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Summary

Jay Sarno built two path-breaking Las Vegas casinos, Caesars Palace (1966) and Circus Circus (1968), and planned but did not build a third, the Grandissimo, which would have started the mega-resort era a decade before Steve Wynn built The Mirage. As mobsters and accountants battled for the soul of the last American frontier town, Las Vegas had endless possibilities - if you didn't mind high stakes and stiff odds. Sarno invented the modern Las Vegas casino, but he was part of a dying breed - a back-pocket entrepreneur who'd parlayed a jones for action and a few Teamster loans into a life as a Vegas casino owner.

For all of his accomplishments, his empire didn't last. Sarno sold out of Caesars Palace shortly after it opened - partially to get away from the bookies and gangsters who'd taken over the casino - and he was forced to relinquish control of Circus Circus when the federal government indicted him on charges of offering the largest bribe in IRS history - a bribe he freely admitted paying, on the advice of his attorney, Oscar Goodman. Though he ultimately walked out of court a free man, he never got Circus back. And though he guessed the formula that would open up Las Vegas to millions in the 1990s with the design of the Grandissimo, but he wasn't able to secure the financing for the casino, and when he died in 1984, it remained only a frustrating dream.

Sarno's casinos - and his ideas about how to build casinos - created the template for Las Vegas today. Before him, Las Vegas meant dealers in string ties and bland, functional architecture. He taught the city how to dress up its hotels in fantasy, putting toga dresses on cocktail waitresses and making sure that even the stationery carried through with the theme. He saw Las Vegas as a place where ordinary people could leave their ordinary lives and have extraordinary adventures. And that remains the template for Las Vegas today.
©2013 David G. Schwartz (P)2014 David G. Schwartz

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  • Overall
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  • Andrew
  • 08-09-14

Great Listen - Thanks to Dr. Dave

Would you consider the audio edition of Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas to be better than the print version?

I find print version slightly superior, I read it prior to purchasing it on Audible However, it is great to see the nuances that I missed the first time through.

What other book might you compare Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas to and why?

Grandissimo was what Super Casino by Pete Earley could have been had Earley had the passion for Las Vegas that David Schwartz displays. After reading Super Casino I always wondered about this Jay Sarno guy, he seemed far more interesting that Bill Bennett and William Pennington. To finally get the whole story and find out the truth - not that Jay Sarno died after a night of satisfying a dozen prostitutes - allowed a much broader view of how ahead of his time Jay really was, and the fact that had Jay not been a "hotel man" Las Vegas would not be place it is today.

What about Eric Martin’s performance did you like?

I thought Eric Martin did a very good job, however some details and pauses made it seem a bit over the top.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There is so much information you can't really make it though in one sitting but is certainly a book I will listen to over and over.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait to see what Dr. David Schwartz does next!

10 of 13 people found this review helpful

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  • Wanzi
  • 04-03-15

Fun and informative

I enjoyed every second of this one. I would never have guessed on the origins of this city but this book puts it all neatly into place.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Ricardo
  • 03-03-15

interesting story and well to do

I was interested in learning about Sarno and the history he had with LV. I enjoyed the readers storytelling style and he made the book very enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • LLarsen
  • 01-02-15

Behind All the Glitz

A very interesting story that was largely new information to me about a man, who wasn't very nice, had few scruples and no redeeming characteristics, but did have creative vision. He reminded me of a bull dozer that would run down any one in his way. Well told and delivered without fan fare thereby letting the main character, Jay Sarno, speak for himself.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Ginger Wilde
  • 01-02-15

Never knew Vegas history

Very interesting book, I'll never look at Vegas the same way again. I have no idea how these guys ever juggled family life... Their infidelities would never fly with me:)!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 16-06-18

Building the world of Vegas

a great true story. Fun to listen to. Good narration. In a story that almost reads like fiction.

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  • Geoff Engerson
  • 04-05-18

captivating

Usually I can only listen to 30 to 60 minutes of an audio book at a time. This story kept me captivated and I binge listened. I'm looking forward to my next Vegas trip as I'll have a new protective on the strip.

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  • grygrm
  • 11-02-18

Excellent book about how it all began in Vegas

I loved this book! I've listened to it many times over and each time I discover something new about Jay Sarno, who I never knew existed, before this book. There's no doubt he was "way before his time." Also loved hearing about the old Vegas before the corporations came along and screwed it all up. The "old" Vegas had an "edge" that made it part of the action and experience. That was lost when the suits took it over. It's interesting that during Jay Sarno's rein, Vegas was also a much safer town. This in speak from experience. Everyone, knew their place and you stayed in your lane. Those that didn't ran the risk of finding themselves in a hole in the desert. That was all part of the Edge.

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  • Adrian
  • 11-10-16

Amazing.

This story was incredible. As a Las Vegas fan I knew about all of the usual suspects of early Vegas but didn't know much about Sarno, boy was I missing out. The only weakness in this is the narrator. He was ok but not great.

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  • Golf
  • 22-04-16

Interesting but no big idea about casino business

Interesting story with overview of people in this industry but no clear vision about how casino business run.