But in the mids, the Las Vegas Strip —or Highway 91, as it was then called—already had a few resorts. A year later, he sold his interest in the hotel and put the profits into the Flamingo. The two soon came into conflict, and Wilkerson realized it might be easier—and safer—to sell off his interest to Siegel.
And Hill was often present at the casino, even wearing a spectacular flame-tinted gown by Hollywood couturier Howard Greer to the opening. A remarkable coincidence but, indeed, a coincidence. Nothing remains of the original Flamingo. Over the decades, four towers were built, and the last of the original structure was demolished in However, the property still honors Bugsy with a plaque in the garden.
Siegel has contacted me several times with an offer to purchase, but I have told him I was not interested, and that goes for all time. Two years later, Siegel joined a group of fellow mobsters in the purchase of the El Cortez. Not only did Siegel not invent Las Vegas, he did not even invent the Flamingo. That credit goes to Billy Wilkerson, publisher of the Hollywood Reporter newspaper and owner of a number of stylish Los Angeles restaurants and nightclubs.
Wilkerson bought the land on which the Flamingo would be built, and he started construction in late But Wilkerson, a compulsive gambler, soon ran short of funds.
He had lost hundreds of thousands of dollars at casinos on Highway 91 and on Fremont Street. He turned to the Mob for financial help. Siegel opened the Flamingo on December 26, The crowds came, at first, and the critics fawned, but the Flamingo had a fundamental problem: Its hotel rooms were still not finished. Further, the casino experienced a strange run of bad luck, as gamblers won more than they lost in the first few weeks after opening.
The resort reopened on March 1, with guest rooms available, and performed better. He traveled to Los Angeles to meet their train from New York. Today, the Flamingo remains one of the largest and most recognized resorts on the Strip, though none of the original buildings still stands. The exhibit includes the original check Billy Wilkerson wrote as a down payment to purchase the property where the Flamingo would be built. The premier artifact in the exhibit is an original legal document, signed by Siegel, removing Wilkerson in all respects from the Flamingo operation.
Wilkerson received half the money before Siegel was killed; he never received the other half. In addition, the exhibit features a touchscreen so that guests can dig deeper into the Flamingo story. The touchscreen offers iconic images and compelling stories from the 75 years the Flamingo has graced the Las Vegas Strip. This Oct. This photo shows the images of a commemorative plaque located at the Flamingo Hilton.
The plaque is attached to a stone monument that pays tribute to Bugsy Siegel. In this Oct. This June 30, file photo shows Flamingo in Las Vegas. Las Vegas Review-Journal file photo. By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time. Don't miss the big stories.
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