The Forgotten Capital of Vice: The Mob in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Before Las Vegas became the underworld’s casino playground, Hot Springs, Arkansas, was a favorite vacation spot — and hideout — for the nation’s big-time mobsters. Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello and dozens of other organized crime figures descended on the town’s soothing hot springs and dens of gambling and other vices. In this Mob Museum program on August 19, 2021, author David Hill provides a detailed portrait of this often-overlooked corner of Mob history.

[carolreed]

Great research! Mayor McLaughton ( The gentleman with the two horses known as Scotch and Soda). Had a vice Mayor, a Black man, Mr William Page, He was my great grandfather. On black Broadway his son my grandfather was the owner of two casinos The Cameo and the Atmosphere physically located directly across from the National Baptist Building. . He also owned on the same block the Hotel for African Americans, and the steak house on malvern avenue. My grandfather the very charismatic William “Bubba” Page.

[stephaniekopp]

I read somewhere that Bugsy Segal originally picked Hot Springs as the location for his Flamingo Hotel and Casino. he eventually scrapped the plan and decided to build the Flamingo in Las Vegas

[AirborneEclipse]

I’ve been living in Hot Springs Village nearby for a year now and really appreciated hearing more about the area’s history, thank you.

[ArdeltaTrading]

Greetings from ARKANSAS!! This is some wild history we often forget. Thank you!

[TWBrit]

What a fascinating talk. Being from Yorkshire in the UK, the same county that produced Owney Madden, and now living in AR, I found this even more intriguing. It's strange, had Madden stayed in the UK, he would have most likely have died in a trench in WW1.
This was a very well put together talk, absolutely tons of information and leaves you wanting to know more - I need to buy David Hill's book.

[BelladonnasJewelry]

I found this video after having done a bit of research on Hot Springs history myself. David Hill did an excellent presentation and I am really looking forward to reading the book. I think its interesting that Al Capone was in The Arlington Hotel so often he actually built a secret escape route from his closet... and he chose his room spot so that he could keep an eye on the Southern Club across the street. There is so much history just waiting to be told from this town and I cant wait to hear more about it. Im going to Hot Springs this weekend for my 40th bday, to spend it in the "original" sin city.

[RetNemmoc]

I lived in Hot Springs in the early 60s. It was a hopping place even for a little kid. I loved seeing all the club marquees with big name acts (and crossed paths with some of them through my music teacher). My brothers and I loved traipsing through the forest behind the bath houses. Broadway was a vibrant district before the convention center was built, which changed its character. For extra money we sold racing forms (called pink slips) up and down Central avenue at night. I am quite nostalgic about that town, and I do hope that historic structures like the beautiful, art deco Hot Springs Medical Arts building are brought back to life.

[allendunn]

This was a very fascinating bit of history on both the mob and Hot Springs, Arkansas! I have quite a bit of family history there, but I never knew most of the mob stuff beyond Al Capone's visits and Lucky Luciano being captured at the Arlington Hotel. I will definitely pick up a copy of David Hill's book. Thank you for posting this video.

[camslumlord]

Great Book and Video. I grew up near Phenix City, Alabama which also was quite a “ sin city”.

[Joe-vecy]

Yes Hot Springs was a hotspot. Biloxi Mississippi as another one. Military base, strip joints, Night clubs where the biggest stars of the day would stop in ( Sammy Davis jr, Elvis Presley many more) Beach hotels, and backroom Gambling Halls... One of the longtime piano players at the La Linda Motel on the beach stated in one of his interviews many years ago said, " Since the casinos have moved into town, (1993) ya can't get a decent poker game going."... Traditionally the New Orleans crime families and Marcello's and earlier ones have had their interest in Biloxi for many years, all along the Gulf Coast in those days.

[mikethaxton]

I wish they would do one on the 4 Italian mob families in Texas

[Cuteypie-bb]

Watched the whole thing it was very interesting

[BigBadJohn]

Cuts heal faster when exposed to the water in Hot Springs than they do Hot Water out of a tap. Before modern medicine that was more than enough for people that were hurting to want to go there.

[timothylines]

a void where u can useless ness, .