Bill Miller (impresario)

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Bill Miller
Born1904
Pinsk, Russian Empire
DiedDecember 9, 2002 (age 98)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
CitizenshipAmerican
OccupationImpresario
Known forEntertainment director of the Sahara, Dunes, Flamingo and International hotels in Las Vegas
Spouses
  • Anne Wingate
  • Denise B. Miller
  • and two others
ChildrenJimmy Miller
Judith Miller
Susan Miller
FamilyJason Epstein (son-in-law)

Bill Miller (1904 – December 9, 2002) was a Russian Empire-born American impresario, best known for serving as the entertainment director for several large casino hotels in Las Vegas from the 1950s to the 1970s. He was the father of music producer Jimmy Miller and of The New York Times reporter Judith Miller.

Biography

Miller was born to a

Jewish[1] family in Pinsk, Russia, in 1904, the son of Lena and David Miller.[2][3] He did not know his family's original surname.[3] The family immigrated to the United States when William was a year old, first settling in Brooklyn, New York, and then Jersey City, New Jersey.[2][3] His father worked as a building tradesman,[2][3] and he had one sister, Mollie Miller Vine.[2]

Miller dropped out of high school after two years to pursue a career as a vaudeville dancer as part of the duo Miller and Peterson.[3] He danced professionally until he was 30, after which he worked as a vaudeville agent.[2] He became an entrepreneur operating the original Luna Park in Coney Island.[4] In 1945, he purchased the Riviera, a nightclub overlooking the Hudson River in Fort Lee, New Jersey, which had closed during World War II, and renamed it Bill Miller's Riviera.[2] He booked many of the top acts at the time including Tony Martin, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, Mae West,[2] and Tito Puente.[5] In 1953, the Riveria was shuttered to make way for the Palisades Parkway.[2]

Also in 1953, Miller purchased a 10% interest in the

Donald O'Conner, and Marlene Dietrich.[3] He also pioneered the Las Vegas lounge show concept, booking Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and Sam Butera.[3]

In 1955, Miller left the Sahara and bought an interest in the new

Sonny and Cher with Phil Spector.[3] In 1969, Miller worked at Kerkorian's new hotel, The International, where he booked Barbra Streisand and revived the career of Elvis Presley.[3] The International became the world's largest resort hotel during his tenure.[2] Miller retired in the 1970s.[2]

Personal life

Miller died on December 9, 2002, in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 98.[2]

Miller married four times.[6] He was survived by his fourth wife, Denise B. Miller.[2] He had three children, record producer and musician Jimmy Miller (who predeceased him in the 1990s and was previously married to Australian television personality, actress and singer Kerri-Anne Wright), reporter Judith Miller of The New York Times (married to editor Jason Epstein), and Susan Miller; and a stepson, Jerry Johnson.[2][7]

References

  1. ISBN 9781476716022
    . Retrieved 2019-02-02. Bill Miller, Jewish and Russian-born, was one of those larger-than-life, self-made Americans.
  2. ^
    New York Times
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Evanslas, K.J. (February 7, 1999). "Bill Miller". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  4. Archive.org
    .
  5. ^ Foer, Franklin. "The Source of the Trouble". NYMag.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  6. ^ McLellan, Dennis (December 15, 2002). "Bill Miller, 98; Vegas Hotels Entertainment Director, Club Owner". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Real Clear Politics
    .

Further reading

External links

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