The Hollywood Godfather: The Life and Crimes of Billy Wilkerson

Written by W. R. Wilkerson III

Narrated by Kevin Stillwell

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lantern Audio
• Release date: Sep 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949278088

W. R. Wilkerson III

W.R. WILKERSON III is a published author and songwriter and was raised and educated in England. He has published articles in The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, The Herald Examiner, and The LA Weekly. His book, The Man Who Invented Las Vegas, has drawn unanimous praise from both sides of the Atlantic. As a historian and personality, he has made numerous television and radio appearances globally. As a songwriter, he has co-written songs with such legends Marvin Gaye and written songs for such luminaries as Sherry Payne, Mary Welles, Larry Graham & Marilyn McCoo.

Reviews for The Hollywood Godfather

[Tyler Butler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the book. Pretty fascinating to learn that of all my historical knowledge around the film industry, and American history in the 20th century in general, this man had a hand in much of it. Great writing and narration, also. ??