{"product_id":"9780615894591","title":"The King of Casinos: Willie Martello and The El Rey Club","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER OF FOURTEEN AWARDS including BOOK OF THE YEAR!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe unreal but TRUE story of the unknown casino that changed Las Vegas forever! WARNING! Contains Nudity, Prostitution, Vintage Vegas, Celebrities, and (some) Mobsters!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter a horrific blaze destroyed \u003cb\u003eWillie Martello's El Rey Club\u003c\/b\u003e in 1962, fifty years would pass before anyone knew of how that casino and one-time brothel influenced LAS VEGAS casinos, upset the mob, and inadvertently launched the career of \u003cb\u003eFrancis Ford Coppola\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWere it not for the chance discovery of a single photo in a Las Vegas museum, the El Rey Club would only be known as the seedy brothel where \u003cb\u003eSenator Harry Reid\u003c\/b\u003e learned to swim. Martello's accomplishments should place him among magnates like Howard Hughes or Steve Wynn, yet very few know his name. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing over 140 rare or unseen photos, these vibrant stories are now brought to light!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e-------------------------------------------------------------------\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Who else could tell the story of Willie Martello? The rare photos alone are worth the price of admission. My only regret is that I didn't write this book.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Robert Graysmith\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cbr\u003eNew York Times Bestselling Author of Zodiac, Auto-Focus, and Black Fire\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Quick, funny, and extremely intelligent!\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Mark L. Walberg\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cbr\u003eHost, Antiques Roadshow (PBS)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A literal time machine...a read that not only unleashes the imagination, but authenticates the splendor of Las Vegas' golden years.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Todd Newton\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cbr\u003eEmmy-winning game show host, author, and Las Vegas performer\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Andy Martello has written a fascinating biography of Willie Martello. It is a long-awaited addition to my Nevada history shelf.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Mark Hall-Patton\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cbr\u003eClark County Museum System Administrator,\u003cbr\u003ePawn Stars, American Restoration (The History Channel)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"LONG LIVE WILLIE MARTELLO!\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Richard B Taylor\u003c\/b\u003e,\u003cbr\u003eAuthor, historian, Las Vegas casino owner\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e-------------------------------------------------------------------\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBOOK OF THE YEAR!, Casino Chip \u0026amp; Gaming Token Collectors Club, Inc\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER!\u003c\/b\u003e 2014 International Book, 2014 USA Best Book Awards, Florida Book Festival, Great Southwest Book Festival\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER! Silver Medals,\u003c\/b\u003e 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, 2014 American Advertising Awards for book design (The ADDYs)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFINALIST!\u003c\/b\u003e Best New Non-Fiction, USA Best Book Awards, 2014 Red City Review Book Awards\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRUNNER-UP!\u003c\/b\u003e 2014 Hollywood and Beach Book Festivals \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHONORABLE MENTION!,\u003c\/b\u003e Great Midwest and Southern California Book Festivals\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Just A Martello Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47027304333552,"sku":"9780615894591","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780615894591_p0.jpg?v=1764101248","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780615894591","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}