Ex-mob enforcers now ‘consulting’

The last men standing from the Las Vegas mob era are still finding work.

An occasional "consulting" job comes along for notorious ex-enforcers Joey Cusamano and Frank Cullotta, now in their 70s.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas mob's go-to-guy, Oscar Goodman, keeps adding to a résumé that includes former mayor, ambassador for the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority and author. His memoir, titled "Being Oscar," is due out next spring.

Cusamano recently met with actor Michael Chiklis, who plays a mob boss in CBS' new drama, "Vegas."

Chiklis revealed the connection during the appearance of "Vegas" cast members last week on the CBS talk show "The Talk."

After my cameo on "The Talk," I caught up with Chiklis, who had identified the "consultant" only by his name Joey. Chiklis confirmed it was Cusamano. They met at Piero's Italian Cuisine because Cusamano, listed in the Nevada Black Book since 1990, is banned from casinos for a 1987 racketeering conviction.

Cullotta, a former hitman for the Chicago Outfit, served as a consultant during the making of "Casino" when it was filmed here in the 1990s.

Goodman was furiously handwriting the final chapters of his memoir last week when I stopped in his LVCVA office to go over some wedding details.

He's an ordained minister and prominently displays a certificate in his office that lists him as "mob minister."

His all-in deadline for the book is Dec. 1.

"They read my first chapter and said, 'no, no, don't be Clarence Darrow,' " Goodman said. He looked up at the guests in his office and smiled mischievously. "But I am Clarence Darrow!"

If the book, co-authored by veteran organized crime writer George Anastasia, is a hit, Hollywood's Weinstein brothers, Bob and Harvey, have hopes of turning it into a movie, Goodman said .

CLOONEY'S LAST RIDE

Former sheriff Ralph Lamb has a classic old Vegas story he hopes to share with film star George Clooney.

Lamb, 85, figures it might show up on "Vegas," loosely based on Lamb's lawman days.

Lamb took Clooney's aunt, former 1950s singing star and actress Rosemary Clooney, for a ride she never forgot.

She was headlining in the 1960s at the Thunderbird, where Lamb would make regular evening visits to see their mutual friend, bar manager Jimmy Tyler.

While making his rounds, Lamb would run into Clooney in between her shows. She loved to tease the old-school lawman with the line, "Hey sheriff, when's the posse going to ride?"

Lamb and Tyler came up with a prank to give Clooney a taste of frontier justice.

One night they were sitting around when Tyler rushed up with the news that his car was just stolen and spotted near McCarran Field, now McCarran International Airport.

"I invited her to join us," Lamb recalled. "Tyler's in the back with two .45s. She's in front. I give her a little .22 pistol and she says, 'What do you want me to do with that?'

"I said, 'If they run, shoot!' "

Clooney was aghast, Lamb said. "Oh no-o-o," she protested.

Lamb and his posse arrived at a large open lot and, sure enough, they spotted Tyler's car.

As Lamb pulled up, Tyler opened fire with both revolvers as the carjackers - two of Tyler's employees - tried to flee on foot. Tyler mowed 'em down. Horrified, Clooney hit the floor, screaming.

"She's under the glove compartment," said Lamb, laughing. " 'You shot them in cold blood,' she cried. She was scared to death."

When they returned to the Thunderbird, Lamb said, "I had a helluva time getting her out of the car. When I tried to tell her those boys weren't killed, she said, 'Oh, no, I saw it.' "

"They put her in her room and gave her a sedative."

Lamb added, "She never came out between shows again and asked 'When's the posse going to ride?' "

Clooney died in 2002 at the age of 74.

SIGHTINGS

Amy Hanley, daughter of the late mob hitman Tom Hanley, was rushed to Valley Hospital on Thursday after losing consciousness during a reality show shoot Thursday at the Mob Museum . ... "Baywatch" star David Hasselhoff, greeted with a huge welcome during a visit to the Hofbräuhaus on Tuesday with a nephew and niece. He brought down the house when he climbed onstage and sang "Looking for Freedom," his No. 1 hit on Germany's pop charts in 1989. ... Actor Nicolas Cage, taking in opening night of the "Batman Live" world tour at the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday with his family .

THE PUNCH LINE

"Were you better off four beers ago?" - Campaign slogan of cowboy Walter T. Airedale, one of ventriloquist Terry Fator's puppets in his show at The Mirage.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.