William R. Wilkerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William R. Wilkerson
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| Born |
William Richard Wilkerson
September 29, 1890 |
| Died | September 2, 1962 (aged 71) |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Publisher, businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Durkin Edith Gwynn Goldenhorn Rita Ann Seward Estelle Jackson Brown Vivian DuBois Beatrice Ruby Noble |
William Richard "Billy" Wilkerson (born September 29, 1890 – died September 2, 1962) was a very important person in the entertainment world. He started The Hollywood Reporter, a famous newspaper about movies and TV.
He also built many popular nightclubs and was involved in developing Las Vegas. Wilkerson's newspaper columns, called "Billy's List," played a part in a difficult time in Hollywood history known as the Hollywood blacklist.
Contents
Early Life and Family
William Wilkerson was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He started studying medicine in Philadelphia, but had to stop school. This was because his father passed away, leaving behind financial challenges.
Wilkerson took on the responsibility of supporting himself and his mother. He later stopped a personal habit that caused financial problems when his son was born in 1951.
Later Years and Passing
In his later years, Wilkerson's health was not good. However, he continued to lead The Hollywood Reporter. He also kept writing his daily column, "Tradeviews."
William Wilkerson passed away from a heart attack on September 2, 1962. He was 71 years old. This was just one day before The Hollywood Reporter′s 32nd anniversary. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Wilkerson was married several times during his life. His last wife was Beatrice Ruby Noble, also known as Tichi Wilkerson Kassel.
Building a Career in Entertainment
Wilkerson began his career in the movie business by managing a movie theater in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He got this chance when a friend won the theater in a bet.
He then expanded his work in the film industry. He became a district manager at Universal Pictures. This was a big step in his career.
Starting The Hollywood Reporter
On September 3, 1930, William Wilkerson launched the very first issue of The Hollywood Reporter. This newspaper quickly became a key source of news for the entertainment industry.
He wrote a special editorial for each issue called "Tradeviews." These articles were very popular and had a lot of influence in Hollywood.
"Billy's List" and Its Impact
In 1946, Wilkerson started writing a series of columns in The Hollywood Reporter. These columns listed people he suspected of having certain political beliefs. This list, known as "Billy's List," was part of a time called the "red scare."
During this period, many people in Hollywood were unfairly suspected. This led to the Hollywood blacklist, where some talented individuals lost their jobs. Wilkerson's columns contributed to this difficult time.
Ventures in Business and Nightlife
William Wilkerson was also a smart businessman. He opened many popular social spots on Los Angeles' famous Sunset Strip. He also saw great opportunities in Las Vegas and made important investments there.
Here are some of the restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels Wilkerson helped start:
- Vendome Wine & Spirits Co. (1933)
- Cafe Trocadero (1934) – A very famous nightclub.
- Sunset House (1936) – A store that sold men's clothing and had a barbershop.
- The Arrowhead Springs Hotel (1939)
- Ciro's (1940) – Another well-known nightclub.
- LaRue (of Hollywood) (1943?)
- The Flamingo Hotel (1945) – Wilkerson began building this famous Las Vegas hotel. He later sold it to another developer.
- L'Aiglon (1947)
- LaRue (of Las Vegas) (1950)
