Bugsy Siegel

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Bugsy Siegel Page 23

by Michael Shnayerson


  drive from Los Angeles to, 85

  history of, 87–88

  Hoover Dam and, 88

  military airport at, 89

  race wire in, 92–93, 168

  Siegel’s move to, 85–99

  Syndicate financing of casinos in, 186

  Wilkerson’s plans for, 110–16, 167. See also specific hotels and casinos

  Las Vegas Club, 89

  Las Vegas Review-Journal, 97, 118, 147, 161

  Lawford, Peter, 145

  Lehman, Irving, 84

  Levine, Red, 24, 27

  Levinson, Barry, 37

  Lewis, Tom, 97

  Lewisburg federal prison, 75

  Lewis Street speakeasy (New York), 14

  Linden Drive house (Beverly Hills), 155, 164–65, 167–70, 182

  Lindy’s (Los Angeles restaurant), 78

  Little Joe, 91

  Lombard, Carole, 45

  Lorre, Peter, 179

  Los Angeles Examiner, 58, 60, 64, 79, 179, 183

  Los Angeles Herald-Express, 173

  Los Angeles Times, 170–71

  Luciano, Charles “Lucky” (Salvatore Luciana): Buchalter’s surrender and, 65

  deportation of, 150

  Dewey’s prosecution of, 49–50

  Dragna and, 35

  at Havana con-ference of the Syndicate, 150–52

  Lansky and, 11, 22

  Maranzano and, 26, 27–28

  as Masseria’s enforcer, 26

  Murder Inc. and, 51

  in Rothstein organization, 12–15

  Schultz’s death and, 39

  Siegel’s death, possible involvement in, 173–74

  World War II assistance to United States, 107, 149–50

  Madden, Owney, 33–34

  Madison Hotel, 105

  Mandalay Resort, 187

  Maranzano, Salvatore, 25–27, 39

  Marie Galante (film), 36

  Martin, Dean, 186

  Mason, Jerri, 165, 167, 170–73, 177, 181, 183

  Masseria, Joseph “The Boss,” 25–26, 39

  Maxwell, Elsa, 43

  May, Allan, 128

  McAfee, Guy, 35, 54, 93, 147

  McBride, Mickey, 90

  McCarran, Pat, 116, 125, 127, 154

  Metha Nelson (schooner), 58, 60, 61, 66, 79

  MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio), 144

  MGM Grand Resort (Las Vegas), 187

  Miami: Lansky’s investments in, 108

  Siegel’s visits to, 116

  Miner’s Bowery Theatre (New York), 5

  Mob Museum (Las Vegas), 187

  Mocambo, 104

  Monaco, 181

  Morgan, Henry, 73

  Morgan, Swifty, 168–69

  Muir, Florabel, 17, 43, 55, 160, 172

  Murder Inc., 51–68, 73, 82, 184. See also Syndicate; specific targets

  Murder, Inc. (film), 73

  Mussolini, Benito, 25, 66, 149

  narcotics trafficking, 20, 36, 58, 63, 135, 151, 154

  Nationwide News Service, 54, 75

  Nealis, Eddie, 35

  Nevada Projects Corporation, 119, 121, 130, 140, 151–52, 179–80. See also Flamingo Hotel

  Newman, Benny, 46

  Normandie (ship), 149

  Northern Club (Las Vegas), 88–89

  O’Connor, Carol A., 30–31

  Octopus. See McAfee, Guy

  Ostholthoff, A. E., 125–27, 131, 133–35, 154

  Owens, William, 131

  Pair-O-Dice (casino), 89

  Palace Chop House, 38

  Parsons, Louella, 43, 44

  Persel, Lillie, 4

  Pianezzi, Peter, 48

  Pickfair (mansion), 44

  Pickford, Mary, 44

  Pileggi, Nick, 11, 182–83

  Prohibition, 11–12, 14, 17, 22, 31, 36, 47, 88, 89

  prostitution, 5, 35, 49, 87–88, 149

  Puzo, Mario: The Godfather, 173

  race wire: Continental Press, 90–93, 108, 127, 158

  Trans-American, 90, 91–92, 127, 135, 158, 166

  Racing Form, 95

  Raft, George: arrest for bookmaking with Siegel and Smiley, 95–96

  Barrie and, 78, 79, 94

  at Delfern Drive residence, 42, 54, 76

  at Flamingo, 146, 148

  Flamingo financing from, 155–56

  Hearst and, 144

  Mob Museum items donated by, 187

  Siegel’s acting career and, 45

  as Siegel’s entrée to Hollywood, 33–34, 44

  Siegel’s friendship with, 33–34, 79, 86

  Siegel’s last visit with, 169

  on Siegel’s vanity, 46–47

  Stewart and, 55

  treasure hunting expe-dition financed by, 57

  Virginia Hill and, 100–101, 105

  Ragen, James, Sr., 90, 93, 127–28, 166

  Rat Pack, 186

  Reader’s Digest, 46

  Redondo Beach, 53

  Reles, Abe “Kid Twist,” 51, 73, 76–77, 79–83

  Reles, Rose, 73

  Reppetto, Thomas, 13, 135

  American Mafia, 26

  residences of Siegel: Arden Drive, Beverly Hills, 36

  Cannon Street, New York, 3, 6

  Central Park West, 122, 134

  Delfern Drive, Los Angeles, 41–43, 54–56, 60, 64, 74–76, 81, 94, 96–99, 194n7

  Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, 99

  Linden Drive, Beverly Hills, 155, 164–65, 167–70, 182

  McCarty Drive, Beverly Hills, 37–38

  Scarsdale, New York, 30–31, 36

  Waldorf Astoria (New York), 25

  Rex (casino ship), 56–57, 75

  Richardson, Jim, 79

  Riechenthal, Jennie. See Siegel, Jennie Riechenthal

  Riviera casino, 186

  Robinson, Edward G., 64

  Rockaway, Robert, 10, 11, 26, 68, 136–37

  Romanoff’s (restaurant), 100

  Romero, Juan, 155, 164

  Roost Café, 47

  Roselli, Johnny, 44, 47, 90

  Rose Marie (performer), 145

  Rosen, Jack, 184

  Rosen, Joseph, 83

  Rosen, Morris, 172, 183–84

  Rosen, Wendy (granddaughter), 20–21, 37, 184, 185

  Rothberg, G. Harry, 114–15, 119, 157

  Rothberg, Sam, 114, 119

  Rothstein, Arnold (“The Brain”), 12–14, 18, 20, 23, 38, 134

  Royal Nevada casino, 186

  Rubenstein, Peter, 137–38

  Runyon, Damon, 160

  Sahara casino (Las Vegas), 186

  St. Francis Hotel (San Francisco), 132

  Sanders, George, 146

  Sands casino (Las Vegas), 186

  Santa Anita horse track (Los Angeles), 31, 34, 36–37, 43, 76, 111

  Santa Monica, 56, 58

  Sardi’s, 18

  Scarface (film), 34

  Scarsdale, New York, 30–31, 36

  Schafer, Lenny, 118

  Schiller, Abe, 159–60

  Schultz, “Dutch” (Arthur Flegenheimer), 14, 18, 38–39, 49

  search warrants for Delfern Drive, 53, 74–76

  Sedway, Bea, 106

  Sedway, Moe: El Cortez purchase and, 108

  Flamingo construc-tion and, 129, 130

  Hotel Wilker-son and, 113, 114–15

  kicked out of Flamingo by Siegel, 158–59

  in “management change” at Flamingo after Siegel’s death, 172–73, 184

  race wire and, 92–93, 158

  Siegel’s Vegas hotel-casino idea and, 109–10

  as suspect in Siegel’s death, 174–75

  Segal, “Champ,” 77

  Selznick, Myron, 57

  Seward, Tom, 115, 118, 157

  Shapiro, Jacob “Gurrah,” 14, 23, 28, 31, 50

  Shaw, Irwin, 183

  Sherman, Charles “Chink,” 29

  Shulman, Irving, 40

  Sica, Joe, 91–92, 166

  Siegel, Barbara (daughter): birth of, 30


  Huie and, 61

  informed of Siegel’s death, 177

  life after Sie-gel’s death, 184

  in Los Angeles, 59, 61

  parents’ divorce and, 121–22

  portrait in Esther’s apartment, 185

  at Siegel’s funeral, 178–79

  Siegel, Benjamin “Bugsy”: acting ambitions of, 45–46

  arrest for bookmaking, 95–96

  arrest for Greenberg murder, 74–78

  arrest for rape, 19–20, 192n1

  birth of, 3

  bootlegging career during Pro-hibition, 11–18, 20

  at Buchalter trial, 81

  childhood of, 3–7

  death of, 171–73

  divorce from Esther, 121–23, 178

  early crimes of, 7–11

  El Cortez purchase and, 108

  FBI surveillance of, 125–27, 128–29, 132–33, 144, 154

  Flamingo con-struction and, 115–42

  gambling by, 34, 36–37, 42, 44

  generosity of, 160–62

  Greenberg murder and, 69–84

  in Las Vegas, 85–162

  leadership style of, 148–49, 153–54

  in Los Angeles, 33–48

  loyalty of, 15, 122–23

  in Luciano’s gang, 26–30

  marriage to first Esther, 20–22

  marriage to second wife Virginia Hill, 135–36

  Mur-der Inc. and, 49–68

  nickname of, 15

  overselling shares of Nevada Projects Corporation, 119, 140, 151–52, 180

  parenting advice to Esther, 138–40

  temper of, 8, 45, 55, 106, 141–42, 159–60, 170

  vanity of, 46–47

  Virginia Hill’s romance with, 100–108. See also residences of Siegel; specific names of business ventures

  Siegel, Bessie (sister). See Soloway, Bessie Siegel

  Siegel, Esther (Esta, Estelle) Krakauer (wife): apartment of, 185

  at Del-fern Drive residence, 54, 59–61, 94–95

  Di Frasso and, 42

  divorce filed by, 121–23, 178

  Huie and, 60–61, 64

  inheritance of, 180

  marriage of, 20–22

  move back to New York, 96–97

  in Scarsdale, 30–31, 36

  Siegel’s death and, 177–78

  at Siegel’s funeral, 178–79

  Siegel’s last contact with, 169

  the Syndicate’s commitment to, 183–84

  Siegel, Esther (sister), 3

  Siegel, Ethel (sister), 3, 36

  Siegel, Jennie Riechenthal (mother), 1–3, 60, 78, 179

  Siegel, Lil (sister-in-law), 37

  Siegel, Maurice/Morris (brother), 3, 7, 37, 79, 162, 177, 178–79

  Siegel, Max (father), 1–3, 7, 17, 60, 61, 64, 78, 161–62, 179

  Siegel, Millicent (daughter): birth of, 25

  death and burial of, 10

  on Flamingo Hotel, 136

  Harlow as “godmother” to, 40

  Huie and, 61

  informed of Siegel’s death, 177

  life after Siegel’s death, 184–85

  in Los Angeles, 59, 61, 64

  parents’ divorce and, 121–22

  portrait in Esther’s apartment, 185

  at Siegel’s funeral, 178–79

  Siegel’s parental advice regarding, 138–40

  Siegels 1941 (Las Vegas restaurant), 139–40

  Silvers, Phil, 54–55

  Simpson, Adeline E., 6

  Sinatra, Frank, 54, 55, 152, 186

  Smiley, Allen, 95–96, 137, 169, 170–71, 173, 177, 178

  Soloway, Bessie Siegel (sister), 3, 99, 106, 122, 178

  Soloway, Sollie, 99, 106

  Speed (film), 78

  Stacher, Doc: Greenberg murder and, 69–70

  at Havana conference of the Syndicate, 151, 152, 173–74

  on Lansky’s attempts to protect Siegel, 166–67

  at Luciano’s de-portation party, 150

  rape charge against Siegel and, 19

  Reles’s death and, 83

  on Siegel-Hill relationship, 121

  on Siegel’s death, 165, 176

  Stadelman, Richard, 120

  stage extras union, 44–45

  Stardust casino (Las Vegas), 186

  Steffens, Lincoln, 7–8

  Stewart, Gloria, 40, 55–56

  Stewart, Jimmy, 40, 55–56, 78

  Stolla, Rose, 4

  Sunset Strip, 35

  Sunset Towers Hotel (Los Angeles), 95, 169

  Syndicate: Bruneman murder and, 47

  commitment to Esther Siegel, 183–84

  creation of, 11, 27–28

  Dragna and, 35

  El Cortez pur-chase and, 108

  financing of Vegas casinos, 186

  Flamingo and, 156, 180

  Greenberg murder and, 69, 70–71, 72–73, 82

  Havana Conference of, 149–52, 173

  Lansky and Siegel awarded all gambling rights outside New York City, 31

  Murder Inc. and, 49, 50, 51, 65

  race wire and, 34

  Schultz murder and, 38–39

  Sed-way’s ejection from Flamingo and, 158–59

  Siegel’s loyalty to, 15

  Siegel’s profitability for, 37

  stage extras union and, 44–45

  as suspects in Siegel’s death, 173–74

  Virginia Hill and, 181–82. See also specific individuals

  Tannenbaum, Albert “Allie Tick Tock,” 71–73, 76–77, 79–83

  Taylor, Dorothy. See Di Frasso, Dorothy

  Taylor, Elizabeth, 59

  Teamsters Union, 186

  Teitelbaum, Harry, 39

  Temple Sinai (Hollywood, Florida), 136

  Tereba, Tere, 151

  Terranova, Ciro, 26

  Thackeray, William Makepeace: Vanity Fair, 103–4

  Thunderbird casino, 186

  Tibbett, Lawrence, 37, 40

  Tijuana dog track, 53

  Till, Emmett, 60

  Townsend, Brigham, 161

  Tracy, Spencer, 78, 144

  Trafficante, Santo, Jr., 150

  Trans-American (race wire), 90, 91–92, 127, 135, 158, 166

  Trocadero (Los Angeles nightclub), 104, 111, 115

  Tropicana casino (Las Vegas), 186

  Turkus, Burton: Murder, Inc., 73

  21 Club (New York), 17

  United Jewish Appeal, 158

  Valentine’s Day massacre, 23

  Valentino, Rudolph, 34, 155, 179

  Vendome (Los Angeles), 111

  Venetian Resort (Las Vegas), 187

  Villa Madama (Italy), 66

  Waldorf Astoria (New York), 25, 30, 105

  Walker, Jimmy, 13

  Ward, Charlie, 52–53, 76

  Warren, Earl, 57, 112

  Watering Hole #25 (Las Vegas), 87

  Webb, Del, 121, 131, 133–36, 156

  Weinberg, Sidney, 30

  Weiss, Mendy, 77, 83–84

  Wiener, Louis, Jr., 116–18, 119–20, 124–25, 160–61

  Wilkerson, Billy: on Flamingo open-ing, 144, 146

  gambling by, 111–12

  Hotel Wilkerson and, 113–15

  Las Vegas hotel-casino concept of, 110–16

  Nevada Projects Cor-poration and, 119, 130, 140–41

  nightclubs and restaurants started by, 111

  sale of land to Siegel, 130

  Siegel’s “buyout” of, 140–42, 156–57

  Siegel’s death and, 167, 180

  Siegel’s “partnership” with, 115–19

  Wilkerson, W. R., III, 157, 180

  The Man Who Invented Las Vegas, 111, 115, 121

  Williamsburg Bridge, 2, 3, 4, 17

  Winchell, Walter, 70, 148, 160

  Wolf, George, 134–35

  Workman, Charlie “The Bug,” 38–39

  World Series (1919), 13, 18

  World War II, 89, 107–8

  Wray, Fay, 179

  Wynn Resort, 187
r />   Xavier Cugat band, 145, 147, 152

  Young, Loretta, 97

  Zwillman, Abner “Longy,” 10, 14, 22, 40, 46, 71, 103

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