'You can't make this stuff up!': Key players in Harvey's hotel bombing react to film chronicling ...
In August of 1980, two men wheeled a device the size of a large copier into one of the most well-known casinos in Lake Tahoe in the South area. It was actually a bomb with a thousand pounds of dynamite. Now, the story behind the explosion of Harvey's Hotel and Casino is now a KCRA3 and very local documentary, and KCRA3's Melanie Wingo takes us to the film's Sacramento premiere. One of the most fascinating events of our region's history. You can't make this stuff up. The August 1980 extortion plot and bombing of the Harvey's Hotel and Casino in state line Nevada. Who would expect for somebody to actually carry out a bomb threat? Now, a KCRA3 and very local production.
It's probably one of the most complicated productions we have ever done at KCRA. People from across Sacramento getting a first look at bringing down the house on the big screen. This won't look like your typical sort of news special. It's going to look more like something you turned on Netflix and you started watching. It's of that kind of caliber. The film chronicling the events over four decades ago surrounding the bomb threat and eventual building implosion. It's a wonderful case and it was a very unique and so I always appreciate the opportunity to talk about it.
Bill Jonke, an FBI special agent at the time, explaining his role in helping to crack the case. I would hope that they recognize the fact that from nothing we can arrange and work a trans post and get 100 agents busy doing work to solve a case. Others like former KCRA3 reporter Alice Scott there in South Lake Tahoe to witness history in the making. The assignment desk called me to say we got this bomb threat at Harvey's Casino. Also featured in the film, the son of the man convicted of carrying out the Harvey's Hotel bombing. It is such a far-fetched story to be able to roll a 2,000 pound bomb in the front door of a casino. The Keystone cop of errors, it's almost a comedy.
Jim Burgess' father, John Burgess, died in prison at all these years later. He's expressing appreciation for how this story is being documented. It's an interesting story. It's embarrassing to me at times. But I'd rather have it told correctly and in the right context than people guessing and making up. In downtown Sacramento, Melanie Wingo, KCRA3 News. Accessible night.
Now you can watch this case unfolded in our documentary, Bringing Down the House. It will be available to stream for free on the very local app. You can download the very local app from the Apple or Google Play stores or of course on your smart TV.
Bringing Down the House, Crest Theatre, KCRA, Sacramento