Beyond the Mafia: Italian Americans and the Development of Las Vegas [Repost]

Beginning with historical coverage of the migration of large numbers of Italian Americans to Las Vegas after World War II and the related growth of the city, this book moves on to the issue of organised crime, and debates whether the shady reputation of Italian Americans was quite deserved. When Beyond the Mafia first appeared in 1996, it was hailed as a significant contribution to the history of Las Vegas and of ethnic minorities in America. Author Alan Balboni traces the history of Italians in Las Vegas from the founding of the city in 1905, recording their activities in the fledgling settlement. As Las Vegas grew, Italian Americans participated in every aspect of the city’s society and economy, including construction, retail establishments, hotels, and—after the statewide legalization of gambling in 1931—the casino industry. Basing his research on well over a hundred interviews, as well as the records of Italian American organizations, public agencies, and other sources, Balboni has produced a sparkling, farsighted, and thoroughly documented account of the history of one of Las Vegas’s most progressive and productive ethnic minorities. This new paperback edition includes an afterword by the author that brings the story of Las Vegas’s Italian Americans up to the present.