By Dan Shea
Evolution Cover:
Photographer: Michael Balasko
Art Director: Gracie Wingert
Location: The Mob Museum, Las Vegas, www.themobmuseum.org (special thanks to Brenda Hengel).
Background: St. Valentine’s Day Massacre wall at The Mob Museum in Las Vegas.
The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the story of organized crime and law enforcement. True stories of Mob history are brought to life through interactive, high-tech exhibits and over 600 artifacts, the largest collection of Mob and law enforcement memorabilia under one roof.
Museum hours are Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more information, call (702) 229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themobmuseum and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.
The Museum has acquired some of the most iconic artifacts in Mob history including the barber chair Albert Anastasia was sitting in when murdered in New York City, and the brick wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago in 1929. The Museum opened on Valentine’s Day 2012, the 83rd anniversary of the Massacre where seven men affiliated with Bugs Moran’s gang were lined up along the wall, shot and killed by Al Capone’s South Side Italian gang.
Today’s Operator Josh Holzer: Today’s operator has a massive technical arsenal available to him for his close quarter battle and unusual needs. Gear from Operation: Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Sunglasses; WileyX. Hat; Voodoo Tactical. Machine Gun; POF USA P308-FA piston-driven select fire 7.62x51mm rifle with 16.5î barrel and Magpul P-Mag 20 round magazine. This system is augmented with a Trijicon TA11 optic with the 7.62 reticle and an ATN Mini-Thor Thermal weapon site. The Mini-Thor can be quickly installed or left off for straight daylight mission use. On the right side forward, the Vingtech VarioRay with visible laser aperture, non-visible IR laser aperture, non-visible IR illuminator and a powerful LED flashlight with strobe capabilities. The Trijicon RMR sight mounted on the VarioRay allows for a very, very fast target acquisition by simply rolling the rifle into the cheek and clearing the opto-electronics out of the way. All of this leads up to a whole lot of options for the modern operator to use at his choice.
Makeup: None. Our manly cover models refused even Chapstick.
Hair: None, but Josh combed his goatee.
Artifacts integrated throughout the Museum’s interactive exhibits provide an insider’s look into many of organized crime’s biggest names, including, Al Capone, Dion O’Bannion, George Moran, Charlie “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Ben Siegel, Sam Giancana, Joe Bonanno, Frank Rosenthal, Mickey Cohen, Tony Cornero, Whitey Bulger and John Gotti to name just a few. The Museum is located in what many consider the ultimate artifact, the former federal courthouse and United States Post Office. Completed in 1933 and listed on the Nevada and National Registers of Historic Places, it houses the courtroom where in 1950 one of 14 national Kefauver hearings was held to expose organized crime in America. Meticulously rehabilitated for The Mob Museum, the building is significant not only for its neo-classical architecture reminiscent of the period in which it was built, but also for the historic events that unfolded inside of it.
In addition, items and artifacts relating to law enforcement’s role in helping to eradicate and control the Mob, such as weapons, wiretapping tools and tactics and crime scene photos, are also shown.
The Museum has accumulated numerous accolades since opening in 2012, including being named one of “10 World Landmarks You Haven’t Seen – Yet” by NBC News, “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine, “Las Vegas’ Best New Attractions for 2012” by Travel + Leisure magazine, “9 Reasons to Visit Las Vegas” by CNNgo, a finalist for the “Best Wider World Project Award,” by the British Guild of Travel Writers and “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall
The Mob Museum has acquired some of the most iconic artifacts in Mob history including the brick wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929 in Chicago. Seven men affiliated with Bugs Moran’s gang were lined up against the wall and shot to death by Al Capone’s gang.
In 1967, the wall was torn down, and a Vancouver businessman bought the bricks which were still full of bullet holes from the massacre. Over the next 42 years, the bricks were featured in a traveling exhibit, housed in a short-lived crime museum and displayed in a nightclub restroom. They finally found a permanent home at The Mob Museum.
From their first sale in 1967 the bricks were lettered and numbered, allowing The Mob Museum to assemble and display the wall in a manner very close to the original. At some point, some of the bullet holes in the bricks were enhanced by red paint. (No, it’s not blood!)
Repeal Day celebration at The Mob Museum
Party Like It’s 1933
Party like it’s 1933 at the 3rd Annual Repeal Day Celebration from 6 p.m. to midnight as The Mob Museum marks the anniversary of the end of Prohibition (December 5, 1933).
Highlight of the evening will be the Boss of the Bars Competition. Guests also will be able to enjoy signature drinks, VIP Party, casino table games, Costume Contest, cabaret dancers and jazz swing band.
Toast Repeal Day with former Mayor Oscar Goodman 7 p.m. on the steps of The Mob Museum
$60 VIP Party 6-midnight
The Mob Museum’s Speakeasy Party will be a soiree for classy dames and stand-up fellas. Speakeasy tickets grant you entry to the VIP Party beginning at 6 p.m. Activities include 1920s Dance Lessons, Special Music from the age of crooners, a Commemorative Repeal Day Flask and two free drink tickets. VIP guests also will enjoy all the events of the Repeal Day celebration including the Boss of the Bars Competition, signature drinks, cigars, casino table games, Costume Contest, cabaret dancers and a jazz swing band.
$40 Repeal Day Celebration 7-midnight
Admission includes Museum access, Boss of the Bars Competition, signature drinks, cigars, casino table games, Costume Contest, cabaret dancers and a jazz swing band. Roaring 20s costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded.
SAR realizes that one of the optics on the Operator’s machine gun needs to be raised. We apologize, the part we needed did not arrive in time for our photo shoot and we were out of duct tape.
| This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V19N1 (January 2015) and was posted online on November 21, 2014 |
