The Gambler

Home > Other > The Gambler > Page 38
The Gambler Page 38

by William C. Rempel


  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

 

‹ Prev