ARTS&LIFE BOOK REVIEW
“Bugsy Siegel: The Dark Side of the American Dream”
B
enjamin “Bugsy” Seigel was not a Siegel became a petty crook by age 14. good Jewish boy. Siegel led the life Hot-tempered and fearless, he was the of a “bootlegger, racketeer, gambler “toughest kid on the street;” hence, the and murderer.” To paraphrase journalist nickname “Bugsy.” As a teenager, Siegel James Traub, he “does not deserve our admi- also became a lifelong friend and accomration; but like some other plice of another highly successful Jewish figures who have yoked their gangster, Meyer Lansky. lives to deplorable causes, Siegel hated the nickname “Bugsy.” he nevertheless deserves our Only the most foolish or incredibly brave attention.” called him “Bugsy” to his face. Siegel preIn his new book, Bugsy ferred “Ben.” Mike Smith Siegel: The Dark Side of the A “gangster capitalist,” Siegel chose an Alene and alternative career path to rise above poverty. Graham Landau American Dream, author Archivist Chair Michael Beahan Shnayerson He made a fortune as a young bootlegger presents a splendid hisduring Prohibition, quickly achieving a tory about, arguably, the most famous dream that he shared with other Jewish Jewish gangster in history, who is indeed immigrants — prosperity and materiworth “our attention.” It is a story of early al well-being. Siegel’s ultimate goal was 20th-century Jewish immithe attainment of “class.” He grant life in America; of declared: “That’s the only thing bootlegging and the “Roaring that counts in life … without Twenties;” and of dreams in class and style, a man’s a bum.” Hollywood and Las Vegas. The end of Prohibition sigSiegel is a fascinating product naled the next phase of Siegel’s of all the above. career. Lansky and Siegel Shnayerson is an American became partners with Jewish, journalist and contributing Italian, Irish and other gangeditor for Vanity Fair magsters to form a national crime azine. The author of eight organization: the Syndicate. books and more than 75 To expand the Syndicate’s Vanity Fair stories, his book operations, Siegel was sent to about Siegel is published California, where he became Beahan under Yale University Press’ Michael enamored of Hollywood. Shnayerson prestigious Jewish Lives series. Calling himself a “sportsman,” As Shnayerson notes, those biographies “are Siegel spent much of his time at local racing all of admirable figures … Until now.” tracks and entertaining Hollywood’s leading Siegel was the son of Jewish immigrants actors and actresses at his mansion. For a from Galicia. Max and Jennie arrived in brief time, he even fancied a career as an America in 1900 amidst a wave of 1 million actor — all while doing his best to control Jewish immigrants. Like thousands of their as many illegal enterprises in California as compatriots, they settled in New York City’s possible. impoverished lower east side. Benjamin was Although married for many years with born there in 1906. two children — his wife and family were Shnayerson relates Siegel’s life in three always well-provided for — Siegel was a overarching eras. During the first phase, womanizer. He eventually developed a long
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and tumultuous relationship with Virginia Hill. For a few years, Siegel was a celebrity … until he was prosecuted in a well-publicized murder trial. Eventually cleared of the crime (in which he likely participated), his glory days among the Hollywood set were over. Siegel’s final phase was an obsession. He envisioned building a new, Monte Carlo-style luxury casino among the small “sawdust-on-the-floor” gambling houses of sleepy 1940s Las Vegas. His Flamingo Casino eventually became the first such casino in modern Las Vegas. The 1981 movie, Bugsy, visually captures this era, as well as Siegel’s California days. Siegel did not live to see its final success. Cost overruns, chaotic project management and, worst of all, rumors that he was skimming money — a sin of high magnitude among his gangster financial supporters — led to his demise. Siegel was assassinated on June 20, 1947. The case remains unsolved, but Shnayerson provides his best guess as to the culprit. Shnayerson has written an excellent biography, the best on Siegel to date. His research includes the extensive literature about Seigel, as well as new sources such as FBI files and his personal interviews with Siegel’s living family and acquaintances. Most important, Shnayerson thoughtfully explores the historical, cultural and Jewish context of the era that produced Benjamin Siegel. The result is a well-written, insightful narrative. It is a bona fide page-turner.
