As we left Uncle Jack to his self-proclaimed poverty and misery, Vince turned to me and said, in mock-wiseguy style, “We have only two choices. Kill him, or kidnap him and torture him until he tells us where the money is. What do you want to do?”
I laughed. It felt good to laugh, after the months and months of tears. “Screw the money,” I said. “We have each other.” Jake Lansky may not have been crying wolf. Without his brother to guide his life, he died that September 1983. His will left his family vastly better off than Daddy’s, but didn’t come close to solving the three hundred million dollar mystery. Vince, the former private eye, didn’t even want to try. Vince didn’t care about money, and, in the end, which has turned out to be wonderfully happy, neither did I.
INDEX
Abbott and Costello, 177
Abrams, Elizabeth, 216–217
Abrams, Hy, 28, 216–217
Adonis, Joe (aka Joe Doto)
Benny Siegel and, 65
daughter Maria Doto and, 157
description of, 6
exile to Italy, 183
magazine publication about, 90
Virginia Hill and, 60, 98
Affairs
Dean Martin, 162–166
Dick Shaw, 169–170
George DeWitt, 160–162
Wynne Lassner, 178–179
Aldrich Stables, 48–49, 68, 88, 125, 159. See also Manhattan Riding Club
Aleichem, Sholem, 124
Allen, Charles, 209
Allen, Steve, 177
“Almost Like Being in Love” (song), 133
Alo, Flo, 31, 65–66, 69, 85, 118
Alo, Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes,” 12, 65–66, 85, 200, 228
Aloi, Sebastian “Buster,” 219
Anastasia, Albert, 181–182, 203
Anderson, Chuck, 188
Andrea Doria (ship), 151
Angelo’s (restaurant), 149
Annenberg, Moe, 30
Annenberg, Walter, 30
Annie Get Your Gun (Broadway show), 104
Aristocrat Hotel (New York), 191
Arkansas, Hot Springs, 13–14. See also Kefauver, Estes
Arlington Hotel (Hot Springs, Arkansas), 13
Arrowhead Inn Nightclub (Saratoga Springs, New York), 115
Asunción, Paraguay, 224
Atlantic Monthly (magazine), 221
Attina, Nancy (nanny), 64–67, 84
Automat (New York), 5
Avenue X Gang, 213
Backus, Jim, 179
Ballston Spa, New York, 116–117, 207
Bambi (dog), 149
Bardot, Brigitte, 158
Barrie, Wendy, 60
Barrymore, John, 128–129
Barton, Eileen, 178
Batista, Fulgencio, 29, 167–168, 183
Bazookie (horse), 48, 68, 88
Bellevue Hospital, 32, 63–64
Bemelmans Bar, 163
Bennett, Tony, 43
Benny, Jack, 105, 161
Beresford (New York apartment), 12, 14, 15, 37–38, 87
Berlin, Irving, 3
Berman, Dave, 139
Berra, Yogi, 194
Best & Co. (hair salon), 31
Beverly Hills, Siegel mansion, 9–10
The Bible (movie), 12
Biegger, Jeannie, 169
Biller, Bill, 53
Birch Wathen (school), 40, 50, 67
Birnbaum, Lillian, 158
Blanche, Billy, 117
Block, Martin, 45
Bo-Bo (restaurant), 196
Bogart, Humphrey, 128–129
Bormann, Martin, 224
Boston, Massachusetts, 21–23, 27–28
Boston Blackie (radio show), 45
Boston’s Children’s Hospital, 22–23 231
Boxing, 45, 70, 214
Brasserie (restaurant), 178
Brewer, Teresa, 53
Broadway Melody of 1940 (movie), 210
Broadway shows, 1–3. See also specific shows
Broward County, Florida, 26, 50, 105, 114
Bruiser (dog), 220, 226
Bugs and Meyer Mob, 10
Burdines (department store), 85
Burke, Paul, 178
Café de la Paix, 88
Cagney, James, 128–129
Calhoun School (New York), 67–68, 103, 106, 144
California (Naples restaurant), 148
Call Me Madam (Broadway show), 104
Calloway, Cab, 45
Camp High Point (Ulster County, New York), 79–80
Cannon, Dyan, 125, 180
Cantinflas (comedian), 177
Capone, Al, 60, 225
Carbo, Frankie, 70, 112
Carfano, “Little Augie,” 64–65, 188
Carlyle Hotel (New York), 163, 189
Carousel (Broadway show), 1–3, 70
Carpet joints (clubs), 25
Carruthers (Buddy’s Boston doctor), 23, 28
Casino gambling
Atlantic City, New Jersey, 53–54
beginning of, 25–27
Havana, Cuba, 28–30, 105, 167–168, 183–185
Hot Springs, Arkansas, 14
Las Vegas, Nevada, 59, 200–201
Saratoga Springs, New York, 115
Cast a Giant Shadow (movie), 111
Castro, Fidel, 183–185, 197
Catena, Jerry, 33
Cavanagh’s (restaurant), 5
Chandler, Jeff, 187
Chess, Esther, 118. See also Lansky, Esther
Chevalier, Maurice, 133
Christ Cella (restaurant), 152
Christian Science Reading Room, 22
Christmas celebrations, 21
Cincinnati, Ohio, 25–26
Citron, Anna (later Lansky). See Lansky, Anna (mother)
Citron, Julie (uncle), 54, 83, 119–120, 146
Citron, Moses (grandfather), 23–25, 48, 72–73
Citron, Sadie (aunt), 27, 31, 61
Citron, Shelma (grandmother), 23
Clooney, Rosemary, 43
Club Boheme (Florida nightclub), 50, 85, 114
Cobb, Lee J., 124
Cocoanut Grove (Boston nightclub), 28
Coffee shops, 51–52
Cohen, Wolfie, 171
Cole, Nat King, 138
Colombo, Joe, 219
Colonial Inn (Florida nightclub), 50, 60, 64–65, 78, 85, 114
Colonial School (Miami Beach, Florida), 50
Colony (restaurant), 178
Common Sense (Paine), 46–47
Copa Girls, 127
Copacabana
Buddy’s introduction to, 43
children’s Christmas party at, 86
Jack Entratter and, 201
last Martin and Lewis show at, 162–163
Sandra’s avoidance of, 178, 188–189
Sandra’s exposure to, 85
sweet sixteen party, 113, 126–127
Vince Lombardo as bouncer at, 210, 214
Copley Plaza Hotel (Massachusetts), 217
Coppola, Francis, 30
Costello, Frank
assassination attempt on, 181
Carlo Gambino and, 203
at Copacabana, 127, 188, 214
death of, 228
description of, 5
early history with Meyer, 150
generosity of, 9, 86
Kefauver Committee hearings, 92–96
magazine publication about, 90
as successor of Charlie Luciano, 14
Cotton Club (Harlem, New York), 13
Crippled Children’s Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts), 195, 218
Crosby, Bing, 7, 172–173
Crosby, Gary, 172–173
Cuba, Havana. See Havana, Cuba
Cushing, Richard, 21, 23
Dalitz, Moe (uncle), 24–25, 139
Dallas, Texas, 25–26
d’Amato, Skinny, 161
Damone, Vic, 177
Dannemora Prison (New York), 14, 17
Danny’s Hide-Away, 187–188
; Davey Crockett (television series), 92
Davis, Sammy, Jr., 7
Deal, New Jersey (aka Gangster Riviera), 33–34
Deerfield Academy, 89
Delicatessens, 51, 171, 202
Dempsey, Jack, 100, 178
Depression era, 28–29, 31
Desert Inn, 139
Devine, Ida, 201
Devine, Irving “Niggy,” 200, 201, 228
Dewey, Tomas, 14, 17–18, 110
DeWitt, George, 160–162
Diet pills, 159, 179–180, 187, 218–219
Dietrich, Marlene, 88
DiMaggio, Joe, 187
Dinners
at home, 41–43
with uncles, 3–5
Dinty Moore’s (restaurant)
description of, 3–4, 6
Ethel Merman and, 104
George Wood and, 7
Sandra’s avoidance of, 178
Sandra’s meeting with Meyer at, 120, 205
Tony Salerno and, 154
Diplomat Hotel (Florida), 165, 166
Disney, Walt, 92
Divorce
Buddy’s, 226
parent’s, 57–62, 66–67
Paul’s, 225
Sandra’s, 153–154, 170
Siegels’s, 61
Dockworkers, 17
Doctors’ Hospital (Florida), 127
Dog track (Phoenix, Arizona), 28
Dogs
Bambi, 149
Bruiser, 220, 226
Maria, 144
Nappy, 144
Petey, 40–42
Tiger, 220, 226
un-named poodle, 122–123
Dorsey, Tommy, 7
Doto, Joe (aka Joe Adonis). See Adonis, Joe
Doto, Maria, 157
Drake, Allan, 188
Drake, Janice, 188
Drugs, use of, 159, 179–180, 187, 218–219
Eagle, Max, 75, 81, 114, 118, 121, 133
Earp, Wyatt, 187
Easter celebrations, 21
Ed Sullivan Show, 177
Eden Roc Hotel (Florida), 167, 220
Edison, Thomas, 34
Eisenhower’s inauguration, 111
El Cortez (restaurant), 139
El Morocco (restaurant), 178, 188
Electroshock treatments, 59
Elizabeth Arden (beauty salon), 31
Ellington, Duke, 45, 178
Embers (restaurant), 128
Emby Distributing Company, 52–53
Engle, Max, 75
Entratter, Jack, 200, 201
Erickson, Frank, 8–9
Europe (honeymoon trip), 146–151
FAO Schwarz (store), 31
Fat Tony Salerno, 154, 217
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Communist threat meeting, 185
Eisenhower Republicans and, 180
Gabby’s involvement with, 199–202, 203, 209–210
Meyer tailed by, 220
Fink, Julie, 42–43
Finland, Helsinki Olympics, 112, 195
500 Club (Atlantic City, New Jersey), 161
Flamingo Hotel (Las Vegas), 61, 73–74, 137, 139, 217
Florentine, George. See DeWitt, George
Flynn, Errol, 61
Fontainebleau Hotel (Florida), 84, 167, 169–170, 187
Ford, Glenn, 210
Ford, Whitey, 194
The Forge (steak house), 225
Freeman, Eddie, 111
Freeman, Paul, 111
Fremont casino hotel (Las Vegas), 201
Froman, Jane, 63
Fulton Fish Market, 16
Gallagher’s (restaurant), 5, 152
Gambino, Carlo, 203, 214
Gambling
Buddy’s problem with, 72, 113–114, 166, 226
casinos (see Casino gambling)
legalizing, 104–105
Prohibition era, 18–19, 25–26, 50–51
racetracks, 25–26, 29
Sandra and, 169
Gangster Riviera, 33–34
Garbo, Greta, 88, 144
Gardner, Ava, 177
Genovese, Vito, 181, 203
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (song), 127
George Brown’s Gymnasium and Health Club (New York), 51, 70
Gershwin, George, 3
Giancana, Sam “Mooney,” 187, 198
Gigante, Vinnie “the Chin,” 181
Gitlitz (delicatessen), 202
Gleason, Jackie, 163
Godfrey, Arthur, 71
Gooding, Mrs. (household employment agency), 38, 42
Gophers gang, 13
Gotti, John, Jr., 30
Grant, Cary, 125, 180
Grant, Kathy, 172
Gray, Seymour, 205, 217, 225
Grayson, Kathryn, 138
Graziano, Rocky, 45
Greenbaum, Gus, 139
Guggenheim, Peggy, 68
Haden, Annie Wood, 71
Haden, George, 71
Hammerstein, Dorothy, 70–71, 77
Hammerstein, Oscar, 70–71
Harlow, Jean, 6, 60
Hartnett, Edward Patrick “Gabby,” 112–113, 194–210
Harwyn Club (New York), 188, 193–194
Havana, Cuba
Batista and, 29, 167–168, 183
Castro and, 183–185
first trip to, 28–30
Florida gambling and, 105
last blaze of glory, 219
Havana Special (train), 49
Hawaiian Isle Motel (Florida), 226
Healy, Terry, 47, 72, 76
Hedren, Tippi, 159, 180
Helsinki, Olympic games, 112, 195
Henderson, North Carolina, 140
Henie, Sonja, 29
Highland Nature Camp (Naples, Maine), 75–76, 79
Hill, Virginia, 60, 72–73, 98
Hoff, Max “Boo Boo,” 41
Hoffa, Jimmy, 183
Hogan, Frank, 17
Holden, William, 177
Hollywood Dog Track, 169
Hollywood Ticket Agency, 71–72
Honeymoon
Europe, 146–151
Las Vegas, 137–139
Mexico, 134–141
Miami, 140–141
Hoover, J. Edgar, 180, 189, 201, 219
Hope, Bob, 7
Horace Mann (prep school), 62
Horseback riding lessons, 48–49, 68
Horses
Bazookie, 48, 68, 88
Marvin’s gift to himself, 143
Moonbeam’s Golden Genius, 142
Rex Lee Fashion, 142
Time Clock, 88, 125
Hot Springs, Arkansas, 13–14
Hotel Nacional (Havana, Cuba), 28, 30
The House of Prime Ribs (restaurant), 170–171
“How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?” (song), 122, 160
Hughes, Howard, 6, 85, 209
Huston, John, 12
“I Only Have Eyes for You” (song), 89
Ice skating, 39
The Inside (restaurant), 225–226
Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 200
International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU), 213
Irving Fields Trio, 138
Israel
independence (1948), 102, 111
Law of Return, 222–223
Italia (ship), 76
J. P. Morgan Library, 70
The Jack Benny Show, 172
Jail time (Meyer Lansky), 115–117
James, Rian, 4
Janssen, David, 187
Jersey Shore, 33–34
Jewish background, 10–11, 16, 21–36
Jimmy Blue Eyes. See Alo, Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes”
Jimmy C. (kids’ counselor), 81
Joe Sonken’s Gold Coast (restaurant), 128
Joe’s Elbow Room (restaurant), 106
Joe’s Stone Crab (restaurant), 128
Joseph’s (restaurant), 217
Kastel, Dandy Phil, 139
Kaufman, Murray, 160, 162
/> Kean Sisters (comedy duo), 127
Kefauver, Estes, 14, 92, 99–100, 111, 115, 222
Kefauver Committee hearings, 91–102, 204
Kelly, Grace, 194
Kennedy, Joe, 19, 28, 51, 176–177, 180
Kennedy, John “Jack,” 177, 186, 198, 219
Kennedy, Robert “Bobby,” 182–183, 219
Khrushchev, Nikita, 197
Kidnapping fear, 40, 47
Klein, Arthur, 86
Krakower, Esther. See Siegel, Esther Krakower
Krakower, Whitey, 26
La Cosa Nostra (LCN), 203
La Motta, Jake, 45
“La Vie en Rose” (song), 133
Labor unions, 92, 182
Lafayette (ship), 16
L’Aiglon (restaurant), 5, 181
Lake Mahopac, New York, 80, 102
Lansky, Anna (aunt), 121, 185
Lansky, Anna (mother)
beauty salons, 26, 31
birth of grandson D.J., 191–192
birth of grandson Gary, 146
Broadway shows, 1
Buddy’s illness, 21–22, 25
Central and Riverside Parks, 39
Christian belief, 23
clothing, 26
cockroach incident, 119
cultural strivings, 38–39
death of, 228
depression, 67, 83, 87, 109, 126
divorce, 57–62, 66–67
Esther Siegel and, 10, 26, 31, 59–61
family background, 23–25
fight with father, 54
Flo Alo and, 65, 66, 69, 85, 118
generosity, 32
kidnapping fears, 40, 47
marriage, 23–24
mental breakdown, 54–56, 59, 61, 219
murder of Benny Siegel and, 73
news of Meyer’s remarriage, 77–78
phone conversations, 5, 59, 69
physical appearance, 26–27
prescription drugs, 119
psychiatrists, 61, 72, 90, 106, 119, 193
reaction to plastic surgery, 118–119
reaction to Sandra’s divorce, 154
Sandra’s marriage, 130, 131–132
shopping, 27, 31
Lansky, Annette (sister-in-law), 171, 196, 226
Lansky, Bernard Irving “Buddy” (brother)
Bellevue Hospital, 32, 63–64
death, 228
disabilities, 29, 42–43
divorce, 226
dormitory room jukebox, 42–43
education, 19, 29, 62, 145
extracurricular interests, 44–46, 60
father’s remarriage, 77, 79
gambling problem, 72, 113–114, 166, 226
George Wood and, 43, 44, 71
Hollywood Ticket Agency job, 71–72
illness diagnosis, 22
at Lansky compound, 169
marriage, 170–171
murder of Benny Siegel and, 73–74
news of Sandra’s second pregnancy, 190–191
rehabilitation school, 30
Sandra’s appendicitis and, 127–128
sleeping pill overdose, 226
valet for, 42
Virginia Hill and, 60
Lansky, Esther (aunt), 50, 118, 154
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