Bugsy Siegel

Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (February 28, 1906 – June 20, 1947) was an American gangster, popularly thought to be the impetus behind large-scale development of Las Vegas. He hated the nickname, Bugsy, and wouldn't allow anyone to call him that to his face.

To California

In 1937 the East Coast mob sent Siegel to California to try to develop Syndicate gambling rackets in the West alongside Los Angeles mobster Jack Dragna. Siegel also recruited Jewish gang boss Mickey Cohen as his lieutenant. Siegel used Syndicate money to set up a national wire service to help the East Coast mob get their cut faster.

Related Topics:
California - Syndicate - Jack Dragna - Mickey Cohen

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Siegel married his childhood sweetheart Esta Krakow, sister of hitman Whitey Krakow, on January 28, 1929. He eventually moved her and their two daughters to the West Coast, after his bosses had sent him there, but kept them in the dark about his many extramarital affairs. Siegel had a number of mistresses, including actresses Ketti Gallian, Wendy Barrie and Marie "the Body" MacDonald, and Hollywood socialite Dorothy DiFrasso. With the aid of DiFrasso and actor friend George Raft, Siegel gained entry into Hollywood's inner circle. He is alleged to have used his contacts to extort movie studios. He lived in extravagant fashion, as befitting his reputation. On his tax returns, Siegel claimed to earn a living through legal gambling at the Santa Anita racetrack near Los Angeles.

Related Topics:
Whitey Krakow - January 28 - 1929 - Ketti Gallian - Wendy Barrie - Marie "the Body" MacDonald - Dorothy DiFrasso - George Raft - Santa Anita

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Siegel became enamored of a sharp-tongued moll and courier, Virginia Hill. They began a torrid affair. Hill helped Siegel establish contacts in Mexico. The Alabama-born Hill was wealthy in her own right and had bought a mansion in Beverly Hills from Metropolitan Opera baritone Lawrence Tibbett, where Siegel frequently stayed. Hill became Siegel's paramour. Later, there were rumors that they had secretly married in Mexico. Their affair, however, did not keep Siegel from continuing his compulsive womanizing. Hill's reaction to Siegel's infidelities is unknown, but the long-suffering Esta finally had had enough; she went to Reno and obtained a divorce in 1946.

Related Topics:
Virginia Hill - Beverly Hills - Reno

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On November 22, 1939, Siegel, with his brother-in-law Whitey Krakow and two others, killed Harry Greenberg, who had become a police informant, on the orders of Murder, Inc. boss Lepke Buchalter. Siegel was arrested and tried for the murder (by that time, he had also killed Krakow). He was acquitted, but newspapers referred to him for the first time by his nickname "Bugsy." Siegel was not pleased, especially when his gangland past was revealed.

Related Topics:
November 22 - 1939 - Harry Greenberg - Informant - Lepke Buchalter

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On one return trip to the East, Siegel drove through the small town of Las Vegas, Nevada. Legend has it that Siegel suddenly had a vision of turning Las Vegas into a gambling mecca. Others said he had merely stopped there for a call of nature.

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