Ralph Lamb’s ‘Vegas’ doesn’t come close to reality TV

Gov. Brian Sandoval declared Tuesday Ralph Lamb Day. The new show “Vegas” with Dennis Quaid playing Lamb debuted that night to decidedly mixed reviews. A fundraising party for injured police officers was held in his honor at Green Valley Ranch, drawing big-time and longtime notables.

Stories of the old days were told, but noticeably omitted were some of the “you scratched my back and I scratched yours” tales.

Nobody brought up how, in 1980, the Wall Street Journal exposed that Jay Sarno, the mastermind of Circus Circus and Caesars Palace, then in the throes of planning the Grandissimo, offered Lamb and a handful of others options to buy stock in the new casino at an incredibly sweet deal.

The public would pay $5 a share. Lamb was among the chosen few who would be able to buy in at 3 cents a share. Lamb, for an investment of $1,125 stood to obtain $562,500 worth of stock. Except the hotel was never built.

After 18 years as sheriff, Lamb was turned out by the voters in 1978. He made another bid in 1994 and lost.

Voters didn’t seem to want as sheriff a man who in 1977 was indicted (but not convicted) on charges of tax evasion.

Federal prosecutors attempted to prove Lamb lived beyond his means. One defense witness was another good old boy, Benny Binion, who told of loaning Lamb $30,000, providing a partial explanation for Lamb’s spending.

Capturing the common philosophy of that era, U.S. District Judge Roger Foley dismissed the charges and said, “Many fringe benefits come to a public official which may be accepted along with the honest discharge of duties.”

For a look at the warts and all Ralph Lamb, check out the profile of him in the Review-Journal’s ‘The First 100″ at www.lvrj.com/1st100/part3/lamb.html

One part of the television show seemed like pure Lamb when Quaid glared at the newest Chicago mobster in town and says, “I am the law here, Mr. Savino, and I will decide who’s breaking it.”

That was the real Sheriff Lamb.

One real story I am sure will show up sometime in the show involved mobster Johnny Rosselli, also spelled Roselli, in the mid-1960s.

Rosselli was sitting in the Desert Inn coffee shop with owner Moe Dalitz when Lamb set him up. The sheriff told a young officer to go tell Rosselli to register with the police department as an ex-felon. Rosselli told the officer to scram. Then Lamb entered, seized the mobster by his necktie and slapped him around before sending him to jail and ordering him deloused. It became part of the Lamb lore.

That, and the rumor that on his watch police killed some miscreants, helped his tough- guy reputation.

The ranching family’s power was extensive and drew unwanted attention of federal officials. Older brother Floyd for 30 years was one of the most powerful state senators in Nevada, until he was convicted of taking bribes. Ralph was investigated in a kickback scheme but never charged. Brother Darwin was a county commissioner. A brother-in-law was a city commissioner.

If people wanted a liquor license (and Ralph was chairman of the county board overseeing liquor and gaming licenses), buying bar supplies from Darwin’s business, Lamb and One, was smart.

Doubt that makes it into a script.

The show doesn’t pretend to be a biography. But television is so persuasive that people need reminding that parts of Lamb’s history are not so heroic.

Understand, it’s entertainment, not history.

Nationwide, how many will realize that, once again, a television show about Las Vegas is not reality?

Jane Ann Morrison’s column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at 702-383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison.