As it turns out, Geri Rosenthal was involved in a love affair at some point during this period with Anthony Spilotro, the Chicago mobs street enforcer in Las Vegas. Frank Rosenthal remains one of the most riveting figures in the formative years of Las Vegas. He invoked the Fifth Amendment 37 times and was never charged. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Try again later. [6][incomplete short citation], A big promoter of sports gambling, Rosenthal secretly ran the Stardust, Fremont, Marina, and Hacienda casinos when they were controlled by the Chicago Outfit. According to Minelli, Rosenthal was the original owner. Meanwhile, Frank Rosenthals whole world was falling apart as authorities continued to interrogate him about his connections with Spilotro and his involvement in all manner of illegal activities that had taken place inside his casinos. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. (Las Vegas Review-Journal), The metal front doors to keep the property secure during a tour of Lefty Rosenthal's former home on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Las Vegas. Frank Lawrence Rosenthal (June 12, 1929 October 13, 2008), also known as "Lefty" Rosenthal, was an American professional sports bettor, former Las Vegas casino executive, and organized crime associate. At the time, Geri McGee was still dancing at the Tropicana, making about $20,000 a year but she was earning an additional $300,000 to $500,000 a year hustling chips and hanging around high rollers. 1983. Try again. But I wasnt fooled. It's priced. Most people who might have known probably are dead, he said. Investigators speculated his life was saved because the 1981 model of that car had a steel stabilizing plate beneath the drivers seat, which deflected the blast. And everyone who met her liked her in five minutes. (L.E. Miami, Florida Obituary MIAMI -- Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal--sports handicapper extraordinaire, Las Vegas gaming executive and the inspiration for the blockbuster movie "Casino"--died Monday. So we used a rubber mallet and he became a lefty.. I know it. Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal received notoriety for attempting to bribe a New York University basketball player in 1963, which was a crime that he pled guilty to committing, and his close connections with organized crime figures. Simpson. He told me Lefty wanted to talk to me to get my Okay to open a sports book in LA. Published: April 8th, 2020 - By Larry Henry, Contributing Writer. Bonus trivia: After Tony the Ant came to Las Vegas, the murder rate went up 70%.). Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? McGee already had a daughter, Robin L. Marmor, from a previous marriage with ex-husband Lenny Marmor. Learn more about managing a memorial . I was working for Levitt-Weinstein funeral home on October 13th, 2008 when we got the death call for Frankie Rosenthal at a penthouse in the Fontaine Bleu hotel in Miami. Lefty was such a good handicapper that he got the two mob bosses to put up $5,000. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. Moreover, of course, he learned about a crucial part of the sport: gambling. Lefty Rosenthal survived the car bomb attack, but he left Las Vegas soon afterward. Another suspect in the car bombing is former Milwaukee crime boss Frank Mad Bomber Balistrieri. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. In the film, the Rosenthals only have one daughter, Amy, and in real life, McGee had three children. A system error has occurred. Frank Lawrence Lefty Rosenthal was the first to bring sports betting into a U.S. casino, in 1976, at the Stardust. Goodman and Rosenthal lost, however, in the Nevada Supreme Court in 1991, and Rosenthal's ban was reinstated. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Feedback or questions? His notoriety, however, made Chicago a bit too hot for comfort, and so he asked his old friend Frank Rosenthal if he could stay with him in Vegas for a time. Some romantically claim he got the nickname when, in 1961, he appeared before a Senate hearing on organized crime and invoked the Fifth Amendment 37 times, keeping his left hand in the air while doing so. 1. As for the Rosenthals, they split up several years before the Spilotro brothers were murdered and, separately, faced bleak moments of their own before dying on different coasts. 5. Immortalized by actor Robert de Niro, who played the Rosenthal's character in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film Casino, he would later regret pleading guilty to this crime. Lem had contacts that supplied him with insider info re sporting events, which Lem paid for by placing a bet for the tipper. Rosenthals description of what happened that October night is detailed in the book and depicted in the movie, which Pileggi co-wrote with director Martin Scorsese. Geri hated it more than anything.. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Frank Rosenthal (32565520)? The two-story home features a courtyard entry, steel framing, soundproof insulation, bulletproof windows and doors, smoked mirrors believed to be from the Stardust, a floating staircase and a gold leaf ceiling in the dining room, the listing said. Project: Viva Lost Vegas Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Rosenthal was represented in the hearing by future Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. @MalcolmNance . Rosenthal also survived a car bombing outside a Tony Romas restaurant on Sahara Avenue, and he had plenty of drama at his country club house. Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, Frank Lefty Rosenthal smokes a cigarette after a hearing in 1988 before the Nevada Gaming Commission in Carson City. Once you are a Top Echelon informant, you are a target, Pileggi said, adding that mobsters from somewhere in the Midwest Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City probably were responsible for trying to kill Rosenthal with the car bomb. Based in Cicero, Illinois, under the guise of a home improvement company, Rosenthal and the Outfit bought "contracts" to fix sporting events. Rosenthal was right-handed, despite his nickname "Lefty.". Among the many houses now changing hands: the late mafia figure Frank Lefty Rosenthals former home. His daughter with wife Jean Hazlewood, Anne Heath Widmark, an artist and author, married baseball legend Sandy Koufax on January 1, 1969. [11] Balistrieri was well known for using explosives to solve his problems. Spilotro had a long rap sheet filled with violent crimes. Vital Vegas is your go-to source for news and opinions about all things Las Vegas, from award-winning blogger and Las Vegas insider Scott Roeben. up to $600,000, even after absorbing some losses. There was an error deleting this problem. Great posture. Just that week, the April 2, 1979, edition of Newsweek magazine had come out, featuring singer Donna Summer on the cover with the headline Disco Takes Over. On camera, Rosenthal holds up a copy of that issue of the magazine. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. During the proceedings, he invoked the Fifth Amendment a whopping 38 times, even when asked if he was left-handed hence his nickname, Lefty (some sources claim that the nickname simply comes from his being left-handed). He told Lefty about the story and that welching bookie. Frank Rosenthals involvement as an informant went back a long time, according to what Pileggi said over the telephone recently from his Manhattan apartment. The history of Las Vegas is filled with colorful characters. One time, Lem got a phone call very early in the morning, telling him that 3 starting basketball players were sitting out the game taking place that day. The flames were reflected on the interior windshield. Universal PicturesThe character Sam Ace Rothstein from the 1995 film Casino was based on Frank Rosenthal. The New York Times called his column subliterate.. Try again later. [4][incomplete short citation] At this time Rosenthal was issued with a subpoena to appear before U.S. I ditched them at first and then I told them who I was and that I had my Departments permission to make the meeting. The co-host was professional dancer and Las Vegas resident Pam Payton. Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jane Ann Morrison later confirmed through her law enforcement sources what some mobsters sensed, that Rosenthal had been a Top Echelon federal informant. Universal Pictures/Getty ImagesTony Spilotro also inspired a character in Casino played by Joe Pesci. While the Stardust was thriving, Frank Rosenthal was having trouble with the authorities. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. After all, how many people could have their life story turned into a hit movie with few, if any, embellishments needed? The 10,000-square-foot Jubilation was near the Las Vegas Strip at 75 E. Harmon Ave. across from what now is Planet Hollywood. I was in the last year or two of my career with the Sherriff's Dept as a Deputy. The hearing was headed by Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman (future U.S. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 4. Mexican cartels deliver care packages to citizens amid pandemic. Owned % of numerous casinos to include 51% of Thunderbird..My family lived there and would frequent there residence in Rancho ?? She was the most beautiful girl I ever saw, Rosenthal recalled. Not long after, McGee quit her job at the Tropicana, and the couple welcomed their son Steven into the world. Courtesy of, Tony Spilotro, who worked side by side with Rosenthal for years as associates of the Chicago Outfit, has long been suspected of orchestrating the car bombing but evidence linking him to it is lacking. Senator Harry Reid, and hosted a television show broadcast from the Stardust featuring celebrity guests such as Frank Sinatra. This was an evil man. And I dont think she ever forgave Frank for making her go through the second pregnancy.. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The football boss sold the unit to David Goggins, an author, long-distance runner and former Navy SEAL. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. McGee already had a daughter, Robin L. Marmor, from a previous marriage with ex-husband Lenny Marmor. Rosenthal was an associate of mobster Tony Spilotro (the inspiration for Casino enforcer Nicky Santoro, played by Joe Pesci), who was eventually beaten to death and found buried with his brother in an Indiana cornfield. After his death, it was revealed Rosenthal had been, talk about multi-tasking, an FBI informant. One of the most intriguing was Frank Lefty Rosenthal, a former casino executive and organized crime associate. GREAT NEWS! Everybody loved Geri because she spread money around, said a former valet worker named Ray Vargas. Lefty filed for divorce three days later. Geri McGee Rosenthal had a child before she married Frank Universal Pictures The real-life counterpart of Sharon Stone 's character Ginger, Geri McGee Rosenthal, had a daughter before she. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? (L.E. Strength. I had the bookCasinowith me and after a short conversation, him and I had while we sat at the Bar.he autographed the book for me. Minelli said there were multiple offers the last time it went on the market: He sold it to the current owners in 2017, when it traded for $697,500, county records indicate. About a month after the car bombing, on Nov. 6, 1982 and only three years after the Jubilation disco-dance episode now on YouTube Geri Rosenthal, with bruises on her legs and liquor, drugs and tranquilizers in her system, stumbled into the lobby of the Beverly Sunset Motel, 8775 Sunset Blvd., at 4:35 a.m. and collapsed. The Stardust Casino point spread became the defacto official "Line" for sports gamblers across the country. When McGee admitted to her affair with Spilotro, Rosenthal flew into a rage. Officially, her cause of death was an accidental overdose but some theorize that she may have been murdered because she knew too much about the Vegas underworld. Shortly after graduating from Van Nuys High School, McGee began working as a clerk at Thrifty Drugs, which she quickly realized she didnt care for. When the meeting ended I was followed up in the elevator by 2/3 guys in suits (100+) outside. April 8, 2017 09:24 PM. Spilotro's character, who was portrayed in the film Casino by Joe Pesci, was alleged to be involved in numerous murders from Chicago to Las Vegas. Resend Activation Email. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Security. When Geri first got to Las Vegas, around 1960, Barbara said, she was a cocktail waitress and showgirl. Eight years later, though, Barbaras husband walked out, and she moved in with McGee for a time. Former father . For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He focused on raising his children, who were both accomplished youth swimmers. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. There were infidelities on both sides, with McGee secretly having an affair with Spilotro. It was McGee who encouraged Rosenthal whose betting parlor had come under fire on federal bookmaking charges (ones that he beat on a technicality) to take a casino job. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. In September 1980, his wife, Geri Rosenthal (the inspiration for Ginger McKenna in Casino, played by Sharon Stone) called police to their home and falsely reported a burglary was in progress, the Review-Journal reported. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Listing agent Mark Minelli, of Realty One Group, declined to disclose the purchase price or the buyer but noted the sale is scheduled to close Dec 4. She was 46 years old. Rosenthal left Las Vegas not long after the bombing, ultimately moving to Florida, where he died of a heart attack in 2008 at age 79. So he operated much like his friend Lefty. Moments later, it exploded. He died from a heart . Rosenthal's life and career in Las Vegas served as the basis of Martin Scorsese's 1995 film Casino, where he was portrayed by Robert De Niro and re-named Sam "Ace" Rothstein. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. (L.E. At that point, Rosenthal said, I cant take my eyes off her. I feel youve been with somebody. The chairman was none other than U.S. When police arrived, she began screaming hysterically and yelling obscenities at Rosenthal and the cops, the news report said. And now this violent killer was in Las Vegas to help the Chicago Outfit keep an eye on their gambling interests, which meant hed be right by Rosenthals side. She and her sister, Barbara, often took on odd jobs as kids to help make ends meet; all of their clothing was handed down by neighbors. When we were driving back to the funeral home, I was notified who he was. McGee was found dead in Los Angeles a few weeks after the bombing due to a mysterious collapse that was officially ruled a drug overdose (details remain fuzzy). We'd love to share & preserve your story of meeting Lefty in Florida. In one college basketball season, Lefty ran that $15,000. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He got custody of the two children they had together. After reading about the turbulent relationship between Frank Rosenthal and Geri McGee, learn about the infamous duo of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. I wouldn't be willing to dispute what you just said, but I certainly wouldn't confirm it.[18]. Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal sports handicapper extraordinaire, Las Vegas gaming executive and the inspiration for the blockbuster movie "Casino" died Monday. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images, An Elvis-themed room is one of the many preserved spaces during a tour of Lefty Rosenthal's former home on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, in Las Vegas. He had been arrested numerous times, invoked his 5th Amendment Right 37 times, but never charged with breaking the law. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The house at 972 Vegas. I agreed to meet at the Hilton bar with a representative of Lefty for a discussion. Frank Rosenthal adjusts his tie while refusing to answer questions before a Senate subcommittee on gambling and racketeering. As recounted by The Mob Museum, he ran the Stardust for mob bosses who skimmed revenue and had helped its owner, Allen Glick of Argent Corp., secure Teamsters union loans. To view the video, click here. Geri McGee loved money obtaining it, spending it, flaunting it. Eventually, he caught on that McGee was looking for connection elsewhere. He put up $5,000 also. [15] After his death, it was disclosed by Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jane Ann Morrison that Rosenthal had been a top echelon informant for the FBI, and his wife Geri was also an FBI informant.[16][17]. Rosenthal's stylish house at 972 Vegas Valley Drive, at the Las Vegas Country Club, was put up for sale Oct. 29 and went under contract with a buyer Tuesday, its listing on Zillow shows. 12. Wikimedia CommonsThe Stardusts sign in 1973. His local program, The Frank Rosenthal Show, had begun two years earlier, appearing irregularly on Channel 13 at 11 p.m. on Saturdays. After all, the mob had already tried to kill her ex-husband. Shes only trying to save your marriage, he said. The Mob MuseumFrank Rosenthal and Geri McGee Rosenthal had two children, Steven and Stephanie, together, but their marriage was anything but happy. She died three days later in a nearby hospital, only 46 years old. Although no one was ever charged for this murder attempt, Milwaukee mob boss Frank Balistrieri was possibly responsible. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The 3,266-square-foot, three-bedroom historic Las Vegas Country Club residence was built in 1970. Are Californians and East Coasters moving in? To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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