Pam Zekman

We wanted to make sure that we got a shot, so we put bar stools up on the bar so that they would have to do their business, fill out their reports, do whatever it is that they do at a key spot where the cameraman could get a picture. And you can see in the picture of the building inspector, you can see the bar stools up on the bar. Behind him? Yeah.

We wanted to make sure that we got a shot, so we put bar stools up on the bar so that they would have to do their business, fill out their reports, do whatever it is that they do at a key spot where the cameraman could get a picture. And you can see in the picture of the building inspector, you can see the bar stools up on the bar. Behind him? Yeah.

At one point, he looked up at the grill that our cameraman had put in the loft so that they could shoot down on top of the bar and capture what was going on. He looked straight up at that ventilation duct, and the cameraman thought that they were spotted. I mean, they froze. They didn't want to make a move. And they wound up, though, getting the...

At one point, he looked up at the grill that our cameraman had put in the loft so that they could shoot down on top of the bar and capture what was going on. He looked straight up at that ventilation duct, and the cameraman thought that they were spotted. I mean, they froze. They didn't want to make a move. And they wound up, though, getting the...

picture that we wanted of him scooping up the envelope. That was yes, one of the iconic photographs is he took the envelope. The same thing happened with the building inspector that followed.

picture that we wanted of him scooping up the envelope. That was yes, one of the iconic photographs is he took the envelope. The same thing happened with the building inspector that followed.

You like that, huh? But he's also got a cigarette dangling from him, too. They both do. I mean, we were very excited about those photographs. And, of course, the cameraman told us that right away, they told us that they had nailed it. And, you know, it happened over and over again. You asked me at what point did I think that we really were accomplishing or proving the point.

You like that, huh? But he's also got a cigarette dangling from him, too. They both do. I mean, we were very excited about those photographs. And, of course, the cameraman told us that right away, they told us that they had nailed it. And, you know, it happened over and over again. You asked me at what point did I think that we really were accomplishing or proving the point.

that this was systemic. My wow moment came as we progressed through the different specialties and the ventilation inspector and the plumbing inspector and then the liquor inspector just telling us go to the cash register and get some cash. Did I imagine going into it that we found all the things we did? No. It was incredible.

that this was systemic. My wow moment came as we progressed through the different specialties and the ventilation inspector and the plumbing inspector and then the liquor inspector just telling us go to the cash register and get some cash. Did I imagine going into it that we found all the things we did? No. It was incredible.

Finally closing up, you know, we wound up having to take down some of the decorations we'd put up. It was not depressing. It was the end of a huge, huge effort that had gone successfully and a huge sense of relief and of accomplishment in what we had done. But there was so much more to do.

Finally closing up, you know, we wound up having to take down some of the decorations we'd put up. It was not depressing. It was the end of a huge, huge effort that had gone successfully and a huge sense of relief and of accomplishment in what we had done. But there was so much more to do.

It became like a soap opera. People were buying the paper and sitting there and reading it on the train and following it very closely. And it went from the corruption to the tax skimming to the vendors to the features and the characters in the bar.

It became like a soap opera. People were buying the paper and sitting there and reading it on the train and following it very closely. And it went from the corruption to the tax skimming to the vendors to the features and the characters in the bar.

I still have in my closet a Mirage jacket and T-shirts that say I inspected the Mirage. And I have matchbooks that we had made for the Mirage.

I still have in my closet a Mirage jacket and T-shirts that say I inspected the Mirage. And I have matchbooks that we had made for the Mirage.