It was twenty years ago today...

On April 21, 1986, a vault in Chicago's Lexington Hotel, former residence and headquarters of mobster Al Capone, was opened during a live TV special hosted by Geraldo Rivera. Geraldo lured viewers with the promise of finding historic artifacts, a cache of treasure or even the bones of gangster.

Aside from a few bottles and a sign, the vault was empty.

The special received the highest ratings in the history of syndicated television.

(A tip of the Tabloid Baby hat to Our Man Elli in Israel.)