Crazy Horse III: What's in a name?
I have confirmed the startling news that the Penthouse Club is changing its
name to Crazy Horse III. In fact, the signs are already being altered
(pictured). The new club even has its own Facebook page with the motto "The
Godfather of Gentleman's Clubs." This is amazing because Crazy Horse Too was
caught up in a federal investigation for racketeering that ultimately sent the club's owner
and most of its top management to prison as part of a universal settlement of
the case. Among the allegations against Crazy Horse Too was that a tourist was beaten so
badly over a bar tab that he is now paralyzed. Part of the money from selling the
club was to have gone to the tourist, but somehow that never happened and the building now sits empty.
I am assured the Crazy Horse III has nothing in common with the owners of Crazy Horse Too. (Crazy Horse, the original, being the Parisian topless show at MGM Grand.) So, why use a name to create a squeal for a place with so many bad associations?
Well, here is one seeming connection, though apparently not at the ownership level.
The Crazy Horse clubs appear connected through the services of the controversial Vincent “Vinny” Faraci. Though Faraci retired as a shift manager at Crazy Horse Too in 2005, he left enough baggage behind that he went to prison as part of the Crazy Horse Too racketeering probe for failing to report to the IRS "tips" taken from strippers. (As a side note, because dancers were required to tip out shift managers, this was not a tip in the sense that it was optional or given for good service.) Faraci also offers some name recognition for mob aficionados because his father is an alleged member of the Bonanno crime family, and, according to Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith, writing in 2004, law enforcement sources considered Faraci, already at the time a convicted felon, to be mob-connected as well.
Last year, the publicly traded Rick's Cabaret backed off from hiring Faraci after local media and politicians began to wonder why they would want him. Why would any strip club, a cash-heavy business, want a man with such a checkered past?
Though I have not been able to reach Faraci, I have confirmed with two sources, including one who does public relations for the club and was totally unaware of Faraci's rather colorful past, that Faraci is now working at Crazy Horse III. According to the PR rep, none of the employees at the club have official titles and so she was not clear what work Faraci was doing, exactly, but offered to get back to me. I am waiting on that.
In the meantime I spoke to a dancer who went back to the Crazy Horse Too days with Faraci and happened to be working at Penthouse Club when she recognized him. She told me he orders managers around and that he has been spending a lot of time at the club and finally, when pressed for his exact duties, she said, "It is as if he is watching the place for someone." Anyway, by picking the name Crazy Horse III, local authorities and media have certainly been alerted to be watching as well. Interesting.
Photo credit: Sarah Gerke
I worked at The Penthouse Club when it first opened, and it was really good. They had to change the name because Penthouse took away their right to use it after Barry took over and and ran the club into the ground. I'm not surprised Barry claims he didn't know about Vinnie's past - even though everyone else in the Las Vegas strip club business does. He's clueless. Too bad, too. There were lots of great people there and it could've been a winner.
Posted by: Steve B | June 23, 2009 at 05:14 AM
Faraci is an unusual guy, that's for sure, but the Crazy Horse Too was the best topless bar in Las Vegas and perhaps in the USA. Best looking dancers (on a Fri or Sat night), best lap dances and, the best thing, cold beer in bottles sitting in a bucket of ice.
But, of course, it would be very unwise to dispute a bar tab.
Posted by: Slothrop | June 24, 2009 at 01:28 PM
...."Vincent “Vinny” Faraci. Though Faraci retired as a shift manager at Crazy Horse Too in 2005,(.)racketeering probe for failing to report to the IRS "tips" taken from strippers. (As a side note, because dancers were required to tip out shift managers, this was not a tip in the sense that it was optional or given for good service.) "....
“Vinny” was my best manager ever . I worked in CH2 since 1998 to the closing time . I never had any problem with “Vinny”. U talk about tips .... U must to kidding me .... All of the girls could afford to work there , with no extra tip out or different things , like for example at Spearmint Rhino , where U have to be anorectic , plus do a favors to the pimps managers. Please , stop the nonsense . I worked in the best clubs . In 1994 my tip out in Scores NYC was 150-210$ a night ....(+ extra) , tip out CR2 1998 the most 40$ w/o any post traumatic stress. I was just a very beautiful , with a broken Eng. girl then , and nobody @ CR2 tried to take an adventure of.
If this is true and “Vinny” is really back in business, I'm so glad to hear that . The most professional Manager I ever know ..
Posted by: Sandra | June 27, 2009 at 05:17 AM
I was intrigued too. I happened to be in Vegas last weekend and received, as part of a VIP package of gifts at the Palms, a certificate for a free bottle of "Russian Standard Platinum" Vodka at the Crazy Horse III.
I called up CH III to ask if they had a cover - their policy, odd as it seems, is that anyone arriving in a taxi pays $30. cover, but anyone arriving in his own transportation gets in free.
CH III also mentioned that they will pick anyone up for free with their limo. I didn't ask if this meant paying a $30. cover.
Posted by: MDawg | July 02, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Richard Abowitz, you are ignorant. Check all your facts before you run off at the mouth with your one sided press release. I have worked in the nightlife service industry in Las Vegas for 2 years now. I know almost every dancer ranging from spearmint rhino, cheetahs, sapphire, seamless and crazy horse 3, previously penthouse las vegas. Every girl I know has been over joyed that Vincent Faraci is working at Crazy Horse 3. They all think the world of him and have left the other clubs to work with him once again. So tell me Richard, please, if he is such a bad guy that allegedly forces a tip out from this woman, who you wont disclose, why would all these girls come back to work for him? Why don't you try this one! You book a reservation to go to Crazy Horse 3, go in and see for yourself how professionally this company is run, and while you are at it, get a lap dance or 30 because i think it is obvious that you may need those. The problem I have always seen with the press and journalists is that they only put one side of a 2 sided story into publication. Get the 2nd side before you post an incorrect story and double check your facts, and even in return, your sources.
Posted by: John M | August 29, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Dear John M. Thanks for reading. I have requested a few interviews with Vincent “Vinny” Faraci. I have been turned down. You say that I have my facts wrong but I am not clear which one is wrong? The only fact like thing you mention is really a question about tip-outs which you do not say I was wrong about only hint at it. Are you saying I am wrong? Because I did talk to a lot of dancers, and as far as they were concerned, tipping out "Vinny" was mandatory. But I will put the question up to you to see if you are saying that when Vincent “Vinny” Faraci was at Crazy Horse Too the dancers tipping him at the end of a shift was optional and not a mandatory tip-out for them? And, further, am I wrong that he accepted a felony conviction arising from that cash? And further this is not his first felony conviction? Anyway, I would still love to get both sides, as you say. Have your man, Vincent “Vinny” Faraci, agree to an interview and I am sure we can clear this all up if he is this revered figure that you describe. I am also willing to have any factual error corrected instantly. Have someone from the club contact me. The PR rep there knows how to reach me. After I am told of any mistake, I will at once correct. I am amazed not a word about this sensitive people person side of him reached me.
The one dancer I think who wrote about him, though obliquely, was Jenna Jameson (though I don't think she gave his full name in her book but it seems to be him) and he does not come off like the man beloved by dancers you describe. Yrs, Richard
Posted by: Richard Abowitz | August 31, 2009 at 03:20 AM
Vincent Faraci refers to himself as the GM of crazy horse III and still forces dancers to tip 20 percent of the tips they make. I don't know how much longer the feds will let this go on. I'm pretty sure they are going to make sure he goes away along time this time.
Posted by: J.V. | October 20, 2009 at 11:24 PM
I worked with Vinny from 1992-2000 at CH2. It's a shame that many didn't see the good that I experienced. He was very protective, understanding and truly did care about the regular girls. If for one minute I felt forced or uncomfortable in his presence, I would've been out the door immediately. But for Vinny and CH2, I wouldn't have been able to put my child through school, etc. as a divorced mom.
Posted by: L | November 01, 2009 at 03:19 PM