The First Years

by Stephen Fischer

Septemver 13, 1945 Greg was representing his client, The working number that Benny Billy Wilkerson in the transaction. had in his head was going to be one Folsom’s Guest Cottages on US Wilkerson owned two successful million dollars for the project. One Highway 91, six miles south of Las nightclubs, Ciro’s and the million dollars would be needed to Vegas, had been closed since 1941. , and was sole owner of the build Ben Siegel’s Flamingo Club. Harold Folsom had died and his Hollywood Reporter, the movie (The earliest references to the widow, Maggie, just couldn’t run the industry newspaper. Flamingo Hotel, in the newspaper place. On September 13, Maggie articles of 1944 and 1945, referred to received a long distance phone call Now, again following the owner- it as the Club - It became the from an attorney named Greg ship of the property, Billy Wilkerson Flamingo Hotel for licensing purpos- Bautser, who lived in . held the Folsom Cottage property for es in late 1945.) Mr. Bautser told Maggie that he had a less than a day. client who wanted to buy the Folsom The meeting was the normaliza- Cottages including the dilapidated November 24, 1945 tion of the Projects buildings and 30 acres of property. Corporation. It was funded and the Bautser’s client would pay all the ’s home on Coldwater Flamingo Hotel was about to come back taxes due on the property and Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills. off the drawing board. would put $500 in Maggie’s pocket. There was a dinner at George’s house. After dinner, Benny Siegel That afternoon, Mr. Bautser flew asked Raft to leave, his house was to with his client and the being used to lay out the building of $500, met with the Folsom widow the Flamingo Club in Las Vegas. The and, over lemonade, a deal was Flamingo Club was going to be fund- signed. The client was Morris ed and owned by a new Sedway, who was employed by Ben Corporation to be known as the Siegel.. Nevada Projects Corporation. The company that would build the Little Moey, as he was called, held Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. onto the Folsom property for less than two months. Following the Benny Siegel had already met with ownership trail on this piece of prop- his general contractor, , and erty - Moe sold the land and cottages his architect and builder, George to his attorney, Greg Bautser. Russell and Dick Stadleman. Ben Siegel and George Raft

46 CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 A list of the shareholders in the legal gambling, instant weddings and building material seemed to be going Nevada Projects Corporation - and quick divorces, and legal prostitu- to that “ ‘’ Siegel’s their holdings: tion). It was an amicable settlement. joint, the Flamingo!” The two daughters would stay with Ben Siegel Esta and Ben would pay for their While the Flamingo Hotel was 195 shares schooling and expenses until they being built, Ben and his girlfriend, Charlie Ross, Phoenix banker were married, $350 per week plus , were living down the 100 shares school tuition. Esta would get the road at the Last Frontier. They had house that Ben purchased at 200 rented Suite 401 on a yearly basis. Allen Block Delfern Drive in Hollywood, their Each morning Ben would drive down 10 shares apartment, Ben’s Cadillac to the Flamingo worksite and sign for Billy Wilkerson, Ben’s working partner and would also receive $600 per the morning deliveries. He wanted to 125 shares week for the rest of her life. be totally involved in the Flamingo “Solly” Solloway, Married to Ben’s construction, but he didn’t know sister This was 1945, postwar 1945, and about business, especially, the con- 20 shares building materials were very hard struction business. During the day come by. Apparently, however, this many of those deliveries would disap- Hy Abrams was not the case for the Nevada pear out the back gate. The next day 22.5 shares Projects Corporation. With the help of the same items would be resold to Joe Ross, Ben’s Beverly Hills attorney his partner, Billy Wilkerson, Siegel Ben and the Flamingo. One truckload 45 shares obtained lumber and pipe right from of lumber looks pretty much the same Sam and Harry Rothberg, brothers the movie studios. Wilkerson applied as every other truckload of lumber, and owners of American Distillers, pressure to his friends in the studios, right? Ben’s lack of business acumen one of the largest liquor distributors and before long, trucks from Culver mixed with his volatile personality in the country City and Hollywood were crossing ultimately contributed to the fact that 244 combined shares the desert loaded with lumber and Flamingo Hotel really wasn’t going to pipe heading for the Flamingo Hotel’s be ready by Christmas, 1946 … Allen Smiley, a friend of Ben’s building site. Ben imported expensive (Smiley was sitting on the couch next marble and decorative woods for the Regarding his quick-trigger tem- to Ben when he was killed) Flamingo’s lobby through the perament, most people gave Siegel a 15 shares Mexican black market. (Conveniently, very wide berth. (Apparently his Louis Pokross, fronting for 15 people he was involved in the drug trade in craziness was based on real-life in the New York mobs Mexico and his Mexican partners insanity.) He was a powder keg and, unknown number of shares paved the way for him). once he exploded, there wasn’t much Morris Rosen – also from New York that could be done to calm him down. and fronting for in most Siegel had truck loads of celebrity Abe Schiller was the central figure in of his business deals in the 1940’s and political friends. One of his best a public episode of Siegel’s volatile 100 shares friends was Pat McCarren, (US personality. (I’ve read in a number of Senator from the great State of places that Schiller was entertainment Nevada). McCarren reprioritized the director at the Flamingo Hotel, but no 100 shares building needs list for projects going one probably mentioned that to on in southern Nevada so that Ben Chuck Gaskill, the general manager The same day the ground was bro- and the Nevada Projects Corporation and entertainment director for the 65- ken for the Flamingo, Ben Siegel’s could receive the copper, fixtures and day life of the Flamingo. Nor did any- wife, Esta, established residency at a tiling they needed to get the Flamingo one tell Jake Katleman, Bernie Van guest ranch just outside Reno, up and running by Christmas 1946. Der Steen or the Hall brothers, Joe Nevada. She had to be a Nevada resi- and Vic, the owners of the El Rancho dent for six weeks before she could There were protest meetings held Vegas, who at the time were giving file for uncontested divorce. (As an in Las Vegas and Boulder City by the Abe Schiller a paycheck every week aside, in 1931 the Nevada legislature VFW and the Elks. (Their members to be the promotional director over passed a series of measures that were finding that they couldn’t get there! There are many different ver- helped insulate the state from effects any of the fixtures and building mate- sions of the incident described below, of the Depression, (these included rials needed for their projects.) All the but I believe this is the way it happened.

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 47 On March 1, 1947 the Flamingo and kids plus 200 or so Flamingo though 1946 wasn’t a great year for Hotel reopened as the Fabulous guests, Ben made Schiller crawl Ben Siegel, James Regan was cut in Flamingo. The grand re-opening was around the entire Flamingo pool. Ben half with shotgun blasts in held on a Saturday morning. was walking alongside him, kicking during the grand opening week of the him and shooting over his head into Flamingo. There was no fanfare, but the the pool. hotel’s front doors were opened by Ben’s chief lieutenants were Little the Andrews Sisters, Patty, Laverne Hooky Rothman pulled out his Moey Sedway, who controlled many and Maxine. All three gals mingled piece and made damn sure no one of Ben’s Las Vegas ventures plus his with the guests, as did Joan Crawford stood up, or did anything else. The warehouse business is Los Angeles, and the Ritz Brothers. guests and the Schiller family and , who was living watched in horror as Abe, bleeding in Phoenix and running the gambling There was free food and free from his pistol-whipping, continued business for Ben in . drinks plus hot dogs and hamburgers to crawl around the pool. Only then out by the pool. People were encour- did Ben let another of his bodyguards, In 1944 Ben bought a warehouse aged to “bring the kiddies.” One of “Fat Irish” Green, take him inside. in Cerritos, California, along with his the families showing up at the grand But that all happened on March 1, 1947. friend Alan Smiley. They called it the re-opening was the Schillers, Abe, California Metals Company, and were Doris and their three kids. Although Let’s go back to December 26, buying millions of dollars worth of Abe worked over at the El Rancho, he 1946 at the first grand opening… stolen iron and other metals at very wanted to see what was so fabulous reasonable prices, and then reselling about the Fabulous Flamingo. He and Ben Siegel had three Las Vegas them to the government. Moey the Missus and kids got their swim- managers: Moey Sedway, Davie Sedway was in charge of California suits and drove in from Henderson to Berman and Solly Solloway. Again, Metals. try out the Fabulous Flamingo pool, Solloway was family, he had married and the free grub. Ben’s sister. Sedway was beginning to make some decent money, but, apparently, Ben had heard that Abe Schiller The properties that Ben controlled he was getting too full of himself for was encouraging his comedians, were the Northern Club, he had actu- Ben Siegel’s liking. Ben had Moey (especially Joe E. Lewis), to joke ally purchased controlling interest for physically thrown out the front door about “that gangster up the road, $50,000 in 1944, and the Frontier of the Flamingo Hotel and told him .” Turf Club. Ben had just sold his inter- that he would be killed if he ever est in the , and his partner, entered the Flamingo again. Normally Ben Siegel didn’t carry a Meyer Lansky did the same. The piece. He had three regular body- horse book at the Golden Nugget was Very surprising because, for years, guards who watched his every step, run by Ben’s bodyguard, Fat Irish Moey Sedway was Ben Siegel’s “Go- but Ben knew that his days were Green, (the same guy who helped To” guy. If something needed doing, numbered and that there was a con- Schiller at the pool). Hymie Segal, it was Moey who made sure it was tract out on him. So besides his three another bodyguard and no relation to done. If someone needed something regular guns, he hired one of the top Ben, was running the horse book at from Ben, they had to clear it through button men in the country to become the Las Vegas Club. Moey first. In a fit of rage and frus- his fourth bodyguard, a monster tration, mostly aimed at the construc- named “Hooky” Rothman. Ben also had a piece of the El tion delays, Ben threw his number Rancho Vegas. His racing wire, the one ally out. But Moey Sedway did To be on the safe side, Ben was Trans America Service, operating out what many mobsters from around the also packing a piece. He and his of Los Angeles, was in place in every country did, they reinvented them- entourage were walking by the pool single horse parlor in Las Vegas. (The selves in Las Vegas and became when he saw Abe Schiller in a swim- competitive racing wire, the respectable citizens. Then Moey went suit. He exploded. He hated Schiller Continental Wire Service based in one step too far for Ben. He was and anyone else who criticized his Chicago, was managed by a man asked to run for the Nevada State Flamingo, so he took out his gun and named James Regan.) For a number Assembly. Whether it was jealousy or pistol-whipped Abe Schiller to the of years there was open warfare not, Moey was definitely persona ground. Then in front of Abe’s wife between the two services. Even non-grata in Ben Siegel’s world.

48 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 was liked by almost everyone in the community. He got things done, to be sure, and he did them with style. He was on the board of aldermen of Clark County, being paid $1 a year for his services. He was head of the United Jewish Appeal in Las Vegasand he was on the board of directors of the Clark County Library.

Ben Siegel was another story. The merchants downtown, and the small casino owners were aware that he was going to be taking over Las Vegas. He had already gotten points in every casino which had a horse book, and the writing was on the wall. Ben rep- resented , and organ- ized crime was something that Las Vegans didn’t want . When the Flamingo Hotel was ready for its opening, a whisper campaign was conducted all over Las Vegas. Dealers, deskmen, bellhops, valets, waitresses and other hotel personnel were told to speak to guests and gam- blers about staying away from “that gangster-ridden Flamingo…”

Local Las Vegans also began shy- ing away from the Flamingo that opening week. In Hollywood, one by one, stars like Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, who had told Ben that they’d love to come up to the Flamingo for the grand opening, came up with an excuse. devel- oped a head cold. Marlene Dietrich sprained her ankle, said Ben Siegel was Marian Davies. But the actors were not part of this his mother was sick and he had to fly Hearst had information that Ben and group. Ben socialized with everyone to Texas to see her. It seems every- Marian apparently had 30 or 40 one- in Hollywood. It was the studio heads one was pulling out of a commitment night stands. This was just after who hated him, especially Hearst. they’d made to show up at the grand Marian and “Daddy,”, as she privately W.R. let it be known that no motion opening. called W.R., had stopped seeing one picture star, especially those with another. Ben, among his other enter- MGM, was to show his or her face at The MGM movie stars were told prises, also owned the Screen Extras the Flamingo, or else. Billy by William Randolph Hearst, known Guild. He could and did hold up stu- Wilkerson, Ben Siegel’s original part- to close friends as “W.R.”, that if they dios for money or he would ner in the project, was still involved valued their careers, they’d stay out and did pull the “extras” off the shoot with the Flamingo. Wilkerson tried to of the Flamingo. MGM stars were at a moment’s notice. Hearst had a lot promote the Flamingo among his banned from the hotel for months. of friends in the movie business who movie-star patrons at Ciro’s and the One of he reasons that Hearst hated hated Ben Siegel. Trocadero, but with little success.

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 49 George Raft did recruit a number of to play for a while and then head (Smiley was Russian, something his friends to the grand opening at the back up to the El Rancho or the that’s not often reported). They went Flamingo Hotel, an event starring Frontier where they had paid $5 for to Jack’s on the Beach in Santa and Jimmy Durante. their room for the night, it was a long Monica then came back to Virginia drive back to the Flamingo. “So how Hill’s mansion at 810 North Linden Numerous articles have been writ- about if we play right here at the Last Drive in Beverly Hills. Ben was on ten about the disastrous opening night Frontier after dinner, Mildred?” the couch reading the newspaper at the Flamingo. Though Ben had when someone fired a 30-caliber hired twelve uniform guards to watch The Flamingo Hotel lost in the army carbine rifle nine times through the patrons, many of the dealers were neighborhood of $700,000 during the an outside window. Four bullets hit helping themselves to money. Luck 65 days it remained opened. By the Ben. (Apparently the first shot hit him was running against the house and first of February, Ben had closed in his eye, it was found on the fire- two rival casino owners, Tutor some areas of the casino, the place hearth across the room.) Of the Scherer and Beldon Katleman, both Flamingo Showroom and the outside four hits, two were head shots and won nearly $100,000. The decks and bar. The casino still had a blackjack two were body shots. According to the dice were running cold. George table, one craps table and the slots on the police report of the shooting, the Raft was the only well-known loser the east side of the casino. Those distance from the window to where that first night, it’s said he dropped gamblers and vacationers who wanted Ben was sitting was “between 4 and $75,000 at baccarat. But even with to see the Flamingo and try their luck 4.5 feet.” that net gain, the house was down there were soon chased out by either nearly $200,000 on its first night … the constant noise of hotel construc- There are many theories on who tion or the occasional very scary killed Ben Siegel. It’s generally The Flamingo Showroom was glimpse of Ben Siegel and his muscle, agreed that his death sentence was barely half filled. The great Durante the four bodyguards scowling at voted on during the Mafia meeting on played to fewer than 80 people on everything walking through the casi- December 26, 1946 held on the pent- opening night. Ben had leased three no. Dealers would cower hoping than house roof of the Hotel Nacional de TWA Constellation jets to fly the rich Ben wouldn’t stop at their table. . Do you remember the scene in and famous guests from the Los the second Godfather movie where Angeles area to Las Vegas, but the Enough was enough! On February Hyman Roth is showing off his birth- weather kept all of the planes ground- 6, 1947, Ben Siegel told his two pub- day cake to everyone while Michael ed. The following night, December licists, Paul Price in Los Angeles, and Corleone and the rest of his group are 27, was much worse. Rose Marie in Las Vegas, to pre- soaking up the sun? played to fewer than 20 people and pare press releases that the Flamingo Jimmy Durante said it was the small- Hotel was temporarily closing but To this point we’ve covered the est crowd he’d ever seen, even back would reopen as the Fabulous Flamingo from its beginning to the to his saloon days. New Year’s Eve Flamingo within the month, billed as evening of June 20, 1947. On this day was a little better, Lucille Ball and the World’s Most Glamorous Hotel! Ben Siegel was gunned down at about Desi Arnez were guests of the hotel, 10:40 p.m. Two hours later, at about as was Georgie Jessel and Leo The Fabulous Flamingo did open midnight, Little Moey Sedway and Carillo, better known as Pancho, the within the month, on Saturday, March Cisco Kid’s sidekick. 1, 1947. The Andrew Sisters and the Ritz Brothers, two of the hottest acts One of the problems was that the in the country, were booked to open. Flamingo Hotel wasn’t really a hotel, And, as they say, the rest is history. In It was a casino with a showroom and retrospect, I think many Las Vegas a coffee shop. It only had 90 rooms historians would agree that were it and they were constantly being not for “Bugsy” Siegel, there possibly worked on. Each of the rooms, per might not have been a Las Vegas. Ben Siegel’s instructions, had its own private sewer system and furnishings Regarding the murder itself: Ben were running at nearly $11,000 per was 41 years-old the evening he was unit. Without hotel rooms to keep the shot. He had gone out to dinner with guests on your property, they’re going his friend and partner, Allen Smiley.

50 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 Morris Rosen walked into the execu- get into a fight in Las Vegas with to “slide” a little. Remember, this was tive offices of the Fabulous Flamingo Sinatra and then pull a gun on him? 1947, the year before Beldon as the new bosses. The very next day Sandy Adler, like other casino own- Katleman came into the El Rancho there was a meeting of the stockhold- ers, didn’t back down easily. Israel Vegas scene. ers at the Flamingo. Attending the “Icepick Willie” Alderman. Willie new Flamingo owner’s meeting were: hailed from the Twin Cities of A final price of $3,900,000 was Joey Ross, Beverly Hills (an attorney Minneapolis and St. Paul. It was said agreed to. Sandy Adler and Charlie representing Ben Siegel’s interests), if you got Icepick Willie drunk Resnick only had to put down Meyer Lansky, New York and enough, he loved to share his story $550,000 to secure the purchase. Havana (de-facto chairman of the about the “even dozen” guys who got group), Morris Rosen, New York and in his way and never lived to tell Sandy and Mrs. Adler moved into Las Vegas (representing the mob and about it. His nickname came from the the “owner’s suite” at the Flamingo the Fabulous Flamingo), Gus signature method of ending discus- on June 21, 1947. (The owner’s suite Greenbaum, Phoenix and Las Vegas sions known as the quick icepick was formerly Ben’s.) It was the steel- (Ben Siegel’s #1 man in Phoenix and lunge. It seems if you quickly jam an lined penthouse on the third floor of #2 man in Las Vegas), Moey Sedway, icepick into someone’s ear, death is the Oregon Building, the one always Las Vegas, Joe Epstein, Chicago (a instantaneous and quiet. It looks like pictured behind the Flamingo swim- mob lawyer) the person has just fallen asleep. After ming pool. The building came with he left the Twin Cities there were escape tunnels, buried floor safes and If you take a look at the cities that very few of these unsolved murders all-bulletproof windows. these men traveled from, and then with that particular signature around realize that this meeting took place any more. But some did show up in Sandy, Charlie and Icepick, and less than 24 hours after Ben’s death, Las Vegas in the late 1930s and early Mrs. Sandy, Mrs. Charlie and Mrs. there has always been speculation that 1940s. Icepick, were enjoying the perks of this group was already in Las Vegas being casino owners. In 1947 Las when Ben was shot. Charlie, Sandy and Icepick made Vegas was a still a pretty small town. their presentation, thanked Meyer for And being a casino owner, or being After the discussion about the his time, and left. The next group the wife of a casino owner, was pretty future of the Flamingo without Ben, making their bid for the Flamingo big juice. You got to socialize with Lansky and the Flamingo board of management included Davie Berman, the upper crust of Las Vegas society. directors took a break. They went a friend and assistant to Gus It meant when BMI, Basic downstairs to the Flamingo Sunrise Greenbaum, Al Abrams, who ran one Magnesium, Incorporated, was having Chuckwagon, (all you can eat for of the big legal brothels just outside one of their formal balls and dances only 99¢ per person), then they began Las Vegas, and Sam Diamond, a at the country club, you got invited. interviewing two potential groups to Bigtime bookmaker. Or when the Cashmans or the Squires manage the Fabulous Flamingo. were having couples over for dinner, The decision that Meyer Lansky you got an invitation. Can you imag- Charlie Resnick, Sanford Adler and the other Flamingo owners ine how Mrs. Icepick Alderman felt and Israel “Icepick Willie” Alderman arrived at was they wanted Sanford when she got an invitation from Mrs. were invited in to discuss the Adler to be their new front man, their Tom Hull to attend afternoon tea at Flamingo. Their resumes: Charlie man in the counting room. The the Last Frontier to meet the guest of Resnick, a 33% owner of the El “skim” was the main reason for the honor, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt? This Rancho Vegas in 1947. Sanford Adler. mob’s intense interest in the new was real heady stuff. Back in June 1947, when this meeting ownership. took place, Sandy Adler was one of As far as Sandy Adler himself goes, it the owners of El Rancho Vegas. In Sandy Adler bought the Fabulous sure was fun owning a hotel like the later years Adler became famous as Flamingo along with his partner, Flamingo. More benefits than you the casino boss at Caesar’s who Charlie Resnick. Icepick Willie only could possibly imagine, most can’t pulled a gun on during had a small piece of the ownership. even be discussed here. All in all, it a fistfight they were having at the Sandy and Charlie were both current was a happy time for all the owners $100 minimum craps table. Sandy owners of the El Rancho at this time, and their wives. Only the real owners was a tough no-nonsense guy. How and they were looking to expand of the hotel, Meyer Lansky and many people do you imagine would because the El Rancho was beginning Company, weren’t at all happy. In the

CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005 51 short time period since Ben Siegel Fabulous Flamingo probably weren’t Chief of Police. Chief Anderson told was killed, the Flamingo still wasn’t one in the same. That was something him it probably wouldn’t be safe for making money. Meyer’s daily ques- that the Nevada Tax Commission him to move to Beverly Hills. So the tion was: “Who ever heard of a casi- found very interesting. Even you and Adlers moved to Reno and, with the no not making money?” I know that when you take the mob’s help of their attorney on the very day money and get into bed with them, they arrived in town, they sold 100% Sanford, Charlie and Icepick knew you’re not supposed to go crying to of their stock in the Flamingo Hotel. the Flamingo wasn’t making money the law about it. Unless you’re ready in the nine months since they took to go into hiding, that is. The very next day, Gus over. So, one day in April 1948, Greenbaum was named president of Sandy Alder got a call from Jake But Sandy Adler made a mistake. the Flamingo. Lansky, Meyer’s brother. After his trip to Carson City, he went Sandy Adler: “Hello?” back to the Flamingo. When he was The day that Sandy Adler was Jake Lamsky: “Sandy? This is Jake. walking past the reception desk in the selected, he hired Abe Schiller from Meyer sends his regards and says he lobby, he ran into Morris Rosen and a the El Rancho Vegas to start work as wants for you to sell your interest in couple of his gorillas. Moe Rosen the Flamingo’s new publicity and the Flamingo back to him. OK, snarled at Adler and said: “We talk – advertising director. That same day, Sandy?” Now!” Sandy Adler was quoted as Hank Greenspun, Ben Siegel’s long- Sandy Adler: “What? No way am I telling Moe Rosen to “Go f___ your- time publicist, resigned his position gonna’ sell out of the Flamingo. You self”. To the horror of guests in the as the Flamingo’s publicity and tell Meyer that our luck’s been run- Flamingo lobby, Sandy Adler was advertising director. ning a little cold, but it’s about to turn restrained by two mobsters while two around.” others beat him unconscious. Greenspun went to work for a Jake Lansky: “Oh! and Sandy? I was small Las Vegas weekly newspaper, also told to tell you that you and your Adler woke in up 10 hours later in then joined Wilbur Clark for several partners are going to have your the hospital and came to his senses. years while the was in its throats cut and buried out in the He realized what he’d just done. He planning stages. He eventually ended desert if you don’t sell out right now. was released from the hospital and up at the , working his And Sandy? Give my best to the wife Sandy and Mrs. Adler immediately way up to publisher. and kids.” drove to Beverly Hills. There Sandy stopped at the Beverly Hills Police Copyright© 2005 Steve Fischer Again, Sanford and the boys were Department and explained the entire All Rights Reserved very happy owning the Flamingo. situation to his friend Clint Anderson, They all agreed: “No way are we gonna’ let them kick us out. No way!” Sanford and Charlie Resnick, and their junior partner Icepick, decided to talk to the “law.” Actually, it was the Nevada State Taxing Authority who controlled casino licenses in the 1950s. They told the tax boys that they were being “elbowed out” by the mob.

All three of them flew to Carson City to meet with the Nevada taxing guys. The tax guys kind of agreed with them, they shouldn’t be kicked out of the Flamingo if they didn’t want to go. So it very quickly became public knowledge that the “supposed” ownership of the Fabulous Flamingo and the “real” ownership of the Virginia Hill’s mansion.

52 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | Summer 2005