Talk:Ray Ryan (businessman)

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Untitled[edit]

See [1] for articles from the Evansville Courier & Press which appear to be relevant to the subject of this article and which could be the basis for expanding it beyond this stub. [2]

I'm not comfortable with a 'rumors' section, especially when they are unreferenced. RJFJR (talk) 16:59, 24 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Rumors about Ryan[edit]

Move here from article space as unreferenced RJFJR (talk) 17:57, 5 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

According to John Scarne, Ryan cheated Nick The Greek out of over $1 Million in a gin rummy game involving a radio cue hidden underneath his bathing suit in 1951. When some of Nick's friends tried to get the money back, he successfully sued them for extortion, resulting in 10 year prison sentences for those involved. It is said because of this loss, Nick The Greek became broke and his career took a turn for the worst.
Some have said that Mr. Ryan initiated the Palm Springs golf tournament now known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
It has also been said that Ryan put up the money for the first Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movie.
Ray also developed the property and marina at Salton Sea near Palm Springs.
Ray Ryan was also involved in the early development of Las Vegas with involvement in early casinos often controlled by the Mafia. At one time he was the top gin rummy player in Vegas and often won and lost large amounts at a time (not just at the table, but on the golf course).
Book in the making with a national publisher on Ray.
Ray and wife Helen were close friends with the Martins and the Lewis'as well as many other very well known stars and stayed close in touch until Helen's death a few years ago. Palm Springs basically happened because of Ray and his fellow investors, thus the stars he knew began building their "get away" homes there. Ray was also invested heavily in many film endeavors and prize fighting.