How a real-life rancher-turned-sheriff inspired a gritty 1960s Las Vegas television drama
In short: The 2012 series Vegas brought the tension of 1960s Nevada to life, pitting a local rancher against the encroaching Chicago mob. Co-created by Nicholas Pileggi, the show drew inspiration from the real-life career of Clark County Sheriff Ralph Lamb, whose tenure spanned nearly two decades of rapid city growth.
The series centers on the conflict between Sheriff Ralph Lamb, a former military police officer and rancher, and Vincent Savino, a mob associate sent to manage the Savoy Hotel. While the show is a work of fiction, the character of Lamb is based on the real-life figure who served as the Sheriff of Clark County from 1961 to 1979. The narrative explores the Mob's aggressive expansion into the gambling industry during the 1960s, a period that Pileggi began researching while writing his book Casino.
Nicholas Pileggi originally conceived the project as a film, but he struggled to condense the complex history of Las Vegas into a traditional three-act structure. After watching the television series The Wire, he concluded that the long-form format was better suited for the story. Despite this creative shift, it took 25 years for the concept to reach the screen. The production was eventually filmed in Las Vegas, New Mexico, rather than the Nevada city itself.
The show aired on CBS from September 25, 2012, until its cancellation on May 10, 2013. Although the network initially ordered a full 22-episode season, the final count was reduced to 21 episodes. The series featured a large ensemble cast, including Dennis Quaid as Lamb and Michael Chiklis as Savino. The plot delves into the internal power struggles of the Chicago Outfit, featuring characters like Angelo LaFratta and Johnny Rizzo, as they navigate rivalries with Milwaukee crime families and local law enforcement.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Vegas (2012 TV series)
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