Full Name Paul D'Amato Children 2 | Cause of death Heart attack | |
 | ||
Resting place Holy Cross Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum Other names Skinny, Mr. Atlantic City, Uncle Paul Occupation Restaurant and nightclub owner Spouse(s) Betty Jane Creamer (m. 1949; d. 1972) Other name Skinny, Mr. Atlantic City, Uncle Paul | ||
Paul d amato in conversation with greg harris
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 1940s until the club burned down in 1973.
Contents
Paul d amato mayor
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.
Career
D'Amato's initial success in Atlantic City began to grow when he opened up a restaurant and gambling hall called "Luigi's". He put the famous 500 Club under his ownership. He 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.
The 500 Club
The 500 Club was allegedly 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.
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. Mr. D'Amato was never convicted of a crime, and 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. Skinny's wife suffered medical problems for five years and died in 1972. In June 1973, 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. 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; in which D'Amato also acted as Giancana's man.
Personal life and family
D'Amato married Betty Jane Creamer on June 4, 1949. The couple had two children and remained married until Creamer's death in 1972. In 1976, their son Angelo was charged with the murder of a co-worker at the D'Amato home in Ventnor. After his release from prison, Angelo was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison on October 7, 1983 for the murder of 28-year-old Keerans Carter in 1981.
Death
D'Amato died on June 5, 1984 of a heart attack. His long time close friend, entertainer Frank Sinatra, served as a pallbearer at his funeral. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum in Atlantic City.
In popular culture
D'Amato is portrayed by Robert Morelli in the television biopic about Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, titled Martin and Lewis (2002).