Episode transcript:
In this next BONUS EPISODE of An Offer You Can’t Refuse, Pettengill investigates the intersection of civil rights and the history of Las Vegas. The Moulin Rouge was a casino that opened on the west side of the city in 1955. The west side was the heart of the Black community and, in addition to rivaling any casino on the Strip, the “Rouge” was a fully integrated establishment. Joe Louis, former heavyweight champion of the world and a massive star, was a part owner but, more importantly, he served as the official host of the casino, greeting guests with a robust “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge!” The case of the Moulin Rouge and Joe Louis represent a fascinating case study of the cross section of sport, civil rights, and organized crime in the mid twentieth century.