2014-11-04
I've learned to disregard the customary Bugsy Siegel mythology, as it pertains to the Las Vegas Strip and the Flamingo. We all know that Siegel didn’t really create Las Vegas, and that the Flamingo was not the first casino on U.S. 91. In fact, some sources maintain that Siegel came to the Flamingo project late, after Billy Wilkerson had broken ground and was seeking help with funding and access to building materials. I have even read versions of the story that give Wilkerson credit for naming the property. But in a book I’m currently reading (When the Mob Ran Vegas), the author maintains that Siegel was on board from the beginning, and was even responsible for securing the land from Margaret Folsom via Moe Sedway. Now I don’t know what to believe concerning the origins of the Flamingo. Can you help separate fact from legend?