Wilkerson was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 29, 1890. He began to study medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but when his father died leaving extensive gambling debts, Wilkerson quit school to support himself and his mother.
He was also responsible for discovering actress Lana Turner across the street from Hollywood High School. In 1946 he began a series of columns in the Hollywood Reporter, listing suspected Communist sympathizers. "Billy"s List" provided the foundation for what became the Hollywood blacklist.
Expanding his work in the movie industry, he became district manager at Universal Pictures under Carl Laemmle.
The Hollywood Reporter
Wilkerson published the first issue of the Hollywood Reporter on September 3, 1930. He began each issue with a self-penned editorial entitled "Tradeviews", which proved highly influential.
lieutenant was in these columns that he helped to initiate the "red scare" that led to the Hollywood blacklist. Los Angeles and Las Vegas
Wilkerson opened a series of social nightspots on Los Angeles" Sunset Strip.
Seeing opportunities in Las Vegas, he made key investments there as well.
Restaurants, nightclubs and hotels that Wilkerson started:
Vendome Wine & Spirits Company (1933)
Cafe Trocadero (1934)
Sunset House (1936) (haberdashery & barbershop)
The Arrowhead Springs Hotel (1939)
Ciro"s (1940)
LaRue (of Hollywood) (1943?)
The Flamingo Hotel (1945)
L"Aiglon (1947)
LaRue (of Las Vegas) (1950).
