John sent me an e-mail asking for the story behind the El Rancho Vegas fire, but I thought someone else might be interested, so I'm posting it instead.

In 1960, Beldon Katleman was the owner of El Rancho Vegas. A Chicago mobster by the name of Marshall Caifano (known publicly in Las Vegas as John Marshall) had been listed in Nevada's Black Book: not permitted to play in, or be hosted at, a licensed Nevada gaming establishment.

Caifano showed up at El Rancho Vegas in 1960, and Katleman, not wanting to lose his license, asked him to leave. Caifano didn't take kindly to the idea, and Katleman eventually had to have him ejected.

A week later, El Rancho Vegas mysteriously burned to the ground in the middle of the night. The origin of the fire was never determined by the Las Vegas fire department, but the suggestion's been made that Caifano had it torched in retaliation for the treatment he received.

What was your other question, John?

-=Michael the Chipper=-