Las Vegas History Week Part 5: The Mob

The Q&A about Gary Loveman (QoD 4/10/08) got my curiosity up about the rest of the book, Winner Takes All. What did you think about the whole thing?

Gary Loveman, the CEO of Harrah's who just presided over the company's privatization, is considered a somewhat "maverick" kind of casino executive. Can you provide some background on Mr. Loveman and a insider's view on how he is perceived in the industry?

On a rerun of "CSI Las Vegas" the actors referred to a kidnapping of Steve Wynn's daughter. They said he paid off the kidnappers without going to the FBI. Did this really happen?

In your recent answer about Caesars and DI being bought by ITT in 1995, when and for how much did Steve Wynn pay for the DI?

On our first trip to Las Vegas in 1990 we visited a casino called Rodney's Place. Two years later when we returned, it was gone and we don't remember exactly where it was. Do you have any recollection of this place and its history? Any information would be appreciated!

I heard a rumor that Bob Dancer moved his VP classes from Silverton to the El Cortez along with some Bob Dancer-approved machines. Any truth to this?

I have heard that Atomic Liquors on East Fremont downtown has liquor license no 00001 and has been under the same ownership for 50 years, and that the movie Casino was filmed there, too. True?

A Las Vegas friend just told me that Siegfried and Roy were going to start performing again. Can you shed some light on this rumor?

Drug dealer Jimmy Chagra, who was said to have put a contract out on a federal judge in San Antonio, was eventually sent to prison after years of high rollin' in Vegas. I heard that he got out awhile back. What is his current status? Details, please.