Hollywood Godfather

The Life and Crimes of Billy Wilkerson

By: W. R. Wilkerson III

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the definitive biography of the most powerful man in Hollywood during the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, the man who founded The Hollywood Reporter and the most storied nightspots of the Sunset Strip. In the 30 years as Tinseltown’s premier behind-the-scenes power broker, Billy Wilkerson introduced Clark Gable and Lana Turner to the world, brought the Mafia to Hollywood, and engineered the shakedown of the Hollywood studios by Willie Bioff and his mob-run unions. He also helped to invent Las Vegas, tangled with Bugsy Siegel (and possibly was involved with his murder), and touched off the Hollywood blacklist.

Perhaps nobody in Hollywood history has ever ruined so many careers or done so much to reshape the movie industry as Billy Wilkerson, yet there has never been a solid biography of the man. Billy’s son, William R. Wilkerson III, has done tremendous research on his father, interviewing over several decades everyone who knew him best, and he portrays him beautifully and damningly in this book.

©2018 W.R. Wilkerson III (P)2018 ListenUp Audiobooks

Spectacular

So much of the folklore regarding Hollywood or organized crime is grounded in half-truths. Thus book was a such a breath of fresh air. It is more of an academic study as opposed to a casual pleasure read. The historical context is given great consideration and shines through at every turn. In sum, there is much to be learned regarding the life and times of Billy Wilkerson.

The Best Kept Secret In Hollywood

Anyone studying politics, journalism, social dynamics, organized crime, media or life, would definitely be grateful for this book. The history of the Hollywood Reporter and the Hollywood Black List is thoroughly translated here and in a time when Hollywood figures are creating Blacklists in the here and now in this decade and generating stigmatism against other cultures, religions and political parties. It is flagrant. The social science to be explored in this manifesto is priceless. The story itself and the people in it are extraordinary. An education that alludes us in any other walk of life or exploration. Do not deny yourself the insight offered in this labor of love or the pleasure in listening to this most fascinating tale of manipulation, domination, and survival in the jungle.

Great story

I really enjoyed this book. Starts off a little slow but gets better. Def recommend

Loved it!

Great book about an amazing man. Couldn’t turn it off! Interesting Hollywood history. Hate that it ended.

Great Listwn

great listen. Fills in a lot of gaps in LA/Vegas history that I never would have filled without this work.

why is this not a movie or a series yet?

This book is amazing. Im on my seocnd listen and love it. I wish someone would make it into a Netflix series or something. I like how it tells how Billie started The Flamingo not Bugsy. All i ever see is how bugsy siegel started las vegas with Flamingo hotel. I believe that busgy was killed by Johnny Roselli. Man what a great book. I need this on the screen though.

what a surprise in a story line.

It was refreshing to hear the truth of the in's and out's of the Hollywood power players.
Need more stories like this.

masterpiece, anyone interested in Hollywood.

I loved this book. A true historic achievement. Anyone interested in the real Hollywood, this is the book for you.

Ok

Starts well—good parts/-lotta weeds last 1/3. 15 word min is b s.

A plodding but interesting story of old Hollywood.

This has interesting twists and turns and as a biography it sometimes appears that the writer is too closely bound to the subject. This is the danger of writing about family. As a result, the author gets bogged down in parts which even a strong narrator cannot really resolve.