Berman, Davie, 1903-1957

David "Davie" Berman (1903-1957) was one of the pioneers of the casino business in Las Vegas, Nevada. Berman was born January 16, 1903 in Odessa, Ukraine and grew up in Ashley, North Dakota. He was named Donald at birth but later changed his name to David. By age 16 he ran the biggest bootlegging operation in Iowa, and was also involved with organized crime in New York City and Minneapolis. After serving in World War II, Berman moved to Las Vegas in 1944 and invested in the El Cortez, the Las Vegas Club, and the El Dorado with his brother Charles "Chickie" Berman and associates Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Moe Sedway, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, and Israel "Icepick Willie" Alderman. Berman had one child, Susan, with his wife, Gladys, and moved the family from Minneapolis to Las Vegas in 1945. After Siegel was murdered in 1947, Berman took over control of the Flamingo along with Greenbaum, Sedway, and Alderman. In 1955 Berman sold his interest in the Flamingo and invested in the Riviera. He died of a heart attack during an operation June 18, 1957.