Politically active owner of two Los Angeles daily news publications "The Express an evening news publication purchased in 1900 and the Tribune its shortlived morning counterpart which was launched July 4, 1911 and ceased publication during World War I." Earl and Los Angeles Times owner Harry Chandler were close friends and frequent business partners in real-estate purchases. Earl's personal real-estate portfolio was vast and consisted of some of Los Angeles's most impressive structures. The most notable of which was the Standard Oil building that he owned outright.
The nations premier oil company counted E.T. Earl as a major shareholder as was the case of many of its subsidiary organizations. Earl "a tireless worker," made his fortune marketing California fruits in the East. The Earl Fruit company for years was the dominate fruit packing and shipping concern in California. The sale of the company to the Armour family in 1900 increased Earl's personal fortune by $2.5 million. The Armour family struck a deal which allowed Earl to end a bitter fight with large packing companies around the country. Earl continued on as the Earl Fruit Company manager and minority company owner until the company was sold to Joseph Di Giorgio in 1910.
Right up until he breathed his last, E.T. Earl remained one of the most important figures in Los Angeles business and political circles. The mighty political machine Earl assembled would continue to be a factor in California politics long after his death on January 2, 1919 at the age of 62.
Judge Gavin W. Craig
The distinguished syndicate dean. Judge Gavin W. Craig U.S.C. College of Law class of 1901. Judge Craig's political career began in the law offices of California Assemblyman Byron Waters in 1901. Over the course of a decade he would serve as a deputy under District Attorney J.D. Fredericks (1903-04), secretary of the U.S.C. College of Law (1904-1912) be appointed Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner while serving three terms as U.S.C. Law School Alumni President. This appointment demonstrated his importance in Los Angeles as it was widely accepted that if one hoped to crack the upper echelon of the legal community in Los Angeles it went along way to have graduated from the S.C. College of law.
Judge Craig's many group associations included the Republican City Central committee, Masonic fraternity, Celtic League, L.A., Municipal League and Phi Delta Phi fraternity.
Kent Kane Parrot
A native of Kennebunkport, Maine. Kent Kane Parrot arrived in Los Angeles in 1907 and enrolled in the University of Southern California. A star on the U.S.C. football team, Kent was also one of Judge Gavin Craig's most promising law students. Parrot completed his education earning a law degree as a member of the graduating class of 1909. Parrot joined the social reform minded progressive political organization headed by E.T. Earl.
Earl's boys as they came to be known included Vincent Morgan "Parrot's law partner and Earl's hand picked candidate for county district attorney in 1914. George E. Cryer who ran unsuccessfully for city attorney in 1914 later to be elected mayor (1921) thanks in large part to Kent's efforts. Following the death of E.T. Earl (1918) Kent aligned himself with Judge Gavin W. Craig's political apparatus. While running errands for his mentor, tutor and friend, Kent began laying the ground work for the organization which would lead the Los Angeles Times to label him the puppet master long before Artie Samish earned the same monikor.
Charles Herbert Crawford "The Gray Wolf"
Crawford took the long road to prominence in Los Angeles. From his native Ohio to political player and vice lord of Seattle, Washington. Crawford's casino and brothel's ran wide open during the Klondike gold rush. The proceeds from these operations allowed Charlie to live an ostentacious life style which earned him the nickname Goodtime Charlie. Construction of a 500 room brothel on Beacon Hill complete with a 15 year city approved lease led to the launching of a recall petition against Mayor Hiram Gill. When Gill left town to escape the firestorm, Crawford's kingdom lost its last layer of protection when Police Cheif Charles "Wappy" Wappenstein was fired.
Crawford quickly packed his bags and headed for a less hostile environment leaving his partner Marco Albori the lone vicelord in the pacific northwest. Crawford arrived in Los Angeles and installed himself as the proprietor of the Maple Bar at 5th and Maple Streets. The Maple Bar became a watering hole for politicians, gangsters and police officials. Seeking to distance himself from the Seattle debacle, Crawford re-invented himself ditching the flashy suites and array of diamonds which defined his Seattle personna. Crawford's acceptable access to personalities Los Angeles's elite couldn't or wouldn't be caught dead with made him an important allie for Kent Kane Parrot in his drive for supremacy.
Marco Albori "Albert Marco"
Albori reigned along with Charlie Crawford as the kings of Seattle vice until their ambitious plan to run a wide open 500 room brothel robbed them of their political protection. Albori was as colorful a figure during his time as anyone including Chicago's Al Capone. Albori could often be found in one of Crawford's gambling establishments engaged in a poker marathon or high stakes craps game. Albori road out the storm in Seattle long enough to establish a highly lucrative liquor ring during the early stages of prohibition.
Part of Albori's legend is that he is credited with smuggling the first load of high grade Canadian whiskey into Los Angeles. The valuable cargo was delivered to Charlie Crawford at the Maple Bar for distribution to his high end clientele. Shortly thereafter, Albori relocated to Los Angeles leaving his Seattle holdings to Seattle's youngest police lieutenant turned liquor smuggler Roy Olmstead. Albori was served as the syndicates primary source of muscle. The ultimate sportsman, Albori once lost $260,000 in a high stakes poker match with legendary gambler Nick "The Greek" Dandolous at Farmer Page's Clover Club.
Guy McAfee "Captain"
A former Southern Pacific Railroad fireman. McAfee left the railroad opting instead for a career with the LAPD after witnessing one of L.A.,'s finest role a drunk outside of a downtown drinking spot. McAfee would spend 12 years working a variety of assignments including the corruption squad also known as the vice detail. McAfee became a familiar face amoung the crowd at Charlie Crawford's Maple Bar. McAfee's affinity for games of chance and inside knowledge of planned police actions made him an invaluable allie to operators of gambling halls across the city. McAfee expertly turned this information into a lucrative sideline and became known throughout town as the Whistler.
Milton B. Page "Farmer"
Former newsboy turned gambling specialist, Page controlled hundreds of gambling games in Los Angeles during the '20s. Tall and well built, Page acquired the name Farmer due to his slow and deliberate movements. Page enjoyed A-list connections which provided protection to his high class setup. He was often the recipient of phone calls from the whistler "Guy McAfee," which was the signal that a raid was imminent. Page remained a Los Angeles fixture until his death in 1948.
Ezekiel L. Caress "Zeke"
Tiajuana betting commissioner doubled as the syndicate accountant and held a controlling interest in Agua Caliente Race track. Caress was the exact opposite of Albori. He didn't drink or smoke and preferred spending quiet evenings at home with his wife Helen. Rather plain in his appearance his mannerism and style of dress was more indicative of a banker than a gambling figure. Caress became the subject of a media crush when he, his wife and their Japanese houseboy were abducted by members of the Sheldon gang just before Christmas 1930.
Edward V. Clippinger
A former Los Angeles police officer, Edward Voight Clippinger specialized in running large scale brothel operations. Clippinger sat atop an empire which spread up and down the west coast. Clippinger is best remember as the founder of Roxie's brothel located in the Formyle section of Las Vegas. Roxie's occupied the same location as Tony Cornero's Meadows club.
Robert Gans
The topic of much debate in the '30s, Gans played prominently in the recall of Mayor Frank Shaw. With Shaw's enemies closing in, Gans along with Guy McAfee were held up as symbols of the corruption which had long hampered city politics. Gans admittedly controlled the sale of coin operated machines of various types but denied any illicit action in regards to politics. Gans served as President of California Amusement Machine Operators Association (CAMOA) a legal teletype betting operation under California state law. Inspite of his notorious reputation Gans was extremely active in the Jewish community sitting on the Executive Committee at Mount Sinai Hopital. Gans later moved onto Las Vegas where he was a frequent investor in many landmark properties including the Flamingo and Riviera hotels.
Antonio Stralla "Tony Cornero"
One of the most important figures in southern California during the '20s. Cornero fought many battles some with enemies, others with law enforcement and at times with men who were friends. Cornero's heated battle with Farmer Page threatened to tear the syndicate apart as bodies piled up in the streets of Los Angeles. Whereas Farmer Page was an acknowledged member of the syndicate, Cornero started off working for the syndicate smuggling liquor. By the close of the '20s Cornero would point the way to Nevada where he and brothers Lou and Frank opened the first swank gambling club in Nevada.
The Meadows club opened in 1929 and was such a success that Cornero abandoned his smuggling operation infavor of gambling. In short order Cornero and many other syndicate big wigs launched floating casino's from the port of Long Beach. Cornero is the true father of Las Vegas gambling.
