Wilbur Clark: Difference between revisions
+img |
No edit summary |
||
| (44 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|American casino owner and land developer}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
{{Infobox person |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| name = Wilbur Clark |
|||
| image = Ed Sullivan Red Skelton Wilbur Clark Desert Inn Las Vegas 1959.JPG |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| birth_name = |
|||
| birth_date =December 27, 1908 |
|||
| birth_place =[[Keyesport, Illinois]] |
|||
| death_date ={{death date and age|1965|8|27|1908|12|27}} |
|||
| death_place = |
|||
| death_cause = |
|||
| resting_place = |
|||
| resting_place_coordinates = |
|||
| nationality = |
|||
| other_names = |
|||
| known_for = |
|||
| education = |
|||
| employer = |
|||
| occupation = Businessman |
|||
| title = |
|||
| term = |
|||
| predecessor = |
|||
| successor = |
|||
| party = |
|||
| boards = |
|||
| spouse =Toni Clark |
|||
| children = |
|||
| parents =Shirley Clark<br/>Lulu Clark |
|||
| relatives = |
|||
}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
He was also an investor in [[Cuba]]n casinos, specifically [[Havana]]'s "[[Casino Internacional]]." He sold his interest in this venture to [[Meyer Lansky]] in 1958, when the [[Nevada Gaming Commission]] declared casino owners in Nevada would not be allowed to have Cuban casino investments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getkempt.com/the-past/when-cuba-was-cuba.php|title=When Cuba was Cuba|publisher=''Kempt''|date=2012-02-14|accessdate=2012-08-13|author=C. Brian Smith|source=''Kempt''}}</ref> |
|||
Wilbur Clark was born on December 27, 1908, in [[Keyesport, Illinois]].<ref name="unlv">{{cite web| url= http://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/ead/1995-49_WTClark.xml |publisher= [[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]]| title= Guide to the Wilbur and Toni Clark Collection| via= unlv.edu}}</ref><ref name= "reviewjournal">{{cite web| first= Caitlyn |last= Belcher| url= http://www.reviewjournal.com/view/spring-valley/desert-inn-road-named-one-valley-s-biggest-supporters |title= Desert Inn Road named for one of valley's biggest supporters| work= [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]| date= April 30, 2014| via= reviewjournal.com}}</ref> His parents were Shirley and Lulu Clark.<ref name="unlv"/> |
|||
==Career== |
|||
Clark sold his interest in the Desert Inn in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/a-brief-history-of-the-strip/?currentPage=12|title=The History of the Las Vegas Strip|accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref> |
|||
Clark moved to [[San Diego|San Diego, California]], at age 19, and worked in a hotel.<ref name="reviewjournal"/> He also worked on gambling ships, where gambling could take place in international waters.<ref name="reviewjournal"/> |
|||
He purchased [[El Rancho Vegas]] in 1944.<ref name="unlv"/> A year later, in 1945, he purchased [[Monte Carlo Club]].<ref name="unlv"/> In 1946, he sold El Rancho Vegas.<ref name="unlv"/> With that money, he built the [[Desert Inn]] casino in 1947.<ref name="unlv"/> However, he quickly sold most of his interest to businessman [[Moe Dalitz]], owning only 17.5%.<ref name="unlv"/> Another business partner was [[Hank Greenspun]], the publisher of the ''[[Las Vegas Sun]]'' newspaper.<ref name="lasvegassun">{{cite news| url= http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2006/oct/06/las-vegas-loses-its-first-lady/ |title= Las Vegas loses its 'first lady'| work= [[Las Vegas Sun]]| date= October 6, 2006}}</ref> He remained the public face of the Desert Inn.<ref name="unlv"/> In the 1950s, he organized the Tournament of Champions, an annual golf tournament at the Desert Inn Golf Course, televised by [[NBC]].<ref name="unlv"/> He sold his share in 1964.<ref name="reviewjournal"/> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Clark was married to Toni Clark. |
|||
During his time as head of the Desert Inn, Clark had a charity called 'Wilbur Clark's Cavalcade of Charities.' In 1964, as part of the charity, he helped organize the first ever professional football game in Las Vegas, an [[American Football League]] preseason game between the then [[History of the Oakland Raiders|Oakland Raiders]] and [[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=VIDEO VAULT {{!}} The first time the Raiders came to Las Vegas|url=https://news3lv.com/features/video-vault/video-vault-the-first-time-the-raiders-came-to-las-vegas|last=Hawley|first=Tom|date=2020-03-25|website=KSNV|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> The game helped establish a relationship between the Raiders's [[Al Davis]] and Las Vegas. That relationship between the Davis family and Las Vegas was eventually a motivating factor in his son [[Mark Davis (American football)|Mark]] relocating the team to the Las Vegas Area in 2020 as the [[Las Vegas Raiders]].{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} |
|||
He suffered a [[stroke]] in 1956, and died of a [[heart attack]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/a-brief-history-of-the-strip/?currentPage=12|title=The History of the Las Vegas Strip|accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref> |
|||
Later, he developed Wilbur Clark's Paradise Gardens, located at 4505 South Maryland Parkway, south of the [[Thomas & Mack Center]].<ref name="reviewjournal"/> He donated the land on which [[Guardian Angel Cathedral]] was built.{{citation needed|date= April 2020}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
<div class="references-small"> |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
</div> |
|||
==Personal life and demise== |
|||
==External links== |
|||
He married [[Toni Clark]], born Lena Gaglionese, in 1944.<ref name="unlv"/><ref name="lasvegassun"/> She became a philanthropist and fashion icon, supporting the [[Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra]] and [[Nevada Ballet Theatre]]. In 1958, she was on the Fashion Foundation of America's 10 Best Dressed Women in America list. She died in 2006.<ref name="lasvegassun"/> |
|||
*[http://classiclasvegas.squarespace.com/a-brief-history-of-the-strip/2008/1/21/wilbur-clarks-desert-inn-hotel-history-1950s.html Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn] |
|||
*[http://www.getkempt.com/the-past/when-cuba-was-cuba.php When Cuba Was Cuba] |
|||
Clark died of a [[heart attack]] on August 27, 1965.<ref name="lasvegassun"/> |
|||
==Legacy== |
|||
The Wilbur Clark D.I. Road (previously known as the Desert Inn Road) in Las Vegas, Nevada, is named in his honor.<ref name="reviewjournal"/><ref name="lasvegassun"/> |
|||
Whilst Dr. Heywood Floyd is en route to the moon in [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' during the wait over at the orbiting wheel in space, there is a sign for "Howard Johnson's Earthlight Rooms".{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
{{bio-stub}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Wilbur}} |
|||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1908 births]] |
||
[[Category:1965 deaths]] |
|||
[[Category:People from Keyesport, Illinois]] |
|||
[[Category:Businesspeople from Las Vegas]] |
|||
[[Category:American business executives]] |
|||
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 05:48, 23 July 2024
Wilbur Clark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 27, 1908 |
| Died | August 27, 1965 (aged 56) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | Toni Clark |
| Parent(s) | Shirley Clark Lulu Clark |
Wilbur Clark (December 27, 1908 – August 27, 1965) was an American casino owner and land developer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early life
[edit]Wilbur Clark was born on December 27, 1908, in Keyesport, Illinois.[1][2] His parents were Shirley and Lulu Clark.[1]
Career
[edit]Clark moved to San Diego, California, at age 19, and worked in a hotel.[2] He also worked on gambling ships, where gambling could take place in international waters.[2]
He purchased El Rancho Vegas in 1944.[1] A year later, in 1945, he purchased Monte Carlo Club.[1] In 1946, he sold El Rancho Vegas.[1] With that money, he built the Desert Inn casino in 1947.[1] However, he quickly sold most of his interest to businessman Moe Dalitz, owning only 17.5%.[1] Another business partner was Hank Greenspun, the publisher of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper.[3] He remained the public face of the Desert Inn.[1] In the 1950s, he organized the Tournament of Champions, an annual golf tournament at the Desert Inn Golf Course, televised by NBC.[1] He sold his share in 1964.[2]
During his time as head of the Desert Inn, Clark had a charity called 'Wilbur Clark's Cavalcade of Charities.' In 1964, as part of the charity, he helped organize the first ever professional football game in Las Vegas, an American Football League preseason game between the then Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers.[4] The game helped establish a relationship between the Raiders's Al Davis and Las Vegas. That relationship between the Davis family and Las Vegas was eventually a motivating factor in his son Mark relocating the team to the Las Vegas Area in 2020 as the Las Vegas Raiders.[citation needed]
Later, he developed Wilbur Clark's Paradise Gardens, located at 4505 South Maryland Parkway, south of the Thomas & Mack Center.[2] He donated the land on which Guardian Angel Cathedral was built.[citation needed]
Personal life and demise
[edit]He married Toni Clark, born Lena Gaglionese, in 1944.[1][3] She became a philanthropist and fashion icon, supporting the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and Nevada Ballet Theatre. In 1958, she was on the Fashion Foundation of America's 10 Best Dressed Women in America list. She died in 2006.[3]
Clark died of a heart attack on August 27, 1965.[3]
Legacy
[edit]The Wilbur Clark D.I. Road (previously known as the Desert Inn Road) in Las Vegas, Nevada, is named in his honor.[2][3]
Whilst Dr. Heywood Floyd is en route to the moon in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey during the wait over at the orbiting wheel in space, there is a sign for "Howard Johnson's Earthlight Rooms".[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Guide to the Wilbur and Toni Clark Collection". University of Nevada, Las Vegas – via unlv.edu.
- ^ a b c d e f Belcher, Caitlyn (April 30, 2014). "Desert Inn Road named for one of valley's biggest supporters". Las Vegas Review-Journal – via reviewjournal.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Las Vegas loses its 'first lady'". Las Vegas Sun. October 6, 2006.
- ^ Hawley, Tom (2020-03-25). "VIDEO VAULT | The first time the Raiders came to Las Vegas". KSNV. Retrieved 2020-05-25.