Sam Maceo
Sam Maceo | |
---|---|
Born | Salvatore Maceo March 1, 1894 Political power broker, supper club manager, bootlegger |
Years active | 1920?–1950 |
Known for | Organized crime; established Galveston as a gaming and entertainment center |
Predecessor | Ollie Quinn |
Successor | Victor J. Fertitta and Anthony Fertitta |
Opponents | ) smaller gangs in Texas |
Relatives | Rosario Maceo (brother) |
Salvatore V. "Sam" Maceo (Italian pronunciation: and he received substantial income from these activities.
At the height of his power, he was able to control both the government and organized crime in the city. Sometimes known as the "Velvet Glove," Sam held considerable criminal and political influence in Southeast Texas and soon expanded his empire throughout the state.[2] During his lifetime he and his island home were known nationwide.[3]
Early life
Salvatore V. Maceo was born in
Rise to power
As Prohibition took hold Sam and Rose began to give gifts of wine that they were able to smuggle to their customers. As their customers became more interested in the liquor they gradually became more serious bootleggers. Maceo allied himself with local gang leader and
The arrest of Quinn allowed Sam and his brother, Rosario, to gain control of Galveston. Their wealth and Sam's ability to deal with influential figures allowed him to exert increasing influence over politics.
Maceo cultivated relationships with businessmen and politicians throughout Galveston including
Galveston's open era
Maceo's power reached its zenith during
During this time period, the criminal aspect of his empire was said to include dozens of
Galveston soon became a center of a center of culture and economy and one of the nation's premier locations for holding conventions, in large part due to the availability of gambling and alcohol.
Though the criminal operations the Maceos owned were largely confined to
Narcotics charges and downfall
In 1937 federal charges were filed against Sam Maceo who was accused of being the mastermind of a nationwide narcotics trafficking scheme.[3] Maceo was released on bail and fought extradition to New York.[17] Ultimately he was acquitted in 1942.[3] There was a great deal of speculation in Galveston as to whether Maceo was framed including speculation that the Moody family was involved.[18]
By the late 1940s corruption at the Texas state and county level was in decline.[19] As investigation of the Maceo activities became more serious, the Maceos began plans to move their empire to Nevada. Sam Maceo became a major investor in the Desert Inn, which opened in 1950, the largest and most elaborate casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip at the time. Moe Dalitz, who opened the Desert Inn, and Sam and had long been allies and business partners, and financing of the Las Vegas project was largely facilitated by the Maceos and Moodys through the ANICO[20][21] (the company, for its part, is known to have lent millions to known mob figures).[22] Sam and Rose Maceo transferred controlling interest of most of their Galveston empire to a new group dominated by the Fertitta family with investments coming from business interests around the island. The Fertitta group, however, never wielded the influence that the Maceos had and they eventually lost control as well.
Death
Sam Maceo died of cancer in 1951 at Johns Hopkins Hospital, just after the opening of the Desert Inn.[23] His death made national obituary news.[24] Galveston's wide-open era ended a few years after Maceo's death when authorities raided the island's gambling establishments. The Balinese Room continued to operate as a restaurant until 2008, when it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Ike.
Personal life
Maceo first married Jessica McBride in Galveston.
In spite of Sam's influence in the community and importance to the economy, the Maceos were never accepted by the leading families of Galveston society. Indeed, Sam was never allowed to join the local country club, a mark of acceptance among leading families. Reports indicate that Edna in particular felt the rejection by high society.[25][26]
Public perceptions
In the business world, Sam Maceo was known as being pleasant and persuasive.[3] He was influential with politicians, business leaders, and Hollywood celebrities alike.
The general public saw Maceo as a kind, generous person who genuinely cared for the Galveston community.
See also
- Free State of Galveston
- Dutch Voight
- Sicilian American
- Tilman J. Fertitta
- Texas City Disaster
Notes
- ^ a b c "Edna Marie Sedgwick (1915–2002)". SEDGWICK.ORG: Sedgwick Genealogy Worldwide. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
- ISBN 0-06-095991-6.
- ^ a b c d Boyle, Hal (April 24, 1947). "Sam Maceo is the Kindly King of Texas Gambling Realm". The Free-Lance Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia).
- ^ a b Cartwright (1993)
- ^ McComb (1998), p. 135
- ^ McComb (1986), p. 161
- ^ Cartwright (1998), p. 209
McComb (1986), p. 161 - ^ Cartwright (1998), p. 213
- ^ McComb (1989), p. 135
- ISBN 0-89123-032-7.
- ^ Sitton (2006), p. 145
- ^ "CORPORATIONS: Executive Suite". Time Magazine. September 6, 1954. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ Cartwright (1998), p. 329
- ^ Nieman, Robert (2006). "Interview with Ed Gooding: Texas Ranger, Retired". Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 60.
{{cite book}}
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(help) - ^ Newton, Michael. Mr. Mob: The Life and Crimes of Moe Dalitz. McFarland.
- ^ "One Last Shot".
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ McComb (1986), p. 163
- ^ Cartwright (1998), p. 240
- ^ Inc, Time (August 1955). "Wide-Open Galveston Mocks Texas Laws". Life. p. 26.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3516-6.
- ISBN 978-0-415-92613-3.
- ^ Cartwright (1998), p. 273
Cartwright, Gary (August 1987). "The Sleaziest Man In Texas". Texas Monthly: 162. - ^ Miller (1993), p. 14
- ^ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (April 28, 1951). "The Final Curtain". The Billboard.
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:|author1=
has generic name (help)
"Milestones, Apr. 30, 1951". Time Magazine. April 30, 1951. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2009. - ^ a b c d e Gillogly-Torres, Carla (June 29, 2003). "'Galveston, The Musical' to open July 11". Galveston County Daily News. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011.
- ^ McComb (1986), p. 174-175
- ^ Cartwright, Gary (June 1993). "One Last Shot". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
References
- Galveston, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Burka, Paul (December 1983). "Grande Dame of the Gulf". Texas Monthly.
- Cartwright, Gary (June 1993). "One Last Shot". Texas Monthly.
- Cartwright, Gary (1998). Galveston: a history of the island. TCU Press. ISBN 0-689-11991-7.
- McComb, David G. (1986). Galveston: a history. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-72049-1.
- McComb, David G. (1989). Texas, a modern history. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-292-73048-9.
- Sitton, Thad (2006). The Texas Sheriff: Lord of the County Line. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-3471-0.
- Utley Robert Marshall (2007). Lone Star Lawmen. Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-515444-3.