Ellison, Larry, 316
El Rancho Hotel and Casino, 46, 59, 61
Esrailian, Eric, 367, 370, 372
Essex House, 337
Etchmiadzin, 314–15
Evans, Robert, 178–79
Evert, Chris, 278, 294
Excalibur Hotel and Casino, 346
Fairchild PT-19, 32
Fairmont Hotel, 101, 119, 121, 123
Falahi, Ron, xiii–xiv, 344
background of, 244–45
firing of, 367
Joan Dangerfield and, 364
Kirk’s fall and, 358, 359, 362
Lisa Bonder and, 293–94
Una Davis and, 297, 354
valet and chef services, 244–45, 257, 346
weight-lifting regimen for Kirk, 245, 344, 358
Falahi, Wendy, xiv, 292–93
Fatal Attraction (movie), 333
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), 81, 159, 163–64
Fifth Amendment, 167
Fights (fighting), 22–23, 24
Financial crisis of 2008-09, 350–51, 352–53, 355
Finch, Peter, 176
Firth of Clyde, 13, 40–41
Fischer, Dale S., 354
Flamingo Hotel
Bugsy Siegel and Mafia, 59–60, 158–59, 164–65, 166
IRS and, 163, 164–65
Kirk’s acquisition of, 3, 127–28, 132, 164–65
Shoofey’s management of, 127–28, 137–38
“Flight fatigue,” 41
Flying the Secret Sky (documentary), xii
Flying Tiger Airlines, 47, 66, 121, 133
Folgers Coffee, 245, 346
Forbes (magazine), 156, 235, 265–66, 350, 353
Forbes, Malcolm, 266
Forbes 400 List, 235, 265–66, 350, 355
Ford Motor Company, 352–53
Ford Taurus, 4, 245
Fort MacArthur, 25
Foshay Junior High School, 24
Frazier, George, 242
Fresno Bee, 95
Funny Girl (movie), 217
Gable, Clark, 175
Gambling, 2–3, 60–61, 72
betting the limit, 92
Loews Hotel million dollar bet, 242–43
Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight, The (movie), 178
Gannett/USA Today, 250
Garbo, Greta, 192
Garland, Judy, 176, 208
Garn, Bob, 193
Gates, Bill, 265
General Motors (GM), 351–52
Genovese, Vito, 81, 117, 167
George, Terry, 370
Giancana, Sam, 208
Gigi’s (MGM Grand), 204, 221
Gillihan, Betty, 223, 224
Ginsberg, Harvey, 222–23, 224–25
Glaser, Patricia “Patty,” xii, 237, 238, 353–54, 367, 370, 372
Glusman, Bonnie, 296
Glusman, Fred, 296
GMC Yukon, 371
Godfather, The (movie), 179
Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, 72, 322
Goldman, Darryl, xiv, 344–45
Goldman, Paul, 237–39
Goldwyn, Samuel, 206
Golf, 24, 93, 359
Gone With the Wind (movie), 162, 175, 193, 248, 252, 255
Goodman, Oscar, 117
Goose Bay, 9, 10, 36
Grand Hotel (movie), 192
Grand Wailea Hotel, 336
Grant, Barbara, 257–58, 277–78, 295
Grant, Cary, 4, 150, 181, 209, 244, 294
death of, 257–58
International Hotel opening, 147–49
MGM Grand ground breaking, 1–2, 193–94
MGM Grand opening night, 203–4
MGM Grand reopening, 234, 235
Grant, Jennifer, 257, 258
Great Depression, 20, 24–25, 26
Great Recession, 350–51, 352–53, 355
Greenberg, Alan “Ace,” 273, 281–82, 285–86
Greenland, 35–36
Greenspun, Hank, 110–11, 117–18, 124–25, 184
Greenway Drive house, 321, 326, 332, 336–38
Griffith, Emile, 80–81
Gulfstream Aerospace, 283
Gulf War, 275
Haber, Joyce, 193, 197, 204–5
Halpern, Mitch, 302
Hamilton Field, 51
Happy Bottom Ranch and Riding Club, 29–31
Hardy, Andy, 175
Harff v. Kerkorian, 201, 209
Harput, 313, 314
Harvard University, 272
Hauk, A. Andrew, 215
Hawthorne Airport, 79
Hawthorne Arena, 27
Hayworth, Rita, 148
Heaven’s Gate (movie), 232
Hefner, Hugh, 170
Hell’s Angels (movie), 369
Heston, Charlton, 204
Hicks, Marion, 74
Hill, Virginia “the Flamingo,” 59, 63
Hilton, Barron, 102, 168–71, 181, 185
Hilton, Conrad, 102
Hilton Las Vegas, 183, 185
Hoffa, Jimmy, 93, 94, 114, 115, 124, 126
Hoffman, Dustin, 256
Holloway, Rory, 303
Hollywood Reporter, 59, 158, 277, 354
Holyfield, Evander, 301–7
Honolulu, 49–50
Horne, Lena, 205
Hotel Bel-Air, 296, 320, 333
Hotel George V, 159
How the West Was Won (movie), 175
Hudson, Guy, 151
Hughes, Howard
aviation background of, 69–70
at Desert Inn, 118, 126–27, 141, 183–85, 186–87
Hell’s Angels and, 369
International Hotel and, 3, 119–20, 124–26, 141
Landmark Hotel and, 117, 129, 149–50
Las Vegas buying spree, 118, 120, 129, 183
Lockheed Constellation and, 68, 69–70
MGM Studios and, 155, 156
nuclear testing and, 120, 125–26, 129
Pancho Barnes and, 30
reclusiveness of, 118, 125, 150, 184, 186–87
rivalry with Kirk, 119–20, 124–26, 128–29, 141–43, 183, 185–88
RKO Pictures and, 70, 127, 155, 186
Hughes Aircraft Company, 56
Humperdinck, Engelbert, 206
Hungerford, Norman, 23, 24, 25–26
Iacocca, Darrien, 277, 287, 292, 295
Iacocca, Lee, 186, 277, 281, 283–84, 286–89
IBM, 286
Icahn, Carl, 265
I Dream of Jeannie (TV show), 204
Ile de France, SS, 43
Imperial Valley, 22
Indianapolis 500, 105
Inflation, 134, 145
Inglewood Memorial Cemetery, 368
International Hotel and Casino
construction and financing, 119–21, 124–25, 129, 131–32, 134, 141–42
Elvis Presley at, 149, 150–52
Hilton and, 167–68, 181, 183, 185
Hughes and, 119–20, 124–26, 141
Kirk’s land purchase, 117–18
management control, 169, 170–71
nuclear-testing fearmongering, 125–26, 129
opening night of, 147–50
Shoofey’s financial projections, 111–12, 116–17
International Leisure Corporation
public offerings, 132, 141–42, 149, 153, 165–66, 167, 168
stock and stock price, 149, 153, 157, 169, 170–71, 191
Iran, 98, 99, 311
Irma la Douce (movie), 203
IRS (Internal Revenue Service), 128, 163, 164–65
It Happened One Night (movie), 211
Jacob Javits Conference Center, 279–81
Jacob Riis School for Boys, 24
Jacobson, Nate, 94–95, 114, 115
Jaffe, Herb, 162
Jaws (movie), 199–200
Jeep Cherokee, 4, 245
Jet Trader, 86–87, 89–90
Johnson, Frank, 168
Johnson, Lyndon, 120, 125–26
Jones, Clifford “
Big Juice,” 74
Jordan, Don, 80
Justice Department, U.S., 165, 212, 215–16, 346
Katleman, Beldon, 61
Kelikian, Hampar, 266–67
Keller, Jac and Blanche, 213–14, 224
Kelly, Art, 145
Kennedy, John F., 77–79
Kerkorian: An American Success Story (Torgerson), xv
Kerkorian, Ahron “Harry,” 3, 17–20, 314
business ventures, 17–18, 21–23
death of, 103
financial collapse of, 18–21
Kirk and, 21–22
Kirk’s Pacific crossing, 51
Kerkorian, Art, 18, 19, 34, 364
Kerkorian, Flo, 51
Kerkorian, Gary, 100–101
Kerkorian, Hilda Schmidt “Peggy”
divorce from Kirk, 71
marriage to Kirk, 31–32, 41, 58
meeting Kirk, 30
Kerkorian, Jean Maree Hardy
children and family life, 79, 189–90, 230, 295
divorce from Kirk, 235, 243–44
Kennedy Inaugural Gala, 78, 79
meeting and marriage to Kirk, 74–75
MGM Grand ground breaking, 193
Riviera Hotel incident and Manny, 98–99
sense of humor of, 294–95
Kerkorian, Kasper, 17, 313
Kerkorian, Kerkor “Kirk”
Americanizing of name, 21
auto industry, 351–53. See also Chrysler Corporation
aviation industry. See Aviation
birth of, 17–18
childhood of, 20–26
children of. See Kerkorian, Kira Rose; Kerkorian, Linda; Kerkorian, Tracy
death of, 368
desire for privacy, 1–2, 3, 4, 148–49, 189–91, 257, 260, 277–78, 296, 337
education of, 10, 23–24, 29
fall in house, 357–59, 362, 364
first million, 89–90
impatience of, 139, 359–60
Las Vegas holdings. See Las Vegas real estate
macular degeneration of, 345, 362–63
ninety-fifth birthday of, 363–64
personality of, 4, 22–23, 71, 186, 359–60
personal life of. See Bonder, Lisa; Davis, Una; Kerkorian, Hilda Schmidt “Peggy”; Kerkorian, Jean Maree Hardy
philanthropic activities, 4, 110, 260–63, 266–67, 309–18, 360–61
public speaking and, 32, 148
punctuality of, 146, 186, 245
wealth of, 79, 235, 265–66, 350, 355
wills and estate, 345–46, 362, 366, 371–72
Kerkorian, Kira Rose
Christmas incident, 337–38
first birthday party, 319–20
paternity questions, 317, 320–21, 323–26, 331–36, 339–41, 353–54
trust fund for, 362, 372
Kerkorian, Lily, 18, 19, 51, 54, 103, 311
Kerkorian, Linda, 189, 190, 195, 244, 257, 260, 295, 333–34, 372
Kerkorian, Lisa Bonder. See Bonder, Lisa
Kerkorian, Nish, 18, 194
boxing and, 17, 24–25, 26–27
Bugsy Siegel and, 61
death of, 364
Kirk’s Pacific crossing, 51
MGM Grand groundbreaking, 194
MGM Grand Reno opening, 208–9
Kerkorian, Rose Pechuls, 24, 103–4, 361, 368
business ventures with Kirk, 55–56, 67, 123
death of, 361, 364
divorce of, 55, 103
early life of, 18, 21
Kira Rose’s paternity and, 319, 331–32
Kirk’s Pacific crossing, 51
Kirk’s flight training, 30–31
Kirk’s relationships, 30, 75, 294, 298
Kirk’s wartime service, 33, 34
relationship with Kirk, 55, 103–4, 361
vaudeville revue incident, 23
Kerkorian, Tracy, 195, 257, 260
divorce of parents, 243–44
family life and, 79, 189, 190, 295
Kira Rose’s paternity and, 331–32, 335–36
Khashoggi, Adnan, 169–70
Kid Stays in the Picture, The (Evans), 179
Killion, George L., 156
Kilroy, Gene, xiv–xv, 104, 362, 363
King, Alan, 114
King, Billie Jean, 242, 293
King, Don, xiii, 303, 304, 307
King of Comedy, The (movie), 241
Knott’s Berry Farm, 331–32, 335
Kocharyan, Robert, 310–11, 360
Korshak, Sidney, 178–79, 197
Kreiss, Taylor, 287, 292, 294, 295, 296, 325, 331–32, 336, 365
Kreiss, Thomas, 294
Kuala Lumpur, 346
Kuchel, Thomas, 159
Kuhle, Lornie, 293–94, 297, 299, 302
La Guardia Airport, 4
Lamb, Ralph, 62, 194, 334, 339–40
Landmark Hotel, 117, 129, 149–50
Lane, Mills, 305
Langlois, Leo, 22–23
Lanni, Terry, 325
Lansburgh, Morris, 164–66
Lansky, Meyer, 59, 60, 74, 118, 128, 163–66
Lansky, Teddy, 163–64
Las Vegas, 46, 73–76, 183–84
Bugsy Siegel and, 57–60
casino business model, 73–74, 75
Mafia ties, 57–60, 163–68, 183–84
Las Vegas Convention Center, 80, 117
Las Vegas Country Club, 103–4, 185, 304
Las Vegas-Los Angeles Highway, 60, 73
Las Vegas Metro Police Department, 339–40
Las Vegas real estate, 91–95, 189, 274–76. See also Caesars Palace; International Hotel and Casino; MGM Grand Hotel and Casino; MGM Grand Las Vegas
Bonanza Hotel and Casino, 132, 192, 196
Circus Circus, 132, 137, 194, 251
CityCenter, 349–51, 353, 355
Desert Inn, 36, 274–75
Dunes investment failure, 75–76, 92, 93, 116
Flamingo acquisition, 3, 127–28, 132, 164–65
Mandalay Resorts, 346–47
Mirage Resorts buyout, 326–29
Sands Hotel and Casino, 274–75, 360
Las Vegas Review-Journal, 276
Las Vegas Sands Corporation, 351
Las Vegas Sun, 110, 117, 125, 184
LA Weekly, 354
Laxalt, Paul, 128, 183–84
League of Nations club, 23, 25, 33, 37
Lear, Norman, 216
Le Bon, Charlotte, 370
Lee, Peggy, 150
Lehman Brothers, 350–51
Leisure travel, 133–34
Lentine, Dick, 16, 31
Leo the Lion (MGM), 2, 157, 162, 192, 200, 254–55
Lewis, Jerry, 241
Liberace, 46
Lincy Foundation, 260–63, 266–67, 311, 360–61
Lindbergh, Charles, 34–35
Little, Rich, 206
Lloyds of London, 187
Lockheed Air Terminal, 65
Lockheed Constellation, 67–71
Lockheed Hudson, 11, 35–36
Lockheed JetStar, 183, 184
Loews Hotel, 241–43
London, Brian, 80
London Hilton, 160
Longet, Claudine, 189–90
Lorimar-Telepictures, 254, 256
Los Angeles Air Service (LAAS), 57–61, 62–63, 65–67, 74, 76–79, 104
Los Angeles Express, 21
Los Angeles Herald Examiner, 261–62
Los Angeles Herald-Express, 62–63
Los Angeles International Airport, 135
Los Angeles Magazine, 341
Los Angeles Municipal Airport, 52, 55
Los Angeles Superior Court, xii–xiii, 235, 244
Los Angeles Times, xv, 5, 63, 72, 113, 117, 134, 143, 197, 198, 200, 205, 206, 216, 218, 250, 252, 283, 343
Luciano, Charles “Lucky,” 59, 60
Luxor Las Vegas, 346
MacArthur Park, 28
McCarran International Airport, 60, 183
McDonne
ll Douglas DC-9, 135, 159, 161, 170
McGowan, Jackson R., 86
McGraw, Arnold, 56, 65–66, 91
MacLaine, Shirley, 203
Macular degeneration, 345, 362–63
Madison Square Garden, 80, 242, 362
Mafia, 57–60, 163–68, 183–84. See also Lansky, Meyer; Siegel, Benjamin “Bugsy”
Maheu, Robert A., 120, 124, 125, 126, 127, 129, 150, 184–85, 188
Malibu beach house, 332–33
Mallin, Stanley, 114, 117, 251
Malone, John C., 254, 255
Malone, Leslie, 253–54
Mandalay Resorts, 346–47
Mandekic, Anthony, 292, 320, 325, 361, 363, 370, 372
Man’s Fate (movie), 176–77
Marie, Rose, 59
Marina Hotel and Casino, 276
Martin, Dean, 4, 150, 203, 205, 209, 234–35, 244
Martin B-26 Marauder, 11, 70
Marx Brothers, 73
Mason, George, 100–102, 104, 105, 261, 262, 292, 345
Mathis, Johnny, 206
Maxey, Robert R., 304
Mayer, Louis B., 206, 256
Mead, Lake, 112, 120
Meet Me in St. Louis (movie), 176
Mehle, Aileen (“Suzy”), 278, 295
Mendoza, Johnny, 28
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co., 217. See also MGM Studios
Metromedia International Group, 344–45
Metropolitan High School, 24, 33
MGM-British Studios, 176
MGM Grand Garden Arena, 276, 277
Tyson-Holyfield bout, 301–2, 305–7
MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, 191–94
construction and financing, 196, 198, 200
fire of 1980, 213–14, 219–31
ground breaking, 1–2, 188, 193–94
insurance settlements, 229–31, 236–39, 255–56
Kirk’s idea for, 191–93, 196
opening night of, 203–5
reopening after fire of, 234–35
sale to Bally, 255–56, 274
success of, 205–7
MGM Grand Hotels, Inc., 217, 274–75
MGM Grand Las Vegas, 274, 277, 281
board of directors, 277, 281
buyout of Mirage, 326–29
construction and financing, 271, 276–77, 285
Kirk’s rights to name, 255, 274
stock repurchase announcement, 315–16, 317–18
Tyson-Holyfield bout, 301–7
MGM Grand Reno, 208–9, 221, 255–56
MGM Mirage, 346–47, 351, 353
MGM-Pathé Communications, 273–74, 291–92
MGM Resorts International, 371–72
MGM Studios, 3, 155–62, 191
Aubrey’s resignation, 197–200
Bank of America funding, 157, 160
Bronfman and, 155–57, 161–62, 192
Columbia merger, 216–18, 230
dividends, 200–201, 209–10
earnings, 206–7
European funding, 160–61, 166
financial records, 155–56, 174–75
German bank loans, 160–61, 195–96, 199–200, 201, 209
The Gambler Page 38