David Hill (20)

Not sure why I enjoyed this quirky little book so much, but I did!

Was it the opportunity to travel back through time to revel in the nostalgic mid-century dazzle of cocktail dresses and fedora hats, Friday dances and varsity football, hard-living Hollywood stars, boxing matches, resorts, race meets, fur coats, and spectacular MCM architecture?

Or was it the vicarious thrill of peeking into the internal operations of mid-century mobsters, sans most of the horror? (You can think of Hot show more Springs as a sort of “Chicago Light”: all the mobsters, none of the Tommy-gun massacres.)

Maybe it's the way better-known historical events and milestones lace their way into the narrative – the role of Jimmy Hoffa’s Teamsters in laundering mob money, the birth of the amphetamine crisis, the Cuban revolution, Robert Kennedy’s anti-mob vignette, Hollywood scandals, the Little Rock Nine, Bill Clinton, and more?

Am I the only one who had no idea how close Hot Springs, Arkansas came to usurping Las Vegas's crown as America’s gambling destination?

The author cleverly parallels the story of the rise and fall of Hot Springs with the rise and fall of his grandmother Hazel, providing an opportunity for him to tell his tale not just from the point of view of the “big shots” whose names we recognize, but also from the point of view of the innocent citizens of Hot Springs whose lives were irrevocably intwined in the towns’ booms and busts. By the time the Baptists finally manage to shut down gambling in Hot Springs in the 1960, some Hot Springs residents will have emerged as winners, some will have been fortunate enough to emerge unscathed, but others – like Hazel – will have lost themselves in the whorl of alcoholism, drug addiction, petty cons, and lost dreams.

Does it matter what kept me turning the pages? All I can say is that I tore through this in a weekend and have already recommended it to several friends. Informative and fun! show less

Fascinating story of a town in Arkansas that preceded Las Vegas' heyday. This is a chronicle of the families and personalities involved in the thriving gambling venue built up around the hot springs in Arkansas. The politics and corruption around gambling in a state where it was ostensibly illegal, brings in not only corrupt law enforcement and judges, but also the mafia.

Along the way we learn of connections with Vegas and Cuba as well as references to the Kennedy and Clinton families. This show more is a tale full of drugs and alcohol, broken families and politicians focused on how they can take over the town and avoid the long arm of the state and federal government. Peyton Place meets the Godfather with some Valley of the Dolls thrown in along the way – and it’s all true. show less

Interesting look at a city few even know about today. As a child, I remember my parents going to Hot Springs; I made one trip with them and can remember a long row of big white buildings -- bathhouse row. But even without the connection, anyone interested in gambling, the Mob, Arkansas, or just want a good historical read, this is the book.

The author's grandmother, Hazel Hill, plays a large part in the book. Hazel, abandoned by her father at the age of sixteen, lives a hard life as a single show more mother, an alcoholic, a part time worker in the casinos. Another main character is Owney Madden, a New York mobster who lands in Hot Springs after a crime-filled life in New York. Dane Harris, is a local boy, the son of a bootlegger, who becomes Madden's protege. Harris rises from poverty to become a slick lawyer, a good golfer, and eventually the boss gambler of Hot Springs. Harris builds the spectacular casino that brought in top notch entertainment from the coasts such as BB King, Mickey Rooney, etc. The lives of all three of these individuals are intertwined which makes for an interesting personal story as well as a detailed look at a very unique part of the country. show less

Hot Springs, Arkansas! What a great detailed look at the history from the 1930's-1970's...Lots of gambling, mafia and the sad life of the author's grandmother.. Very interesting, great book.