The mob in Las Vegas

Photo courtesy of the Nevada State Historical Museum

Hollywood Reporter magazine founder and nightclub owner Billy Wilkerson poses for this undated photo. After attempts to build his ambitious Flamingo Club ran into financial trouble, Wilkerson turned to mobster Meyer Lansky who offered $1 million to complete the Flamingo in exchange for interest in the resort. Wilkerson was later muscled out of the project by Lansky representative Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.