Sherman Billingsley

Background

He was born in Enid, Oklahoma, on March 10, 1896.

Education

The Billingsley children attended school in a one-room schoolhouse, riding a horse to get to school.

Career

John Sherman Billingsley was the youngest child of Robert Billingsley and Emily Collingsworth. When an older brother committed a murder and was sent to prison, the family relocated to Anadarko to be near him. Upon the brother"s release from jail, he enlisted Sherman as an assistant in his bootlegging business.

This business extended into Omaha, Toledo, and Detroit.

In Detroit at age 18, Billingsley was arrested and convicted on federal charges. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, and spent time in Leavenworth before his conviction was reversed.

Billingsley began buying drug stores in New York City and even started his own real estate office to help him acquire drug stores. He created and owned the Stork Club.

From the time of the speakeasy until the 1960s, he held court on East 53rd Street.

In his column in the New York Daily Mirror, Winchell called the Stork Club "New York"s New Yorkiest place on West. 58th". One of Billingsley"s mistresses in the late 1930s was actress Ethel Merman.

Connections

Friend:

Texas Guinan