Dick Wolf preps American Babylon
Dick Wolf (Law & Order) is prepping a new series, American Babylon, a period drama chronicling the story of the creation of Las Vegas. The series is inspired by the book, The Money and the Power: The Making of Las Vegas and Its Hold on America by Sally Denton & Roger Morris. Mixing fictional characters and historical figures, the series explores the dreams, the power, corruption, and redemption of the “Miracle in the Desert”.
“I have always been fascinated by Las Vegas, a city that has the most colorful history of any in our country,” said Dick Wolf.
Clint Eastwood… Hi Sandra. Neal.
“My parents and I were at the Flamingo Hotel in December 1948. Before the Flamingo, Bugsy’s revolutionary project, the only place to stay in Las Vegas was the El Rancho, where cars stopped for food and “air coolers” – devices that fit over the opened right front car windows, were filled with water, and the wind blew through them – prior to crossing the two lane desert highway to California. We were on our way to New Orleans and my dad had business in Las Vegas. My mother and I were at the craps table, when an unsavory character took our winnings and left without saying a word. My mother nudged me not to do anything.”
–Richard C. Block, former president, Kaiser Broadcasting
(Note: The Flamingo Hotel opened on December 26, 1946. The weather was bad, guests stayed away, the grand opening was a flop, and the hotel closed down two weeks later. It re-opened March 1, 1947, with better results. In December 1947, Bill McGee and a couple of his cowboy friends flew from Reno to Las Vegas for 24 hours of non-stop gambling and drinking at the Flamingo. –Sandra McGee)
One blog follower likes Gary Cooper for the leading role. Good choice…