Allen R. Glick: Casino mogul with La Jolla, Las Vegas, and mob ties
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There’s a lot more going on in La Jolla than beautiful beaches, historic homes, and hotels.
Of course, there’s a big military connection and a Bronze Star from Vietnam for one former resident, Allen R. Glick, a businessman who got tangled up with mobsters.
Glick died at the age of 79, in August 2021, after a long fight with cancer, at his La Jolla home close to Kate Sessions Park. His death was the end of a journey that some say included the underworld of Las Vegas in the 1970s.
When he died, a celebration of his life was held at the La Jolla at Congregation Beth Israel, followed by a graveside service at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley.
MOB TIES
Besides his military achievements and special operations, Glick did have a key role in the Mafia’s takeover of Las Vegas, according to many reports.
For example, his life story was showcased in the film “Casino,” where Glick, portrayed Phillip Green, a man caught in the mob world.
According to the Mob Museum’s curator in Las Vegas Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs:
“I did not know Allen Glick, and he did not have any association with The Mob Museum. After his involvement with the Stardust Hotel in the 1970s and the resulting indictments and trials, he returned to California. He seemed to stay as far away from the limelight as possible. He reportedly kept security around him all the time,” he said.
“I don’t think ‘fond memories’ are relevant in this case. Glick was known as a frontman for the Chicago Mob. His Argent Corp. acquired four casinos in Las Vegas – the Stardust, Fremont, Hacienda, and Marina resorts. He obtained a $63 million loan from the Teamsters Union’s Mob-controlled Central States Pension Fund in order to buy the properties. Glick was forced to hire mobster Frank ‘Lefty’ Rosenthal to run the casinos,” added.
What happened with Rosenthal and his mob associate, Tony Spilotro, inspired the movie “Casino,” starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. The Allen Glick character was played by Kevin Pollak, Schumacher added.
“Glick’s legacy in Las Vegas is that he was embroiled in the biggest casino scandal in the city’s history. It’s not clear whether he fully realized what he was getting involved with at the beginning, but it wasn’t long before he realized that he had lost control of his own company.
“When the indictments came down in the early 1980s, Glick was granted immunity from prosecution in return for his testimony. He testified for four days, laying out in detail how he had gotten the Teamsters loan, and how he was forced to do things and physically threatened if he did not comply. He was a very good witness and helped the prosecution greatly.”
But walking away from the mob wasn’t an option and had life-threatening consequences.
Nicholas Pileggi, known for his work – be it writing books or screenplays, etc. – of many gangster flicks including “Goodfellas,” “Wise Guys” and other classics, offered insights into Glick’s life after his death stating Glick as a “fascinating figure – a legitimate businessman forced to operate under the mob’s shadow …”
In one obit, Pileggi said at the time of Glick’s passing: “Not many people I came across had the nerve to take the chance. It was only later that I realized he had been a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He didn’t need nerve. He just had it.”
Glick did collaborate with federal agents at personal risk, leading to the imprisonment of top Mafia bosses. Yet, his own life was quite mysterious, including the murder of his partner Tamara Rand.
EARLY DAYS, MILITARY SERVICE
Born on April 11, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Allen Robert Glick was the son of Jack and Pearl Glick and attended The Kiski School. He earned his BA at Ohio State University and his JD from Case-Western Reserve School of Law. Allen was later admitted into both The California and Pennsylvania bars.
Allen entered the military in 1967 as a first lieutenant in the Military Police Branch. He was transferred to Special Operations where he served as a captain in Vietnam.
He learned to speak Vietnamese to help the Army in military search and rescue operations. While there, he was awarded The Bronze Star, three Combat Air Medals, and the Vietnamese Medal of Honor. He was honorably discharged in 1969.
BUSINESSMAN
As for business, he had projects other than Las Vegas including in the Southwest and around the globe. Glick is also credited with introducing the Siegfried and Roy show and lottery operations in Caracas.
Locally, Glick joined the American Housing Guild of San Diego, and the Saratoga Land Development Co. He went on to form his own company, which bought the Hacienda Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas. The hotel was developed into a first-class location with one of the biggest recreational vehicle parks in Southern Nevada.
By 1974, Allen acquired Recrion Corp., later renamed Argent Corp, and served as its chairman and president. He also owned and operated the Stardust Hotel and Casino, Fremont Hotel and Casino, and Marina Casino.
Argent was known as one of the largest owners of casino and hotel properties in Nevada in the mid-1970s, adding the first race and sports book operation to the “Strip.”
By 1980, Allen sold his Las Vegas holdings and was second only to Howard Hughes in the ownership of hotels and casinos.
LA JOLLA
Allen was president and owner of ARG Enterprises, LLC, in La Jolla, a private company that’s with real estate investments. The company has been involved in projects in Southern and Northern California, Arizona, and Oregon. He served as an advisor and/or consultant to several real estate developers in the context of financing and strategic planning, too.
In addition, Allen participated in advising, structuring, and mediating several ventures for private investors. He had joint ventures with the Lai Sun Group, Hong Kong, PAGOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming), and Marco Polo Pure China Fund, Hong Kong.
Allen owned several casinos in Costa Rica and was the innovator and developer of the Philippine Dream, a floating entertainment center located in Cebu, Mactan, Philippines. He also participated in the development and building of one of the major office complexes in Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands, B.V.I., and with the building and operation of a major entertainment center in Macau.
POSTS
Upon his passing, friends, family, and followers of Glick posted several remarks like this on this obit on Legacy.com:
“Our condolence, my mother was their housekeeper manager (Martha) for several years and helped with Cary and Todd …she has many stories about how good of a person he was…God bless you guys …my mother was just showing us a gift Kathy gave her, the kindness and firm family my mother knew….he will be missed…” — Sanchez/Range family, Aug. 7, 2021
And “I watched ‘Casino’ today and did some research into the film, as well as some of the people involved, only to see he passed away just a few days ago and that his service was today. I´m sorry to hear he passed, and I hope he rests in peace,” — Ben Pepper, Aug. 6, 2021.
here for the then live-streamed funeral service for Allen Glick held on Aug 5, 2021.
