Crime Story Brings Vintage Las Vegas and Classic Cars to the Screen

For viewers drawn to period detail, Crime Story offers two eras at once: a story set in the early 1960s and scenes filmed in Las Vegas during the late 1980s. The cars provide plenty to watch, but the city itself is part of the appeal. Old Fremont Street and the interiors of Bob Stupak’s Vegas World preserve a look that later changes to the city have made harder to see.

Las Vegas on screen

The series, starring Dennis Farina, began in 1986 and ran for two seasons. Its story starts in Chicago in the early 1960s, then shifts to Las Vegas after a few episodes. Farina plays a Chicago police lieutenant whose team follows mob figures. Before acting, Farina spent 18 years in the Chicago police department, moving from patrol officer to detective.

Once the setting reaches Las Vegas, the production gets a distinctive backdrop. Scenes were filmed inside Vegas World, the casino developed by Bob Stupak that later became the Stratosphere and is now called The Strat. That connection gives the show a visual record of a particular version of the Strip and its casino interiors.

A personal visit makes those details especially recognizable. Around 1989, the writer and his wife used one of Stupak’s promotion club deals to stay at Vegas World. The offer, as he recalls it, included $1,200 in slot play tokens, table game vouchers, a room and meals for three days, for $400 per couple. The Wisconsin couple broke even on one trip.

Watching the series now brings back the casino’s original decor, layout and carpeting. The contrast between that remembered interior and the present-day property gives the footage a value beyond its plot: it lets viewers revisit a place that has since been substantially changed. Downtown scenes also show Old Fremont Street before later alterations, adding another layer of period atmosphere.

Classic cars take the lead

The automotive lineup is another reason to watch. Many of the cars date from the late 1950s and early 1960s, with examples including Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Cadillacs and Fords. The standout is Farina’s jet-black 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible. Its factory 392 Hemi engine had two four-barrel carburetors and produced 375 horsepower.

In some scenes, the Chrysler’s engine note comes through as it accelerates. The car is more than background decoration: its size, styling and sound help anchor the show’s period look. The writer says Farina wanted to drive it through both seasons. The car appears in action scenes, though it wasn’t heavily used in chases.

A recent photo shared with the writer showed the original Chrysler in Chicago. The owner, who has had it since the 1970s, reportedly keeps two examples and plans for his daughters to inherit one each. Asked whether he would sell, the answer was no. For anyone taken with the car, that leaves the screen version as the easier place to admire it.

A second car story

The series also left a mark on another owner. He said he supplied a 1959 Cadillac for filming in Las Vegas across two seasons. The car was white at first, then painted brown for the next season. He was paid $50 per day, and the production kept the Cadillac for two months.

When the car came back, it contained spent 30 mm cartridge cases. The owner said the production had wanted to destroy it for the final episode, but he refused to sell, so the ending was changed. His account offers a glimpse of the practical arrangements behind the period cars: owners supplied real vehicles, and the production had to work around what they were willing to let happen to them.

Where to watch

The writer found the series on Amazon Prime and had started its second and final season. There are about 40 episodes across the two seasons. The first season also features guest appearances by Debbie Harry, Paul Anka, Gary Sinise and Julia Roberts. The series is available to stream on Amazon, Tubi, Peacock and other services.

For viewers interested in vintage cars or Las Vegas history, the lasting draw is the combination: real vehicles with distinct mechanical character, casino interiors tied to a specific property, and downtown streets captured before later changes. The episodes preserve those details in motion, making the series a useful watch for anyone curious about how the city and its cars looked on screen in the late 1980s.

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