Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile

Welcome to Litsy!

Litsy is a place to share and discover your favorite books with your favorite people.

Litsy is available on the web, for iOS and Android.

It’s fun.  It’s simple.  It’s all about the book. Sign up and get a little Litsy.

To respect member's privacy and keep things awesome, most of Litsy is hidden from Google. We let humans see and share pages, but not machines. Find out more.
This page is: Hidden

Trending Hashtags

See More
#AwesomeApril
31 users recently
#readaway2024
19 users recently
#SpringSkies
25 users recently
#LitsyLove
25 users recently
#bookspin
44 users recently
#serieslove2024
26 users recently

Trending Books

See More
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
52 users recently
Shades of Milk and Honey
Shades of Milk and Honey
Mary Robinette Kowal
10 users recently
Rebecca
Rebecca
Daphne D Maurier
5 users recently
Zorrie
Zorrie
Laird Hunt
12 users recently
Let's Go Camping!
Let's Go Camping!
Jan Mader
18 users recently
About | Help / FAQs | Privacy | Terms | Press | Resources
The Vapors
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
9 posts | 4 read | 6 to read
The incredible true story of America's originaland forgottencapital of vice Back in the days before Vegas was big, when the Mob was at its peak and neon lights were but a glimmer on the horizon, a little Southern town styled itself as a premier destination for the American leisure class. Hot Springs, Arkansas was home to healing waters, Art Deco splendor, and Americas original national parkas well as horse racing, nearly a dozen illegal casinos, countless backrooms and brothels, and some of the countrys most bald-faced criminals. Gangsters, gamblers, and gamines: all once flocked to Americas forgotten capital of vice, a place where small-town hustlers and bigtime high-rollers could make their fortunes, and hide from the law. The Vapors is the extraordinary story of three individualsspanning the golden decades of Hot Springs, from the 1930s through the 1960sand the lavish casino whose spectacular rise and fall would bring them together before blowing them apart. Hazel Hill was still a young girl when legendary mobster Owney Madden rolled into town in his convertible, fresh off a crime spree in New York. He quickly established himself as the gentleman Godfather of Hot Springs, cutting barroom deals and buying stakes in the clubs at which Hazel made her livingand drank away her sorrows. Owneys protg was Dane Harris, the son of a Cherokee bootlegger who rose through the towns ranks to become Boss Gambler. It was his idea to build The Vapors, a pleasure palace more spectacular than any the town had ever seen, and an establishment to rival anything on the Vegas Strip or Broadway in sophistication and supercharged glamour. In this riveting work of forgotten history, native Arkansan David Hill plots the trajectory of everything from organized crime to Americas fraught racial past, examining how a town synonymous with white gangsters supported a burgeoning black middle class. He reveals how the louche underbelly of the South was also home to veterans hospitals and baseballs spring training grounds, giving rise to everyone from Babe Ruth to President Bill Clinton. Infused with the sights and sounds of Americas entertainment heydayjazz orchestras and auctioneers, slot machines and suited comediansThe Vapors is an arresting glimpse into a bygone era of American vice.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Aims42
Aims42
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
Pickpick

I finally finished my #JolabokaflodSwap book from @Readergrrl and it was 10/10 interesting! If the print wasn‘t so tiny I think I would‘ve finished it sooner lol 😅 Definitely a pick for anyone who‘s intrigued by the mob, the culture of the 1940s-1960s and anyone else really.

26 likes
blurb
Aims42
Aims42
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

I‘m just a girl, eating some Utz cheese balls with a glass of wine, reading my book and recognizing true contentment 😌 I hope everyone survived Christmas and can enjoy a breather before New Years Eve ♥️

dabbe Do you have toothpicks to pick up those cheese balls so your hands won't get cheesy-filmy? That's what I always do! 😂 1y
Aims42 @dabbe LOL! That‘s a great idea!!! I don‘t, my index finger and thumb are the only two fingers that touch the cheese balls 😆 BUT, my father in law actually got for Christmas a set of chopsticks that loop over your fingers and you pierce the cheese balls with them 😂 This is it: https://a.co/d/7CPvT70
 (edited) 1y
Tamra My son has used tongs to eat Takis! 😆 1y
See All 6 Comments
Aims42 @Tamra you gotta do, what you gotta do 😆👍 1y
dabbe @Aims42 OMG, those are genius! Just added to my Amazon cart! 😂 1y
Aims42 @dabbe Enjoy!! 😁 He‘s loving them so you won‘t be disappointed either I bet 😍 Happy Reading and Happy (clean finger) snacking!! 1y
48 likes6 comments
blurb
Aims42
Aims42
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

Thank you so much @Readergrrl ♥️💚♥️ I love all the chocolate (I cannot WAIT to dig into them 😋) and am stoked for the new book too!! I hope you are having a fun day (and a Merry Christmas if you celebrate!) and hope for a wonderful 2023 for you also!! #JolabokaflodSwap @MaleficentBookDragon

Readergrrl I‘m so glad you liked the chocolate!! The Munsens Chocolates are a local chocolatier in my town. So good!! I‘m intrigued by the book I selected for you. I want to read it now too!! 1y
Aims42 @Readergrrl That‘s awesome, I love trying local chocolate places, thank you! I‘ve started the book tonight (we‘re at my in-laws lol) and so far I‘m very intrigued. Thanks again for everything!! I‘ll definitely share my thoughts on the book when I finish it 😁 1y
45 likes2 comments
blurb
BookBosomed1
BookBosomed1
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

I was fortunate enough to grow up with two parents who loved reading. Many of my childhood memories include my parents reading, my mom taking me to the library, or my dad taking me to a bookstore. I am extremely grateful to them for instilling in me an appreciation for books. My Mom is visiting from AR and we spent her last day in WI reading together. It was delightful. ❤️

AmyG That‘s lovely. Brought back memories of my Mom bringing me to the library. 2y
BookBosomed1 @AmyG Memories to cherish. ❤️ 2y
Mollyanna That‘s fabulous! My mom and I always compare books before we go on vacation. That way there are no duplicates, and we can share. Enjoy your time reading with your mom. 2y
Ruthiella Lovely! ❤️ 2y
29 likes4 comments
blurb
rachelsbrittain
rachelsbrittain
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

1. Gotta choose The Vapors since it's set in my hometown, Hot Springs National Park

2. Everglades and Redwoods

3. Conservation Refugees: The Hundred-Year Conflict between Global Conservation and Native Peoples by Mark Dowie

#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern Oh your answer for 3 looks really interesting! I‘ll have to look it up! Thanks for posting! 3y
Tera66 #3, that book sounds good 😃, stacked! 3y
Tera66 Oops, not stacked, but added to my TBR since it's not the tagged book😁 3y
28 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
rachelsbrittain
rachelsbrittain
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image
Pickpick

A history of the century-long stronghold of illegal gambling in a spa town in central Arkansas-- that just so happens to be my hometown. Filled in many gaps in my knowledge of Hot Springs' history of gambling & horseracing. I had no idea what a hot spot it was in its heyday with the likes of Mickey Rooney & Ella Fitzgerald performing in clubs. Definitely gets bogged down in the details. Maybe less appealing to anyone not familiar with the area.

44 likes
blurb
rachelsbrittain
rachelsbrittain
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

It's been and up and down week but I'm trying to focus on the fact that I'm getting some reading done again and getting to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law this weekend

Linear In my dream home, I have one of those baths from the movies that just sit in the middle of the room. It has a thing across it like this, and is comfortable on my neck when I lean back. 4y
rachelsbrittain @Linear that sounds like a dream 😍 4y
64 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Mitch
Mitch
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image

Thank you so much Soubhi - I cant wait to read this (and I love the cover!) and the bookish candles are gorgeous - perfect for a little mood setting. Thank you so much for thinking of me today and sending out such love. It‘s made a hard day, lighter. 😘

tagged users iconSoubhiville
Soubhiville Happy Birthday! I hope everything is ok... I‘m enjoying seeing all your gifts, just like @AmyG 😊. I hope the year ahead is a good one. Hugs! 4y
Soubhiville I‘ll be watching for your eventual review if this one, it sounds good! 4y
AmyG @Soubhiville I love the cover!!! 4y
59 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
sebrittainclark
sebrittainclark
The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice | David Hill
post image
Pickpick

3.5/5

I picked this book up because I grew up in Hot Springs and was curious about this part of Hot Springs's past. I was vaguely aware that there had been mob connections, but I didn't know much about the details.

It was fun to read about places I know and how different they were in the past. I think more information about the Black community in Hot Springs would have been interesting.

#netgalley #litsyatoz

47 likes