Geraldo Rivera's 1986 Capone Vault Special Launched Reality TV Trend
On April 21, 1986, Geraldo Rivera hosted a live television special from Chicago's Lexington Hotel, aiming to uncover Al Capone’s purported hidden treasure. Attracting an audience of 30 million, the two-hour show shocked viewers when it revealed only a collection of dusty bottles. Although Rivera faced uncertainty regarding his career following the event and struggled with alcohol, the show's massive viewership led to 22 new job offers. Author William Elliott Hazelgrove later noted this broadcast as a pivotal moment in the evolution of reality television. Ultimately, the so-called vault proved to be a coal chute, with no treasures uncovered.
Key facts
- Geraldo Rivera hosted 'The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults' live from Chicago's Lexington Hotel on April 21, 1986.
- 30 million viewers watched the broadcast, which found only old bottles and dust.
- Rivera was recently fired from ABC News and feared his career was over.
- The show's ratings led to 22 job offers for Rivera.
- William Elliott Hazelgrove authored 'Capone’s Vault: The Real Story of the Biggest Disaster in Television History.'
- Rivera was paid $50,000 for the special.
- The vault was actually a coal chute.
- Capone died on January 25, 1947, at age 48 from a heart attack due to syphilis.
Entities
Artists
- Geraldo Rivera
- Al Capone
- William Elliott Hazelgrove
- Robert Stack
- Mike Wallace
- Roone Arledge
- Sylvia Chase
- Marilyn Monroe
- John F. Kennedy
- Robert Kennedy
- Ethel Kennedy
- Doug Llewelyn
- Sherwin Tarnoff
- Dennis Sansone
- Tony Berardi
- George 'Bugs' Moran
- Chuck Goudie
- Bob Miller
- Larry Henry
Institutions
- The Mob Museum
- ABC News
- Westgate Group
- IRS
- Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
- NBC Chicago
- Las Vegas Sun
- KFSM-TV
- CBS
- Gambling.com
- The New York Times
- 60 Minutes
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Lexington Hotel
- Chicago's South Side
- Palm Island
- Miami Beach
- San Francisco Bay
- Mount Carmel Cemetery
- SMC Cartage Company garage
- Terminal Island
- Nevada
- Northwest Arkansas