For Immediate Release
Contact: Melissa Warren, Faiss Foley Warren PR
702-528-6016; melissa@ffwpr.com
Eryn Sebelius 702-234-6684; eryn@ffwpr.com

Contact: Ceres Hill, The Mob Museum
702-229-2711; cereshill@themobmuseum.org

MOB MUSEUM UNVEILS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT ARTIFACT, ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR COLLECTOR

LAS VEGAS (March 9, 2011) – The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, today unveils one of the most historically significant and fascinating artifacts in its growing repository: the barber chair, where on October 25, 1957, Albert Anastasia – aka “Lord High Executioner” – was murdered in New York City at the Park Sheraton Hotel (now Park Central Hotel). Anastasia, then boss of the Gambino crime family, was known for running a gang of hit men, contract killers known as Murder, Inc. Estimates of those killed during the time period in which Murder, Inc. operated are between 400-700 people, and most of the cases were never solved, just like the murder of Anastasia.

The assassination of Anastasia is important for several reasons:

• The murder is the result of a leadership dispute within the “family” as Genovese and Gambino wanted Anastasia out. This unsolved murder was a high profile front page example of mob brutality.
• This was one of THE mob hits of the century that was performed in broad daylight and in a very public place.
• Following the murder, a summit meeting of mob leaders from across the country was convened at the home of Joseph Barbara in Apalachin, NY, to discuss postponing a potential Mob war. The house was under surveillance, so 58 of the 100 or so mobsters gathered there were easily rounded up by law enforcement. This revelation forced J. Edgar Hoover to acknowledge the existence of an organized crime network in the United States.

The barber chair is owned by Artie Nash of New York City, a prolific and important collector of Mob-related documents, photographs and artifacts whose extensive holdings are the result of years of collecting. Nash is working closely and exclusively with the Museum and is providing important artifacts like the barber chair from his holdings – The Nash Collection – for inclusion in the Museum.

“Artie has long been known as one of the world’s foremost collectors of mob artifacts,” said Kathleen Barrie, curator of The Mob Museum. “Many of his most historically significant and treasured artifacts, such as the Anastasia barber chair, will soon make The Mob Museum their home and will bring to life the stories that document the history of organized crime in our country. We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with Mr. Nash.”

The Mob Museum is housed inside the city’s historic former federal courthouse and U.S. Post Office at 300 Stewart Avenue in downtown Las Vegas and is set to open on February 14, 2012. The 41,000-square foot building includes approximately 17,000 square feet of exhibition space on three floors in addition to a specialty retail store, special event areas, educational areas and office space.

Admission is $18 plus tax for adults ages 18 and over; $12 plus tax for children ages 5 to 17 and students ages 18 to 23 with ID; $14 plus tax for seniors, military, law enforcement and teachers; and $10 plus tax for Nevada residents of all ages. Museum hours will be Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

About The Mob Museum
The Mob Museum is a world-class destination in downtown Las Vegas dedicated to the thrilling story of organized crime and law enforcement. It presents an exciting and authentic view of the mob’s impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on the world. With tales so intriguing they need no embellishment, The Museum reveals an insider’s look at the events and people on both sides of this continuing battle. True stories of mob history are brought to life in a bold and contemporary style via engaging exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The Mob Museum puts the visitor in the middle of the action through high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive, themed environments. For more information, call 702-229-2734 or visit www.themobmuseum.org. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/themobmuseum and on Twitter: @TheMobMuseum.