The Mob Museum Unveils 'Filmed in Las Vegas' Exhibition

The Mob Museum is set to debut its latest exhibition, "Filmed in Las Vegas: America's Playground on the Silver Screen," on Friday, January 16.

 

This captivating showcase delves into how Hollywood films have portrayed Las Vegas, influencing its global identity as a city of glamour and reinvention.

 

The exhibition features 11 rare original movie posters from 1941 to 1969, considered Las Vegas' cinematic "Golden Age." Highlights include posters from iconic films such as "Ocean's 11" (1960) and "Viva Las Vegas" (1964), on loan from the private collection of Las Vegas businessman and collector Dan Tuntland.

 

Additional artifacts include vintage lobby cards, historic production photographs, and a January 20, 1960, edition of the Las Vegas Sun with its front page devoted to the filming of "Ocean's 11." A custom montage video traces the city's evolution on screen from the 1940s to the present, illustrating how filmmakers across genres have drawn on Las Vegas' spectacle, intrigue, and reputation.

 

In addition to the on-site exhibition, The Mob Museum has launched two new free online exhibits as part of its ongoing digital access and preservation efforts. These virtual exhibits draw from different areas of the Museum's collections and focus on Las Vegas history, organized crime, and law enforcement:

 

"The Battle for Las Vegas" examines the struggle between organized crime and local, state, and federal law enforcement during the 1970s and 1980s—a pivotal period that reshaped the city's power structure and future.

 

"This Building of Ours" tells the story of the Museum's historic U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, Las Vegas' first federal courthouse and the site of landmark events, including the 1950 Kefauver hearings, when the U.S. Senate investigated organized crime in interstate commerce from the courtroom preserved within the Museum today.

 

These digital exhibits were developed with the help of University of Nevada, Las Vegas History Department student interns, assisting with the digitization and metadata creation as part of the Museum's forthcoming digital asset management system. The collaboration supports education, scholarship, and long-term preservation while making Las Vegas, organized crime, and law enforcement history accessible to audiences far beyond the city.

 

"Filmed in Las Vegas: America's Playground on the Silver Screen" is included with Museum admission.

 

"The Battle for Las Vegas" and "This Building of Ours" are available to view for free online.