Reminiscing with David Hill's '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 by David Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

David Hill has written the most informative and readable account of the gambling era of Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was particularly interested in the story because I lived in Little Rock and my Mom and Dad lived in Hot Springs at the end of this era. The story begins with some information about the beginning of gambling in Hot Spring in the late 1800's.

Mr. Hill used his own family’s story to move us through the gambling years. He gives a more personal feel to what was happening in Arkansas along with what was going on in other parts of the United States. All was intertwined with the workings of the underworld of gangsters. Highly recommend. Very informative and readable.

I found many familiar names of places that still exist in Hot Springs:                     

Arlington Hotel

“The Vapors’ reminds me of the Correspondent Banking Department of First National Bank at Little Rock where I was a secretary. Each year the Arkansas Bankers Association held a meeting of all Arkansas Banks. One year our bank sponsored a Casino Party at the Vapors. Of course, all of the betting was done with fake money. The Vapors became a church for a while but has now been revived as an entertainment venue.

Hazel and Hollis moved to Mountain Pine, Arkansas, a company town of Dierks Lumbers Company. I now live in Hot Springs Village which was developed on 26 acres of Dierks Lumber Company land.

Orval Faubus was Governor of the State when I was in college and moved to Little Rock. I voted in the election that put Winthrop Rockefeller in Office.

Coy’s Steak House was a popular restaurant in Hot Springs. We went to Hot Springs just to eat there. One was opened in Little Rock where my husband proposed to me in 1985.

I remember the front-page pictures in the Arkansas Gazette of the gambling equipment that Lynn Davis, a state police officer, burned and buried in a gravel pit under the direction of Governor Rockefeller. They had raided four clubs and hauled away three truckloads of equipment. The only club named was the Bridge Street Club. The Vapors wasn’t among the four.

Ohio Club is still on Central and serves really good hamburgers. They have a small stage where live music is played, and people can dance on a really small dance floor. We went once with our daughter and saw Jackie B (Beaumont) and me (Lawrence Womack), a local music duo. 

Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Democrat were the morning and evening papers in Little Rock. They merged later to become the Arkansas Democrat and Gazette. Now known as the Dem/Gaz.

The Southern Club now houses a wax museum and is across the street from the Arlington Hotel. 

Today you can visit the Gangsta’s Museum on Central. It used to be Franke’s Cafeteria which my Dad managed in the late Sixties.

The Stardust Las Vegas was the first casino I experienced. We were on a trip and stopped there on the way to the west coast. I was 26 and looked so young that I was carded before I could go in the casino. We took in their dinner show, Hallelujah Hollywood.

Thanks for going down Memory Lane with me. I think you will enjoy going down another Memory Lane with David Hill.

View all my reviews

Educated by Tara Westover
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a Book Club assignment. It was very hard for me to relate to the reality of this woman's life. In fact, after about 50 pages I thought I might give it up. Tara seemed to be a character in a book not a real living person. Her situation seemed unreal and she didn't seem motivated to do anything about it. Even when she had people supporting her and advising her to move away; she refused to leave. However, she is a real person that has lived through, what to me, is a nightmare. I am utterly amazed that she was able to overcome her childhood and family to the extent that she did.  

I started pulling for her after pages 242 and 243. I saw hope when her professor give her this advice.

"You act like someone who is impersonating someone else. And it's as if you think your life depends on it." Dr. Kerry page 242

He continues on page 243: "The most powerful determinant of who you are is inside you," he said. "Professor Steinberg says this is Pygmalion. Think of the story, Tara." He paused, his eyes fierce his voice piercing. "She was just a cockney in a nice dress. Until she believed in herself. Then it didn't matter what dress she wore." 

Tara did not disappoint. I think this was a turning point for her. It certainly wasn't the end. There was much more to come, but she persevered and won in the end. Recommend.

View all my reviews