Forbidden Fruit: Readers’ reviews and recollections
“I caddied for mobster John Croft of the Beverly hills Country Club.”
Dear Mr. Bronson:
I recently read your excellent book about the corruption in Northern Kentucky. An interesting sidelight: I was 16 years old in 1961, and worked as a caddy at Ridgewood Golf Course. I caddied one day for a man who paid me $7.00, which was about twice what we were normally paid. I asked him if I could caddy for him again, and I began a daily job. His name was John Croft. I somehow learned he was a manager at the Beverly Hills Supper Club. There were several other golfers who joined him, but I only remember one name, Dubby Pollins (sp). I even caddied for his wife when some friends from Florida were visiting. Neither he nor his wife looked like my version of how people associated with mob crimes would look Like. On August 10th I caddied for him, and then never saw or heard from him again. So your book had an additional interest for me.
Bob Wiehe
Dear Mr. Bronson:
As 76 year old native of Ft Thomas and Campbell County, I found your new book to be of great interest and it somehow paralleled the events and people of my life.
I was raised adjacent to Highland Country Club and, as a youth caddied there for many of the characters in your book. My father, William Seibert owned the Ford dealership on 4th St in Newport from 1927 until 1955. In the military, I served at the White House during the Kennedy and Johnson years and later in the 1960's, served as a police officer and volunteer firefighter in Highland Heights, before being elected to City Council in Cold Spring in the 1970's. My wife's family built into Screw Andrews's newly constructed Sportsman's Club at 2nd and York from the Govt, and converted it into an auto radiator warehouse. I also ran a startup computer company out of that location. (You should have seen the escape plans that Screw had for that building!) Working long hours in downtown Newport had me bumping into many of your book's shady characters in restaurants, chili parlors, etc. at that time.
My wife and I frequently went to dinner and shows at Beverly Hills and felt very comfortable there. Jerry Kremer, the electrician who did much of the piecemeal wiring there, was a first cousin of mine and my half brother, Bob Ruberg, an attorney in Covington specializing in Commercial major airline cases, represented Dick Schilling's interests in the largest product liability case of the time.
As a volunteer fireman/EMT with the Cold Spring Fire Dept., the fire and cleanup duties there were times that I stored away deeply into the back of my mind, but it was good for me to read your accounts and I was saddened to learn of the coverup by the State of Kentucky. There has always been a nagging suspicion in the back of my mind about the cause of the fire and I now embrace that suggestion that they intended to torch it, but set the timer incorrectly, is probably the most plausible, given the history of the Club, the Syndicate and other fires that preceded Beverly Hills, during those days.
Thanks you for a most interesting read! I just couldn't put it down and read the whole book in one sitting! After my wife and family has had their turn with it, perhaps I'll get the opportunity to read it once again!
Don Seibert, Ft Thomas, KY
Peter -
I just finished your book Forbidden Fruit, and wanted to thank you for bringing back so many memories. I am a 69 year old retiree, and life-long Cincinnatian. Back in 1977, I was a news producer at channel 12 and worked closely with Nick Clooney, Kyle Hill and Howard Ain - all three of whom covered the BHSC fire the night it burned. I also worked closely with Kyle for an additional 26 years at Cincinnati Bell in Public and Employee Communications.
I had been to the BHSC maybe two times prior to the fire. Once for dinner and a Dione Warwick concert that I believe was in the Cabaret Room, and another time my family went there for dinner to celebrate one of my sister's college graduation. One of my lasting memory of the place was that when we went from the dining room to the Cabaret Room for the concert, it seemed like we were escorted through a series of narrow hallways which was like a maze. I have a pretty good sense of direction, but I remember thinking that by the time we got to the Cabaret Room, I felt like I had been blindfolded and turned around several times so as to lose my sense of direction - I could not figure out in my mind where we were and how difficult it would be to retrace my steps to get out of the building, if need be.
Couple of other comments: My family often went out to dinner on Sunday evenings to the White Horse, the Lookout House and the Town and Country (also on Dixie Highway) - we would take my grandfather because he liked to have a cocktail with dinner on Sundays and you couldn't get one in Ohio. Growing up, it was always a "big deal" to go to those restaurants for dinner.
I enjoyed the book! It's interesting but terribly sad. Thanks again.
-Joe Wright
Dear Mr. Bronson,
I could write you a five page e-mail but for your sake I'll keep it short. I just finished reading your Forbidden Fruit Beverly Hills book and it was fascinating. I don't usually buy books but get them at the library but I remembered what a good writer you were for the Enquirer so I made the purchase. I said I'll keep it brief so I'll just mention three things that really surprised me. #1. Kentucky Governor Julian Carroll was in on the cover up. Mr. Carroll controlling the Kentucky State Police and the investigation is terrible. #2.The biggest surprise to me is the connection between the murder of Keith Holliday and the fire at Beverly Hills. My twin brother and I were seniors in high school at the time and we were among the many who walked around searching for Keith. Wow - all these years later to hear the rest of the story. Our neighbor was a volunteer fireman who waded in the Hollidays' pool and he told my Dad way back then that the boy was put in there later. #3. As a devout Catholic I really am glad you included what the ordained reverend said about the spirit world. Most people don't know this biblical truth and it's great you included this explanation. Like I said I'll keep it short, thanks for all the hours and hours you put into writing this book. It's a good one. Take care,
Rich Vennemann
Mr. Bronson:
Just finished your well written and researched book. Having grown up in that era as a teenager (80 yrs old) I have memories of those times and how wide open Newport was.
Also, My wife and I were supposed to be at Beverly to see John Davidson that fateful night however, our infant got ill and we postponed.. .
My wife, Judy (same age) also grew up in that era. around here..
Question: We both remember that her "Godfather" was Frank "Boggie " Burns who owned The Kentucky Club on the 600 block of Greenup St. Judy's mother was a waitress there at that time before she started her own Beauty Salon . Judy was young (5-10 ) but remembers being escorted to the "back room " in the off hours "winning" silver dollars at the tables. ie the fix was in with the table manager. . You mention the Kentucky Club in the book. Did your research reveal any other info about Boggie Burns ? We fondly remember Boggie even after all the cleanup and he even attended our wedding (1961 ) .
Thank you in advance, and congrats again on a well written book.
J.C Jenkins
PS- Has there been any interest in making a movie on all or part of your research ?
Peter
I finished reading your book yesterday, What a great book it was hard for me to put it down. I have read many books about the Beverly Hills Fire, and yours was the BEST , so well written and the complete real story of the fire, and what lead up to it.
You did a great job, a pleasure to read your work. Thank you again.
Dave Backer, Cincinnati Ohio — 79 years old
PS: the night of the fire we were living in Dunedin Florida, sitting in the driveway with neighbors, when someone yelled outside to put the radio on. I will NEVER forget that horrible night.
Peter:
I just finished Forbidden Fruit - it's a great read, thank you for doing it.
I grew up on the East coast, moved to Cincy in 1991. I had heard about "seedy" areas across the river, but never ventured over there. Sleep Out Louie's was still a bar on Second Street where Paul Brown Stadium is now, but I (and I would guess most) don't know of a connection to the real guy in Newport from decades earlier.
Questions for you - were the clubs that burned down (I think you said about 30 of them) insured? How could they be after all those fires and known mob influence? Did Schilling get paid for the Supper Club fatal fire? The way it was shut down and cleaned up so quickly leads me to believe a) there were a lot of politicians who knew it was coming and or had something to hide. The investigators never got a proper look at the site, so insurance adjusters surely could not have been satisfied. b) this time, the club was not rebuilt vs prior fires where the facility was rebuilt under new ownership (mob). Do you think the mob was "embarrassed" by the tragedy and just let it go after so many deaths? Has there ever been anything further discussed about the white liquid being painted on the walls? I wonder why they (assuming it was the mob) was interested again in Newport having moved on to Vegas a decade prior? Maybe the BHSC was doing so well they couldn't resist? And surprising Schilling wasn't charged with some kind of safety violations for lack of exits.
Hard to believe Chesley could turn what appears to be a clear case of arson into a class action suit about aluminum wiring.
Thanks and let me know what you think.
Bill
Peter,
Just finished your book “Forbidden Fruit “ and it is great – who knew there was so much corruption in NKY and the MOB – OMG. Tom read it first and would not tell me anything until I read it too! The research that you did was amazing – I needed a mob flow chart to keep it all straight!
When we grew up we were forbidden to ever go to Newport for anything and now I know why…
The fire information is really scary. We had been over there a few months before that for Bobby Goldsboro and Tom said we were never going there again. He said it was beyond not safe and I remember we left early as to not get stuck in the crowd exiting. The inside hallways and the packing of patrons had him freaked.
Cheryl and Tom Popp
Mr. Bronson
I have just completed your book and may I say what an incredible read.
What a journey through history you have penned — spellbinding, even though it ends tragically.
Our nation and especially our own region has so many hidden secrets, it was enjoyable to discover some with you!
Thank you once again for shedding some light and sharing your hard work and dedication to an area and period of time that soon may be just another housing project, as we once again try to bury the evil past and “just make it go away .
Thank you once again for sharing.
Bryan “Coach” Burkholder
Peter,
After I retired from the airlines, I received my Master's degree from NKU. Our historical project at the university was to arrange a display of the "Beverly Hills Fire" at the Ft. Thomas Army Military Museum. The museum still has memorabilia from the fire. I went to the fire to help, but all I could do was scream at the kids, who were stealing wallets from the dead male bodies on the hillside. I apologized to my friend, Dr. Fred Stine, the Campbell County Coroner, for failing to stop the looting. The horror exacerbated to the victims' families because of the additional time it took to identify the bodies. My failure will always haunt me.
I will include in my book, my NKU Practicum, and two new "NKU Tribune" articles. Also, a chapter on Harrison County, (Cynthiana) KY, Sheriff John Kitchen, my mother's father, fought the Syndicate's local liquor trade.
Congratulations on your book!
Dick Challis
Peter: I just finished your book last night and all can say is it is a hell of a book! Congratulations! Thanks for signing it as well. Believe it or not, I had bad dreams last night! Boy! did that bring back memories. I got my start in radio there with the help of Larry Vincent sending me to WLWT for my job as a floor boy.
Jerry Thomas
Peter,
We met briefly at Newport on the Levy when I purchased your book. I just finished reading it – a few thoughts and opinions and feelings.
I’m from Wisconsin, moved to Cincinnati in 1973, heard some of the history of Newport and surrounding area crime. After reading your book I realized I only had heard a fraction of what went on. Total lawlessness! Public officials and law enforcement and the public in general either gained financially or ignored it but did not do their jobs. The public apparently didn’t care enough to step up or were afraid to do so.
So sort of like it is in 2020 – some / many / most politicians are dirty! Follow the money and it will lead to the bad guys.
If there was one thing I credit my parents with is raising me to know what is generally considered the right thing, and to do the right thing. I tested it as most of us do, didn’t always do the right thing, but when confronted I admitted it, got punished, and accepted it.
If was very hard and emotional to read of the 1977 fire and deaths and cover up. My wife’s uncle (Keebler Vice President of Sales) and aunt were there that night. She had on a white dress, went down, and was located due to the white dress – lucky! Yes it was arson and overlooked for the most part.
I also have and have read “The Bluegrass Conspiracy” that you mentioned in your book. Same thing, slightly different geography, more of the same ignoring the crime for financial gain.
Anyway – if you got this far, thanks and know that I’m pleased to have found you and read your book.
John Zoellner
