{"product_id":"the-king-of-casinos-mark-hall-patton-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 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Robert Graysmith\u003c\/b\u003e, New 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 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Mark L. Walberg\u003c\/b\u003e, Host, 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 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Todd Newton\u003c\/b\u003e, Emmy-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 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Mark Hall-Patton\u003c\/b\u003e, Clark County Museum System Administrator, Pawn 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 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e -Richard B Taylor\u003c\/b\u003e, Author, 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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mark Hall-Patton, Andy Martello\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0615894593\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780615894591\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Just a Martello Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/04\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 5.98w x 0.64d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mark Hall-Patton","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43992254382335,"sku":"9780615894591","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b8924786-bed1-46b6-a281-fd811041cbbf.jpg?v=1683314915","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-king-of-casinos-mark-hall-patton-9780615894591","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}