were correct. This is how we dispelled prevalent Las Vegas myths such as bodies buried in Hoover Dam, Howard Hughes purchasing a casino to dim its sign, and the notion of casinos pumping extra oxygen to keep gamblers awake. (Despite our efforts, many people still believe these myths.)

However, some of these stories turned out to be surprisingly true.

If you missed our initial segment, be sure to check out “Vegas Near Myths Pt. 1.”

Steve Wynn’s Gangland Origins

In 1971, a 29-year-old Steve Wynn worked as a slot supervisor at the Frontier. However, prominent banker E. Parry Thomas took notice of him. He saw potential.

Thomas facilitated Steve Wynn’s acquisition of a small strip of land adjacent to Caesars Palace. This strip was Howard Hughes’ last piece of property on the Strip, leased for parking space by the casino resort.

Despite the small size of the plot (measuring 100 feet by 1,500 feet), Wynn took a gamble with a purchase price of $1.2 million. This gamble paid off due to a bold bluff.

Wynn claimed to be planning a revolutionary motel and casino on his unique parcel, hiring Betty Willis, the designer of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, to create a rendering. Wynn unveiled his grand plans at a press conference.

In her book “Eyes in the Sky” from 2019, author Karen Leslie described Wynn’s vision as a gangster-themed casino with old Packards, cartoon characters in fedoras carrying machine guns, reminiscent of Chicago.

Despite the outlandish concept, Wynn presented it seriously, unveiling his casino named “Gangland!”

During the early 1970s, the mafia was a significant presence in Vegas and controlled several casinos. Caesars Palace CEO Bill Weinberger was already uneasy about Wynn’s purchase, as he believed Hughes had given Caesars first refusal on the site. Now, he had more reason to be upset.

Despite the belief that Wynn was bluffing and the risk involved, Weinberger doubled Wynn’s money by agreeing to his asking price of $2.25 million on October 27, 1972.

With his profits, Wynn gained a controlling stake in the struggling Golden Nugget Las Vegas, marking the beginning of his Las Vegas empire.

FedEx’s Debt to Vegas Blackjack

In April 1971, FedEx commenced operations with $4 million inherited by founder Fred Smith. His concept was to establish an efficient air and ground delivery system that would consolidate package distribution from across the nation.

However, soaring fuel costs caught the startup, then named Federal Express, off guard. By 1974, the company was facing monthly losses of $1 million, nearing bankruptcy.

After being rejected for funds by the General Dynamics board in Chicago, Smith impulsively flew to Las Vegas while waiting for his flight back to Memphis.

There, at an undisclosed casino, Smith turned the company’s remaining $5,000 into $27,000 at a blackjack table, saving the company.

Initially seeming like a myth, the $27,000 was crucial in paying FedEx’s $24,000 overdue fuel bill, allowing the company to survive long enough for Smith to secure an additional $11 million from original investors.

The Sinatra Jokes That Nearly Got Jackie Mason Whacked

In November 1966, comedian Jackie Mason performed at the Aladdin’s supper club with opening act Joe E. Lewis, a friend of Frank Sinatra’s. Mason’s routine included jokes about the age gap between Frank Sinatra, aged 50, and his 21-year-old wife, Mia Farrow.

After hearing about the jokes, likely from Lewis, Sinatra attended the show with associates and began heckling Mason, calling him names. Amid the confrontation, the crooner and his group left the performance.

Several thugs sent by Sinatra confronted Mason in his dressing room, warning him to stop making jokes about Sinatra.

Ignoring the warning, Mason received an anonymous call advising him to change his routines if he valued his life.

Following more nights of Sinatra-related material, three shots were fired through Mason’s suite door at the Aladdin. Fortunately, he was in the bathroom at the time, with the bullets lodging in his mattress.

Las Vegas police reportedly declined to investigate when Mason reported the incident, leaving the comedian puzzled about the assailants’ identity.

On February 13, 1967, a thug with brass knuckles assaulted Mason outside his Miami apartment, breaking his nose and cheekbone.

Pall in the Family

In a tragic twist, the first and last casualties during the Hoover Dam construction were a father and his son.

Prior to the dam’s construction, John Gregory Tierney, a surveyor, drowned in 1921 while scouting the Colorado River for a construction site.

Fourteen years later, Tierney’s son, Patrick, met his demise falling from the newly completed dam structure, becoming the final fatality during its construction.

Making the situation even more eerie, both father and son died on the same date, December 20. Their names are engraved on a plaque near the dam.

Look out for “Vegas Myths Busted” every Monday on Casino.org. Click here to read previously debunked Vegas myths. Have a suggestion for a myth that needs debunking? Email [email protected].