Author Reopens Capone’s Vault on Live Television Forty Years Later And Finds Reality TV

CHICAGO, IL, April 25, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ — On a cold windy morning Author William Elliott Hazelgrove stood in front of the site of the Lexington Hotel with a safe and opened it on live television. Forty years after Geraldo Rivera drew nearly 30 million viewers to one of the most infamous live broadcasts in television history, Capone’s vault has been opened once again—this time by author William Hazelgrove at the original site of the Lexington Hotel in Chicago.

In a live anniversary recreation covered by local media including WGN-TV, Hazelgrove reopened the vault on April 21, marking the 40th anniversary of the original broadcast that captivated the nation.

The result: renewed national interest in one of television’s most debated moments.

“What was once called a failure is clearly anything but,” said Hazelgrove, author of Capone’s Vault. “Thirty million people watched. And 40 years later, we’re still talking about it. That’s not a disaster—that’s a cultural milestone.”

The original 1986 broadcast, hosted by Rivera, has long been remembered for its lack of tangible discovery inside the vault. Yet its legacy has only grown, with many now viewing it as a precursor to modern reality television and live-event spectacle.

Rivera himself has recently revisited the moment in national interviews, describing it as a mix of “embarrassment” and pride. Privately, after reading Hazelgrove’s new book on the event, Rivera praised it simply: “It’s a great read.”

The April 21 reenactment brought the story full circle—returning to the site where the nation once gathered around their televisions in anticipation, and demonstrating that the intrigue surrounding Capone’s vault has not faded.

Media coverage surrounding the anniversary continues to reinforce a shifting narrative: what was once labeled a televised misfire is increasingly seen as a defining moment in media history.

Hazelgrove’s book, Capone’s Vault, explores the full story behind the broadcast, its cultural impact, and why it continues to resonate decades later.

“People didn’t tune in just for what was inside the vault,” Hazelgrove added. “They tuned in for the experience. That’s the legacy—and that’s why we’re still talking about it today. The safe contained the money Geraldo was looking for, the bottles he found, and a cellphone, which is what he really found…the future of television or reality TV. “

William Elliott Hazelgrove is the National Bestselling Author of 25 Books.

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