Las Vegas Strip

Lore & Background

The heist is planned precisely like a military operation by World War II veterans from the 82nd Airborne Division's 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Danny Ocean and Jimmy Foster recruit nine comrades from their unit. Josh Howard takes a job as a sanitation worker driving a garbage truck while others get jobs at the various casinos. Sam Harmon entertains in one of the hotel's lounges. Demolition charges are planted on a local electric power transmission tower and the backup electrical systems are covertly rewired in each casino to open the emergency doors of the cashier cages instead of powering the emergency lights when the automatic generator kicks in. The crew then goes back inside the casinos and mingles with the crowds before departing as soon as the lights turn back on. A garbage truck driven by Josh picks up the bags and passes through the police blockade.

In Their Own Story

The gang's electrician, Tony Bergdorf, suffers a fatal heart attack in the middle of the Strip, raising police suspicions. Reformed mobster Duke Santos offers to recover the casino bosses' money for a percentage. Duke is engaged to Foster's mother, who casually mentions that Foster and Ocean, having fought together in the army, are both unexpectedly in Las Vegas. Duke also learns about Bergdorf's military record from the police. By the time that Bergdorf's body arrives at the mortuary, Duke has pieced it all together. After Duke confronts the thieves, demanding half of their take, they desperately hide the money in Bergdorf's coffin, setting aside $10,000 for his widow Gracie. Their plan backfires when the funeral director talks Gracie into having the funeral in Las Vegas. She has the body and coffin cremated along with all of the hidden cash.

Reader's Guide

The Las Vegas portion of the film was shot on location at the Flamingo, Sands, Desert Inn, Riviera, and Sahara hotels. One segment was also filmed at the former Las Vegas Union Pacific station. According to Frank Sinatra Jr., the Rat Pack members were performing shows at 8pm and midnight during the production, so by the time the cast and crew were ready after the shows, much of the footage on location was shot between 3am and dawn. The film's closing shot shows the main cast walking away from the funeral home, with the Sands Hotel marquee behind them, listing their names as headliners.

Did You Know?

• The film premiered in Las Vegas on August 3, 1960, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 10 by United Artists.
• When Peter Lawford first told Frank Sinatra of the story, Sinatra joked, 'Forget the movie, let's pull the job!'
• The animated title sequence was designed by Saul Bass.
• The Rat Pack members were performing shows at 8pm and midnight during production, so location footage was shot between 1am and dawn.
• The film originated the Ocean's film series.

Origins and Early Struggles

However, he lacked sufficient capital to finance his vision alone. This financial shortfall led him to partner with mob figures in early 1946, including G. Construction began amidst post-World War II material shortages, requiring Siegel to argue with federal authorities that work had already commenced before a freeze order was issued. The original plan for a modest $1 million resort quickly spiraled out of control under Siegel's management, setting the stage for a dramatic transformation of the property.

The Mob Era and Tragic End

In a chilling response reflecting the dangerous nature of their financing, Siegel reportedly told Webb that mobsters only kill each other, implying he would be paid regardless. The casino finally opened on December 26, 1946, followed by a three-story hotel in March 1947. Tragically, just months after opening, Siegel was murdered by an unknown shooter in June 1947. Despite the controversy surrounding his management and the subsequent ownership changes, historians often credit Siegel with finishing the project that Wilkerson started, cementing his legacy as a pivotal, albeit dark, figure in Las Vegas history.

Corporate Evolution and Expansion

This period marked significant physical growth; the first major addition was a twenty-eight-story tower completed in 1978. Over the next two decades, further expansions were undertaken, culminating in a final high-rise addition finished in 1995. A pivotal moment in this transformation occurred in 1993 when the original three-story hotel building—the last remaining structure from Siegel's era—was demolished to accommodate modern development. This demolition allowed for the creation of a massive fifteen-acre pool area and an animal habitat featuring flamingos, aligning with the resort's namesake theme. Today, the property boasts over 3,460 rooms across its towers and a sprawling casino floor exceeding 72,000 square feet, standing as a testament to decades of strategic reinvestment and adaptation.

Entertainment Legacy and Cultural Impact

As the oldest continuously operating resort on the Las Vegas Strip, the Flamingo has served as a historic stage for countless performers over nearly eight decades. Its longevity is matched by its ability to adapt to changing entertainment trends while maintaining its status as a premier destination. Beyond individual acts, the property's evolution reflects the broader history of Las Vegas itself, transitioning from a mob-financed gamble to a corporate-owned mega-resort. The site also preserves elements of its unique identity through features like the animal habitat with live flamingos, a nod to the mysterious origins of its name which various accounts attribute either to Siegel's girlfriend Virginia Hill or his superstitious belief in the bird as a good-luck charm.

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