Inside The Inland Empire

Little known facts about Palm Springs and the Inland Empire:

Booze, girls and cash. That was how Al Wertheimer lived his life, both in his days as a mobster with the Purple Gang in Detroit and later as an entrepreneur who arguably put the desert on the map.

The legendary Palm Springs crowd - Bogart, Hayworth, Gable and Lombard - came to Palm Springs for more than the desert sun. A nightlife filled with drinking, dancing and gambling at Wertheimer's The Dunes casino was the true draw in the early years of the quiet village.

The history
Wertheimer and his brother Lou landed in the desert in 1934. Immediately, they began plans for a Palm Springs casino after recognizing the success of underground gambling joints in Hollywood.

The brothers came up against opposition, mainly from the town matriarch, Nellie Coffman, but eventually won out by operating outside the city line.

The Dunes was born and rivaled every upscale establishment of L.A. and New York.

Located at the south end of what is now Date Palm, the dining room was illuminated with chandeliers; patrons were greeted by tuxedoed servers and served Kansas steaks and Maine lobster at a cost of $4 a plate.

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