Vegas Babylon: The True Tales of Glitter, Glamour, and Greed

By Jeff Burbank

Book Overview

What happens in Vegas doesn't necessarily stay in Vegas and the proof is in this lively and entertaining compilation of stories chronicling decades of decadence, celebrity shenanigans, and political corruption, as well as the glitz and glamour of the casinos that pass for everyday life in Las Vegas.
Underneath the city's present success lies many infamous tales of excess and debauchery. Using new information from recently released FBI documents, Jeff Burbank brings to life the Vegas mob in its heyday, recounting never-before-heard tales of the mobsters who made Vegas what it is today.
But mobsters aren't the only ones with skeletons in Las Vegas' closet. Over the years, Hollywood stars have had their share of the limelight. Burbank has uncovered the many fateful, and often amusing, incidents that have befallen the glamorous and here he recalls the details of the darkest moments in the lives of the famous and foolish: Marilyn Monroe's quickie divorce; boxer Sonny Liston's secret heroin deal just before his death; The Doors singer Jim Morrison's arrest for fighting on the Strip; and the hookers who trick-rolled comedian Tommy Smothers in his hotel room.
With fast-paced and entertaining prose, Burbank captures the true stories from Las Vegas' seedy underbelly that have led to America's 100-year fascination with the aptly named Sin City.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590771362
• ISBN13: 9781590771365
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: M. Evans and Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

super

I saw this book in a Las Vegas store. Came home and saved $10 by buying on line. Thank you. A great book and informative too.

good book very detailed

This book is very informative and really tells a lot about the total history of Vegas. Different parts are more interesting than others based upon interests. Overall a good book.

Entertaining, interesting but with errors

I found the book very intersting and a quick read since it was split into many short chapters of all sorts of interesting characters and events. Not sure who, if anyone, proof read it though. There are numerous grammatical errors and several incidents where it seems little mistakes were overlooked. For instance it said Tony Spilotro started his fifteen year Vegas career in 1986 (thats when it ended) and said Wynn Las Vegas was the most expensive casino ever built at the time (2.7 million? Maybe billion!?) Overlooking the minor details it is a good book with lots of interesting stories for the novice Vegas reader. Recommend it. Good one for the flight to Vegas.

Las Vegas History

Love this book! It gives descriptions of the hotels and who created them. Fun to read if you love Las Vegas.