Nelson Johnson - Boardwalk Empire - The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City

165 “Farley was scared to death of Marvin.”Interview with Patrick McGahn, Esquire.

167 “If they want to pay … Atlantic City Press , August 9, 1968.

170 “… in need of more enlightened leadership …” Atlantic City Press , November 13, 1970.

171 Hap Farley was “very pleasant” …Interview with Patrick McGahn, Esquire.

172 The story of Farley’s defeat in the ’71 election is based upon interviews and conversations with Richard Jackson, William Ross, Robert Gasko, Murray Fredericks, Esquire, Frank Ferry, Esquire, Patrick McGahn, Esquire, Lori Mooney, Harold Finkle, Esquire, and others.

Chapter 9: Turn Out the Lights

175 The vignette of the prostitute is based upon an interview with Paul “Skinny” D’Amato.

177 “How could you get anyone … to share a bathroom?”Interview with Richard Jackson.

178 “It was our only hope … becoming a ghost town.”Interview with Mildred Fox.

180 “Governor Brendan Byrne has said he is receptive to a referendum … Public approval is regarded as certain.” Atlantic City Press , January 6, 1974.

181 “The state can expect to profit very little …” Atlantic City Press , December 19, 1973.

182 The governor suggested that gambling should be limited to Atlantic City. Interview with Steven Perskie.

183 “I am concerned that the very same interest …” Atlantic City Press , October 17, 1974.

184 “I am concerned with the future of Atlantic City …” Atlantic City Press , October 16, 1974.

184 The quote of the Vineland Times Journal is from “Another Public Conning” by Ben Leuchter, reprinted by the Atlantic City Press on May 23, 1974.

Chapter 10: A Second Bite at the Apple

187 I was personally acquainted with Lea Finkler. This was one of many incidents she related to him in her inimitable anger and disgust.

191 The challenge, when Weiner took it on …Jeffrey Douglas, “The Selling of Casino Gambling,” New Jersey Monthly , June, 1977.

193 “She said she’s made her last speech …” Atlantic City Press , July 13, 1976.

197 … real power in the corporation …Gigi Mahon, The Company That Bought the Boardwalk (Random House, 1980) p. 57.

198 Mary Carter Paint was in the gambling business. Gigi Mahon, Ibid., pp. 65–83.

204 The CBS-TV news editorial was broadcast on February 28, 1979.

Chapter 11: It’s a New Ballgame

207 “The little jerk is finally going to get what he deserves.”Patrick McGahn, Esquire. Pat McGahn nearly chortled whenever he spoke of “Mayor Mike” and his troubles with the law.

209 “Mike Matthews was a creep …”Interview with Ralph Palmieri.

209 “Michael loved the glitter …”Interview with Harold Finkle, Esquire.

211 The comments concerning Jerome Zarowitz and Alvin Malnik are taken from the Opening Statement of the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) made at Caesar’s Licensing Hearing on September 9, 1980.

211 The statements regarding Clifford and Stuart Perlman were contained in the DGE’s Opening Statement of September 9, 1980, and were reported in a page 1 news article in the Atlantic City Press , September 19, 1980.

213 The findings of the Casino Control Commission were memorialized in its formal opinion denying licensure, NJCCC Docket #80-CL-1 In the Matter of the Application of Boardwalk Regency Corp. and the Jemm Company for Casino Licenses , opinion, p. 35, (“Accordingly, Clifford Perlman is not qualified.”).

214 The discussion of Bally’s licensure is contained in the DGE’s report to the CCC entitled, “Report to the Casino Control Commission with regard to the Application of Bally’s Park Place, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, for a Casino License and the Application of Bally Manufacturing Corporation, a Delaware corporation, for a Casino Service Industry License,” dated 8/4/80.

214 The comments regarding Gerardo Catena were taken from the DGE’s report of 8/4/80.

220 I must note … reporting to the chairman. Walter “Bud” Reed, Chairman of the CCC, quoted by the Press of Atlantic City , September 20, 1986.

Chapter 12: The Donald Comes to Town

225 Fred Trump was a master builder and genuine real estate mogul. While he had his critics, he was a critical player and positive force in meeting the housing needs of a growing New York City. Without Fred’s fortune, the Donald would have played in a different league. There’s been much written on both Trumps. My thumbnail sketch of Fred’s career is based on news accounts and Gwenda Blair’s book, The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire (Simon and Schuster, New York, 2000), pp. 118–122,154.

226 Trump’s arrival in Atlantic City and his early moves as a local player were carefully observed and reported on by Daniel Heneghan, while a staff reporter with the Press of Atlantic City , prior to assuming his position of director of information for the Casino Control Commission. Dan is a wealth of information. I relied heavily on his knowledge and expertise.

235 The profile of Arthur Goldberg is based on my personal knowledge and a feature article, “King of Craps” in Barron’s , August 1999.

239 The statistics on Atlantic City’s success to date were confirmed by Daniel Heneghan relying on numbers compiled by the Casino Control Commission.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nelson Johnson, whose family’s presence in Atlantic County predates the founding of Atlantic City, is a lifelong resident of Hammonton, New Jersey. He practiced law for 30 years and was active in Atlantic City and Atlantic County politics through much of that period.

As attorney for the Atlantic City Planning Board at the time of the approvals for many of the casinos, Johnson was inspired first to make sense of Atlantic City and later to write an objective political history. The interviews, research, and writing involved in preparing Boardwalk Empire span nearly two decades. Johnson is currently a Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, sitting in the Civil Division of Atlantic County.

Johnson’s follow-up to Boardwalk Empire is The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City , coming in November 2010 from Plexus Publishing, Inc.

INDEX

A

Abbott, Bud

Absecon Boulevard

Absecon Island

early land purchases

Leeds settlement

original landscape

Pitney’s vision for

revival of

rising land values

Absecon Lighthouse

“Absegami”

Academy of the Sacred Heart

Ackerman, Harold

Adam and Eve group

Adonis, Joe

African-American community

artisans

Atlantic City wages

change in voting attitude

churches

domestic work and

Nucky Johnson and

home ownership

hospitality industry jobs

housing

infant mortality

Jackson’s popularity

“Jim Crow” laws and

migration

percentage of population

Republican Party and

secret societies

social structures

tuberculosis rates

Usry’s election as mayor