Prologue - Pirates in the Desert Summary and Analysis

The prologue of Running Scared: the Life and Treacherous Times of Las Vegas Casino King Steve Wynn by John L. Smith begins with the destruction of the Dunes Hotel and Casino.

On October 27, 1993 more than two hundred thousand spectators crowded the Las Vegas Strip to watch the destruction of the famous Dunes Hotel and Casino. The crowd chanted for the destruction of the building as world media stood by to record the event. At the time, Las Vegas was attempting to become a new more family-oriented site rather than the former infamous Mafia-run city of debauchery and sin. The destruction of the Dunes would also make way for a new hotel - Treasure Island - which would be located next to the Mirage. It would also mark Steve Wynn's entry into...