A look back at Evel Knievel’s jump 50 years ago at Caesars Palace

On Dec. 31, 1967, a daredevil who previously had performed before small crowds in places like Missoula, Mont., and Barstow, Calif., twisted the throttle of his Triumph motorcycle and roared up a ramp at Caesars Palace. ¶ What happened in the next moments, days and weeks would launch the daredevil — Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel — on a trajectory that would make him an international celebrity and a multimillionaire. ¶ But he would pay a heavy price for his fame.

Knievel missed the jump, as Americans of a certain age are well aware. He suffered several broken bones and would spend weeks in the hospital. But when film footage of the jump was picked up by ABC — that era’s version of going viral — it put him on the map.

The spectacle at Caesars 50 years ago this week was a legendary moment in Las Vegas history.

But as with other legends, embellishment and falsehoods became attached to it over the years.

So what was truth and what was myth about the jump? Here’s a look at a few of the stories about the jump, which the Sun vetted by referencing several online sources and books. For those interested in exploring more, we’d recommend starting with two excellent books: “Gradissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas: How Jay Sarno Won a Casino Empire, Lost It, and Inspired Modern Las Vegas,” by David G. Schwartz; and “Evel: The High-flying Life of Evel Knievel: American Showman, Daredevil, and Legend,” 2011, Leight Montville.

The story: Knievel conned Caesars’ owner Jay Sarno into agreeing to the jump

Truth meter: True

The details change depending on who’s recounting the story, but Knievel definitely played Sarno, who initially wanted nothing to do with the event.

To get Sarno’s attention, Knievel peppered him with hoax phone calls in which Knievel impersonated reporters, business representatives and lawyers, and asked Sarno when and where the jump was taking place.

In his final call, Knievel fronted as a lawyer representing Evel Knievel Enterprises and said his client had been flooded with phone calls asking him about the Caesars jump, which Knievel/lawyer said his client knew nothing about. The volume of calls had gotten so heavy, Knievel/lawyer said, that Knievel was considering suing Caesars for using his name without permission. But Knievel/lawyer said he also represented musician Lawrence Welk and had to leave the next morning to go on tour with him. He suggested a meeting between Sarno and Knievel to discuss the jump.

That call got Knievel in the door, and he and Sarno cut a deal. Knievel was to jump three times — on Dec.