2. Interviews with Ron Falahi.
3. Jesse Katz, “Sex, Lies & Dental Floss,” Los Angeles Magazine, September 2002.
4. Interviews with Una Davis.
5. The Honorable Lee Smalley Edmon, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, “Amended Statement of Findings . . . and Statement of Decision,” Case #BD-308513, March 12, 2003.
6. Interviews with Darryl Goldman.
7. Interviews with Una Davis.
8. Interviews with Darryl Goldman.
9. Interviews with Terry Christensen.
10. Interviews with Ron Falahi.
11. Andrew Ross Sorkin, “Greatest and Lamest Deals of 2004,” New York Times, January 2, 2005.
Chapter 40: Breaking Bad
1. Jonathan O’Connell, “The CEO Who Nearly Lost His Shirt in Vegas Tries His Luck in Washington,” Washington Post, December 9, 2016.
2. Howard Stutz, “CityCenter Opening Is Murren’s Moment,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 13, 2009.
3. Lauren Carroll and Clayton Youngman, “Fact-checking claims about Donald Trump’s four bankruptcies,” PolitiFact, September 21, 2015.
4. Interviews with Terry Christensen.
5. Beth Jinks and Brett Pulley, “MGM Resorts Founder Kirk Kerkorian Will Step Down from Board,” Bloomberg News, April 13, 2011.
6. Micheline Maynard, “The Raider Who Woke Up Detroit,” Forbes, June 16, 2015.
7. Interviews with Alex Yemenidjian.
8. Anthony Pellicano oral deposition (pages 192–211) related to Los Angeles Superior Court case #BC-316318 (Busch v. Pellicano et al), conducted in the state of Texas, on February 3, 2015.
9. United States v. Anthony Pellicano and Terry Christensen, case #CR-05–1046.
10. “A Rare Kerkorian Sighting,” Hollywood Reporter, August 20, 2008.
11. “The Billionaire Wore Loafers: Kirk Kerkorian Testifies,” LA Weekly, August 20, 2008.
12. Interviews with Terry Christensen.
13. Interviews with Una Davis.
14. Ibid.
15. Interviews with Ron Falahi.
16. Norm Clarke column, “The Donald Slams New Mega-Resort,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 16, 2009.
17. Norm Clarke column, “Trump Fires Back About CityCenter,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 19, 2009.
18. Howard Stutz, “Kerkorian Labels CityCenter ‘Amazing,’” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 13, 2009.
Chapter 41: After “the Fall”
1. The incident that night in 2010 was described in a series of interviews with various sources. The narrative account in “After ‘the Fall’” is based largely on information provided by Ron Falahi and Una Davis. Others with knowledge asked not to be identified.
2. Interviews with Alex Yemenidjian.
3. Kirk Kerkorian, Oral History.
4. Interviews with Terry Christensen.
5. Interviews with Harut Sassounian.
6. Videotape of gala banquet celebrating United Armenian Fund’s “100th Humanitarian Airlift,” Century Plaza Hotel, September 26, 1998.
7. Interviews with Alex Yemenidjian.
8. Interviews with Harut Sassounian.
9. Interviews with Alex Yemenidjian.
10. Interviews with Gene Kilroy.
11. Interviews with Una Davis.
12. Interviews with Gene Kilroy.
13. "Kirk Kerkorian’s 95th B-Day Flash Mob—Beverly Hills Hotel,” posted June 7, 2012, accessed January 23, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEL32jBe4MU. Choreographed by Rob Schultz.
14. Interviews with Ron Falahi.
15. Interviews with Gene Kilroy.
16. Based on recollections of several friends including Terry Christensen, Ron Falali, Gene Kilroy, and Una Davis.
17. Los Angeles Superior Court case #BP-141317.
18. Page Six Staff, “Kirk, Ex, in New Court Clash,” New York Post, May 19, 2013.
19. Details of Kirk’s marriage proposal and negotiations leading to their marriage are based on interviews with Una Davis and related records filed with Los Angeles Superior Court case #BP-164011.
20. “Phil Ruffin Offers Farewell Toast to Fellow Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian,” Forbes, July 1, 2015.
21. Interviews with Una Davis and Ron Falahi.
22. Interviews with Una Davis.
23. Interviews with Alex Yemenidjian.
24. Alex Yemenidjian’s recollection. He was one of the emcees at Kirk’s funeral.
Index
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use your e-book reader’s search tools.
Adelson, Sheldon, 274, 351
Agajanian, J. C., 105
Agassi, Andre Kirk, 99–100, 363
Agassi, Emmanuel “Manny,” “Mike,” xiv, 97–100, 225–28
Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, 363
Aguer, Barney, 58, 62
Air France Constellation, 69
Alamo Field, 60–61
Ali, Muhammad, 242, 362
Aljian, Jim, 195, 197, 262
Chrysler and, 288
MGM Grand fire, 227–28
Allen, Herbert, 215–16, 217
Allen, Woody, 342
Alo, Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes,” 117
Ambassador East Hotel, 97
American Airlines, 179–81
American Red Cross, 266–67, 362
America’s Cup, 248
Andrews Heating Company, 15–16
Angel and the Badman (movie), 47
Angelo Drive house, 297
Antelope Valley Junior College, 30
Arab oil embargo of 1973, 203, 205
Armenia, 4, 17, 309–18, 360–61
Armenia earthquake of 1988, 259–65
Armenian airlift, 261–65
Armenian connections, 21, 95, 98, 100, 105
Armenian genocide, 261, 266–67, 313–14, 369
Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum (Yerevan), 313–14
Army Air Force, U.S., 31, 32, 33–34
Ascot Speedway, 23
Associated Press, 80
Atlanta Hawks, 250
Atlantic crossings, 10–13, 34–37, 39–42, 159
Kirk lost over Scotland, 39–41
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), 120, 125–26
Attack on Pearl Harbor, 31
Aubrey, James T.
appointment to run MGM, 162
forced resignation of, 198–200, 204
hotel and casino business, 191, 192, 193–94
liquidation campaign, 174–79, 191, 198
Mafia allegations, 166
Avanti, 89, 90, 91
Aviation. See also Los Angeles Air Service; Trans International Airlines; Western Air Lines
charter business, 46–48, 57–63, 65–67, 74, 76–79, 83–91
defense contracts, 84–85, 87, 90
first flights, 15–17, 28
flight commander job, 31, 32–33
flight training, 29–31
pilot’s license, 29, 31
pilot training school at Vail Field, 45–46
Royal Air Force Ferry Command, 2–3, 9–13, 34–37, 39–44
surplus plane business, 47–56, 67–71, 85–86
Bakersfield Arena, 27–28
Bale, Christian, 370
Bally’s Las Vegas, 255–56, 274
Bally’s Manufacturing, 255–56, 274
Baltimore, 68
Baltimore Bullets, 94
Baltimore Colts, 100
Bankhaus Burkhardt & Company, 160
Bank of America, 131, 371
charter business loans, 46, 47, 66
Chrysler deal, 285–86
International Hotel and, 120, 131
MGM Studios loans, 157, 160, 196
surplus plane business loans, 55, 85–86
TIA loan, 103, 121
Western Air Lines loan, 133, 135, 165, 207
Barnes, Florence “Pancho,” 29–30
Barrymore’s (MGM Grand), 204, 221
Bart, Peter, 200, 249
Basilio, Carmen, 80
Basra, 42
Bautzer, Gregson “Greg,” 212
background of, 158–59
Bugsy Siegel and Flamingo Hotel, 158–59
celebrity and Kirk, 189–90, 190–91
Hughes rivalry with Kirk, 185
MGM Grand fire, 236
MGM Studios and Aubrey, 198–99
MGM Studios bid, 155–57, 162
Bear, Stearns & Co., 271–73, 274, 281–82, 283, 285–86
Beard, Lu, 364
Beatty, Warren, 212
Beckett, John R., 121–24
Begelman, David, 212
Behnen, Nick, 380n
Bellagio Hotel, 322, 327, 328
Benchley, Peter, 199
Benedict, Alvin, 213
Ben Hur (movie), 204
Benninger, Fred
background of, 121–22
death of, 345
Flamingo and IRS, 164
International and, 125, 168–69, 170–71
MGM Grand and, 174, 195, 197, 200, 302
MGM Grand fire, 227–28, 230
Shoofey and, 137–39
Trans International sale, 121–22
Western Air Lines and, 133–34, 145–46
Benny, Jack, 204
Bergeron, Eugene, 50–51, 52–54
Bergman, Ingrid, 158
Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, 264
Beshoar, Dave, 220
Beverly Hills Hotel, 363–64
Beverly Hills Tennis Club, 371
Beverly Hilton, 179–80
Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 288, 324, 366
Bilger, Arthur, 250
Bing, Steve, 320, 333–34, 335, 340, 343
Binion, Benny, 61, 110
Binion’s Horseshoe, 61
Bisset, Jacqueline, 190
Black Angus Restaurant, 335–36
Blackhawk Hotel, 258
Blackman, Paul, 31
Blake, George, 28
Block, Gene, 361
Bloom, Orlando, 370
Bloomberg News, 285, 353
Blythe, 32, 33, 34, 58
Bobby Morris Orchestra, 148
Boeing 747s, 144, 145
Boeing PT-17 Stearman, 32
Bonanza Hotel and Casino, 132, 192, 196
Bonder, Lisa, 291–99
desire for marriage, 287, 296–97
desire for pregnancy, 295–97
divorce agreement with Kirk, 325–26, 332
fighting with Kirk, 287, 293–94, 317–18
financial assistance from Kirk, 292–93, 295, 320–21, 323–24, 326, 332–33, 336–38, 341, 343, 365
Kira Rose paternity questions, 320–21, 323–24, 325–26, 331–36, 339–41, 353–54
legal battles with Kirk, xii–xiii, 337–38, 340–41, 342, 343–44, 365
nondisclosure agreements, 278, 297, 323, 337, 340–41
October Rose cruises, 277, 278, 317–18
tennis pro career of, 277, 278
wedding to Kirk, 321, 323–24
Bookies, 81, 83, 84, 85, 166–68
Borders, Myram, 276
Boxing, 79–81
of brother Nish, 24–25, 26
Charlie the Blade and betting, 81, 83, 85
of Kirk, 16–17, 26–29
of Manny Agassi, 98
Pacquiao-Mosley bout, 362
Paret-Griffith bout, 80–81
Tyson-Holyfield bout, 301–7
Brando, Marlon, 178–79
Breitinger, William, 20
British Overseas Airway Corporation (BOAC), 67–70
Bronfman, Edgar M., 155–57, 161–62, 192
Brown Derby (MGM Grand), 297–98
Bullies (bullying), 22–23, 24
Burlingame, Byers A., 102–3
Burston & Texas, 160, 161
Caesars Palace
construction of, 111–12, 114
grand jury investigation, 117
grand opening of, 113–16
Kirk’s land deal, 92–95, 103
mob ties, 59, 60, 113–14, 116, 117
Café Trocadero, 59
Cairo, 42
California Athletic Commission, 80
California Courier, 100, 105, 261, 309–10
California Democratic Party, 159
California Hawaiian Airlines, 70
Californian, 66–67
California Sierras, 25–26
Cal-Neva Lodge, 207–9
Canby, Vincent, 197, 198
Cannes International Film Festival, 241–42
Capone, Al, 57, 59
Captain Fuller Ranch, 18–20
Casablanca, 42
Casino business model, 73–74, 75
CBS, 162, 236, 247–48
Central States Pension Funds, 93, 114, 118, 183–84
Cerberus Capital Management, 352
Cessna 310, 91–92, 93
Cessna AT-17 Bobcat, 58–59
Cessna UC-78 Bobcat, 46
Chamberlain, Wilt “the Stilt,” 148
Champlin, Charles, 198
Charisse, Cyd, 205
Charitable giving, 4, 110, 260–63, 266–67, 309–18, 360–61
Charo, 233
Charter business, 46–48, 57–63, 65–67, 74, 76–79, 83–91
Chicago Bears, 114
Chicago Sun-Times, 113
Chicago Tribune, 169–70, 204
Christensen, Terry, xiii, 195
background of, 196
Chrysler and, 352
Desert Inn and Sands acquisition, 360
estate planning, 345–46
Lisa Bonder and, 297, 337, 343, 353–54
MGM Grand fire, 229, 231
MGM Studios and, 177–78, 196, 201, 209–10, 256
MGM-Turner deal, 254
Mirage buyout, 328–29
wiretapping and paternity claims, 343, 353–54
wiretapping conviction, 372
Christie’s, 326
Chrysler Corporation, 351
Daimler-Benz deal, 352
Kirk’s private buyout, 279–89, 303
Kirk’s stock purchases, 272–73, 277, 283
Cimino, Michael, 232
Circus Circus Las Vegas, 132, 137, 194, 251
Ciro’s Nightclub, 59, 158
CityCenter, 349–51, 353, 355
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), 67, 77, 84, 143–44
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 25–26
Clark, Wilbur, 92
Clark County Fire Department, 220, 223–24
Clausen, Alden W., 131–32, 135, 144
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (movie), 212
CNBC, 312, 315–16
CNN, 235, 253–54
Coast Guard, U.S., 51, 54
Cohen, Burt M., 94
Cohen, Mickey, 80
Cohen, Sam, 164–66
Columbia Picture Industries, 211–18, 230, 232–33, 274
Como, Perry, 196
Connor, Tim, 220, 222
Connors, Jimmy, 293
Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 34, 43
Continental Airlines, 102–3
Contract law, 177–78
Corneille, Pierre, 269
Cramer, Glenn A., 86–87, 91, 103, 121, 123
Craps, 5, 46–47, 61, 72
Loews Hotel million dollar bet, 242–43
Crawford, Joan, 158, 191
Cromwell, James, 370
Cruise, Tom, 256
Cugat, Xavier, 59
Curtis, Tony, 4
Daimler-Benz, 352
Dalitz, Moe, 126–27
Dandolos, Nicholas “Nick the Greek,” 109–11
Dangerfield, Joan, 355, 358–59, 363–64
Dangerfield, Rodney, 355
Davis, Bette, 241
Davis, Una, xiv, 297–99, 342, 349, 351, 352, 362, 363, 371
background of, 297
claim against Kirk’s estate, 372
conservatorship
of Kirk, 365–66
first date with Kirk, 297–98
Lisa Bonder and Kirk, 298–99, 333, 334–35, 338
marriage to Kirk, 365–67
Maui trip, 354–55
Day, Doris, 94
“Deal junkie,” 3
Defense contracts, 84–85, 87, 90
De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito “Mossie,” 9–10, 11–13, 39–41, 42
Del Guercio, Ronald J., 123
De Niro, Robert, 241
Depression of 1920–21, 18
Desert Cabana, 92–95
Desert Inn, 92
Howard Hughes and, 118, 126–27, 141, 183–85, 186–87
Kirk’s acquisition and sale of, 36, 274–75
Detroit News, 284
Deutsche Bank, 326
DiCaprio, Leonardo, 370
Dr. Zhivago (movie), 370
Dole, Bob, xiv, 266–67
Dole, Elizabeth, xiv, 266–67, 362
Donaldson, Maureen, 294
Donen, Stanley, 230
Doral Beach Spa, 163
Dorchester Hotel, 176
Dorfman, Allen, 93, 94
Dorval Field, 11, 34, 35
Douglas, Michael, 333
Douglas, William O., 128
Douglas Aircraft Company, 85–86, 135
Douglas C-47 “Gooney Bird,” 48–55, 56
Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, 65–67
Douglas DC-8, 83–90
Dover sole, 98
Dow Jones Industrial Average, 352
Drexel Burnham Lambert, 247–48, 249–51, 266
Drinkwater, Terrell C., 131–36, 139, 143–46, 180–81
Dunes Hotel, 75–76, 92, 93, 116
DuPont, Anne, 296, 320, 333
Durante, Jimmy, 59
Earhart, Amelia, 29
Eaton, Robert, 279–81, 282, 286–87, 288
Eden, Barbara, 204
Edmon, Lee Smalley, 343–44
Egbert, Sherwood Harry, 89–91, 102
El Al Israel Airlines, 70
El Cortez Hotel-Casino, 59, 74
Electroshock therapy, 71
Ellis Island, 17
The Gambler Page 37