Paul D'Amato

Paul "Skinny" D'Amato (1908 – June 5, 1984) also known as "Mr. Atlantic City", was the owner of the 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey from the 1930s until the club burned down in 1973.

Early life

Paul D'Amato was born to Italian American parents in 1908 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was one of eight children. When one or both of their parents died, D'Amato opened a cigar store at the age of 15 to help support the other seven children. The store was very successful.^[1]

His success in A.C. began to grow when he opened up a restaurant and gambling hall called "Luigi's". He put the famous 500 Club under his ownership.

Nucky and his organization

D'Amato began working for corrupt Atlantic County treasurer Enoch "Nucky" Johnson and his political organization. D'Amato was also an associate of Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana and New Orleans crime family boss Carlos Marcello.

Philadelphia mob boss Marco Reginelli was the head of the Italian Philadelphia-South Jersey mob for years and it is said that he sold D'Amato the 500 Club.^[2]

The 500 Club

The 500 Club was a front for an illegal gambling operation. To draw gamblers, he had such big name entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis perform at the club.

D'Amato's supper club and gambling den on South Missouri Avenue, where the doors opened at 5 p.m. and closed at 10 a.m., was the world’s most notorious fairground. The biggest names in politics, sports — and the mob — mingled, smoked, drank, gambled (long before it was legal) and cut deals in secret rooms filled with roulette wheels, craps tables, baccarat and high-stakes card games, all protected by the police on Skinny’s unofficial payroll.

He also managed a club in Lake Tahoe for Sinatra, for which he got troubles from the IRS and lost a lot of money when the casino commission linked Giancana to the Lake Tahoe operation and revoked its license in 1963. Other than that and other minor run-ins with the law D'Amato never spent a day in prison.

Soon Atlantic City began to decline and the 500 club, once the most popular nightclub in the nation, was on its way out, too. In 1973 Skinny's wife suffered psychological problems and died. Six months later, The 500 Club burned to the ground. Skinny, with scant insurance, lost about $2 million on the fire. He never recovered — financially, emotionally or spiritually.

Personal life and family

D'Amato married Betty Jane Creamer on June 4, 1949.

D'Amato had a son Angelo D'Amato. Angelo was sentenced 25-years-to-life in prison, on October 7, 1983, for the murder of 28-year-old prostitute Keerans Carter.^[3]

The Cal Neva

D'Amato also owned 13% of the Cal Neva Lodge and Casino in Crystal Bay, Nevada. Giancana was also a silent partner in the resort;^[4] in which D'Amato also acted as Giancana's man.^[5]

Death and remembrance

D'Amato died on June 5, 1984 of a heart attack. At his funeral actor Frank Sinatra served as a pallbearer carrying the casket at the church and cemetery, he was considered by many to be Sinatra's best friend and Sinatra's son affectionately referred to D'Amato as "Uncle Paul".

While other men involved in illegal activities were considered gangsters, D’Amato lived his life with one foot in Hollywood and one foot in the underworld, he was considered cool, a confidante and friend to stars, gangsters, politicians and hitmen alike, and while others killed people with guns he killed them with kindness and generosity.

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