The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces a compelling August program commemorating the 60th anniversary of Caesars Palace. “Not Built in a Day: The Epic Story of Caesars Palace” will feature a distinctive panel of historians and gaming executives discussing one of the city’s most revered resorts. Additionally, locals can look forward to exclusive offers this summer, including buy one, get one admission on select weekdays now through the end of August, and a special partnership with the Beverly Theater as part of the theater’s annual Mob Month.
Details on all programming and specials follow:
Not Built in a Day: The Epic Story of Caesars Palace
Date: Thursday, Aug. 6
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. followed by a book signing.
Location: Inside the historic courtroom on the second floor.
Cost: Free for Museum Members or with Museum admission. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
Description: Caesars Palace was a product of the creative mind of Jay Sarno and the financial backing of the Mob-controlled Teamsters Union pension fund. The Roman Empire-themed resort was an immediate sensation that changed the trajectory of Las Vegas. In this panel discussion marking the resort’s 60th anniversary, Jay Sarno, Jr., eldest son of the Caesars founder, will recall the epic 1966 opening and his father’s eccentricities as he built one of the city’s most revered resorts. Bill Weinberger, Jr., longtime Caesars executive, will remember the fascinating celebrities, athletes and underworld characters who filtered through the iconic Strip property. Las Vegas historian David Schwartz will put it all in context, explaining how Caesars Palace helped transform Las Vegas into an international destination.
Speakers:
Jay Sarno Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Las Vegas in 1965 when his family relocated because his father was building his most successful hotel, Caesars Palace. Starting at 13, Sarno, Jr. worked at Circus Circus repairing and running bumper cars and assisting in the executive office during the construction of the first 400-room hotel tower. Sarno, Jr. moved to San Diego in 1979 to become one of the original employees and, ultimately, president of what would evolve into Cal Omega, a manufacturer of casino gaming equipment. Once the company became part of a major route operator in Nevada, Sarno, Jr. obtained his Nevada Gaming License at age 25. In 1987 he founded Crescent Design, Inc. to offer consulting design services for the casino gaming machinery. That firm evolved to become the world leader in high-pressure testing of medical devices. In 2020, after 33 years of operation, Crescent Design was sold to Machine Solutions. Sarno, Jr. has worked there ever since, overseeing the electrical aspects of new product development.
Cleveland, Ohio, native and 1963 Cornell Hotel School graduate Bill Weinberger, Jr. worked in the investment banking business until his move to Los Angeles in 1974, when he accepted a position with Caesars World, Inc., parent company of Caesars Palace. He transferred to Caesars Palace in 1977 and became vice president of casino marketing. Among his duties was bringing Formula 1 racing to Las Vegas as the president of the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982.
David G. Schwartz, Ph.D., is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner, Professor and Gaming Historian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. From 2001 to 2018, he was the director of the Center for Gaming Research within University Libraries, where he maintained the gaming collections. Schwartz has written and edited or co-edited 12 books in his area of specialty, gaming history, including “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas,” on developer and hotelier Jay Sarno.
Buy One, Get One Free General Admission for Nevada Residents
Dates: Mondays through Wednesdays, now through Monday, Aug. 31
Times: The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Buy one, get one free general admission for Nevada residents with a valid I.D. every Monday through Wednesday. Valid onsite and online. To purchase tickets, click here.
Description: This summer, The Mob Museum invites locals to escape the heat and enjoy buy one, get one free general admission every Monday through Wednesday, now through Monday, Aug. 31. As a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines—the award-winning Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines.
“The Big Boss” Ticket Package
Dates: Available for a limited time now through Monday, Aug. 31.
Times: The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; The Underground speakeasy is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.
Cost: $95. For complete details and to purchase “The Big Boss” ticket package, click here. Guests must be 21+ to purchase. Additional admission tickets and add-on experiences are available à la carte.
Description: As a limited summer offering, enjoy The Mob Museum like a true insider, no oath required. “The Big Boss” Package includes:
Two general admission tickets
Two drinks (cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine or soft drinks) in The Underground speakeasy
Free parking for up to four hours
Two souvenir photos
As Nevada’s most-visited Museum, featuring four floors of compelling history and immersive entertainment, The Mob Museum is one of the best things to do in Las Vegas, while The Underground speakeasy and distillery is routinely celebrated on “best speakeasies in Las Vegas” lists. The offer combines these iconic Las Vegas experiences into one affordable package.
The Untapped Story: A Beer Tasting Experience Expands Availability
Dates: Available for a limited time, through Monday, Aug. 31
Time: Monday-Thursday daily at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Fridays at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Cost: $69; $49 for Museum Members. Must be 21+ with valid ID to participate. To purchase tickets, click here.
Description: As Downtown Las Vegas’ most engaging beer tasting experience, this guided craft beer tour blends history, storytelling and tastings into one unforgettable activity. Discover how Prohibition fueled the early rise of organized crime and how beer helped shape the Mob’s influence in America, all while enjoying curated craft beer throughout the Museum. This immersive tour offers a refreshing new way to explore The Mob Museum. Skip the traditional sit-down tasting and journey through the exhibits with an educator, sipping excellent craft beer while uncovering the connections between brewing, the Mob, Las Vegas and American history. Perfect for beer enthusiasts, history buffs and anyone seeking unique things to do in Las Vegas. This limited-time experience includes a 60-minute guided Museum tour, two 6-ounce beer tastings and one 12-ounce beer tasting, plus time in The Mob Museum’s distillery. Participating guests will receive a commemorative souvenir pint glass.
Mob Month at The Beverly Theater in Partnership with The Mob Museum
Description: Joining efforts for the independent theater’s annual showing of Mob films, The Mob Museum’s Vice President of Research, Collections and Programs Geoff Schumacher will introduce Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” on Aug. 26. Following the screening, he will help distinguish fact from fiction about the film while answering audience questions. Throughout August, Museum guests and Mob movie-goers can enjoy a reciprocal 20% off offer by showing either their Beverly Theater Mob Month ticket at the Museum’s box office or by showing their Museum wristband or membership card at The Beverly Theater box office. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Offer valid on Mob Month movies.
Goodfellas Screening Date: Aug. 26 at 7 p.m.
Promotional Dates: Aug. 1 – 31; available at venue box offices only.
“Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen”
Date: Open daily
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: Inside the Oscar B. Goodman Room on the third floor.
Cost: Included with Museum admission. To purchase tickets, click here.
Description: The Mob Museum’s latest temporary exhibit, “Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen,” features movie posters from 11 films shot in Las Vegas during the city’s “Golden Age.” These films, ranging from 1941 to 1969, include “Ocean’s 11” and “Viva Las Vegas.” Lobby cards and a montage video also show the evolution of Las Vegas films and the city itself from the 1940s to the present. The movie posters have been generously loaned from the collection of Las Vegas businessman Dan Tuntland.
ABOUT THE MOB MUSEUM
The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provides a world-class journey through true stories—from the birth of the Mob to today’s headlines. Housed in the actual 1933 federal courthouse where mob hearings shook the nation, The Mob Museum is one of the highest-rated attractions and best things to do in Las Vegas, and unlike anything else in the city. With four immersive floors and hundreds of artifacts, The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines. Guests can test their instincts in a live simulation and make the split-second decisions law enforcement face every day or step inside the Crime Lab and learn how forensic scientists, fingerprint analysts, and DNA profilers build a case from evidence. The Museum is also home to The Underground, a Prohibition history exhibition, featuring a speakeasy and distillery, that regularly appears on “best speakeasy in Las Vegas lists.” Seeing more than 400,000 visitors annually, and more than 4 Million since 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of Tripadvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums;” one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Museums in the U.S.;” one of Las Vegas Weekly’s “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History” and “Best Museum;” Vegas Magazine’s “Best Historical Museum;” one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas;” USA Today’s “Best Museum in Nevada,” 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for “Best Las Vegas Attraction,” “Top Five Best History Museums in the United States” and one of its “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits;” named “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times and one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by FOX News. The Museum is a two-time winner of the Mayor’s Urban Design Award for Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum is open daily; visit the website for admission rates and operating hours. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit themobmuseum.org.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/themobmuseum
www.Twitter.com/themobmuseum
www.Instagram.com/themobmuseum
ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND
The Underground is an immersive Prohibition history exhibition featuring a speakeasy, distillery and private VIP room in the basement of The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. Artifacts from the 1920s and 1930s tell the intriguing story of the Prohibition era, which not only saw a proliferation of bootlegged booze and the meteoric growth of organized crime outfits but also had a profound, lasting impact on society, specifically making way for modern cocktail culture. A seasonal craft cocktail menu gives guests the opportunity to try contemporary takes on classic Prohibition-era cocktails. The menu and atmosphere have landed the speakeasy on several “best cocktail bars in Las Vegas,” “best speakeasies in Las Vegas,” “best date night,” and “best hidden bars in Las Vegas” lists. Distillery tastings allow participants to learn about Prohibition and its impact on a variety of spirits and drinking habits while tasting a few of the Museum’s award-winning moonshines. The distilling program has received accolades, including Best Moonshine at the 2020 International Whiskey Competition, Best in Class and gold and silver medals at the 2024 American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition and gold and silver medals at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 California Craft Spirits Competition. The Underground hosts regular free live music Fridays through Sundays, showcasing some of Las Vegas most talented jazz performers. Complimentary entrance to The Underground is granted at the secret side door to visitors who know the password, which is published daily on Instagram Stories @MobMuseum_Underground.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
www.Facebook.com/TheUndergroundAtTheMobMuseum
www.Instagram.com/mobmuseum_underground
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