a viewer wrote regarding the Lighter currently on Ebay:
Dear sirchips,

Not sure you can attribute the Flamingo lighter to Bugsy's years. I was hoping to find a record of Polk at the casino during this time but did not. Does show Polk at the Thunderbird in 1963 or so working grave yard as a floor man/host. But the guy was definitely connected as he was on trial in Wichita during 1947 for running booze into dry Kansas in 1943 to 45. It appears he was the bag man and on the top of the conspiracy.

In 1958 he was testifying in Indianapolis in a betting syndicate trial and is listed as a Wichita resident. I also found some Missouri connections to the Flamingo ownership in 1950 which may have brought him in then. But your premise that the name changed after Bugsy may warrant my opening statement moot.

This was fun and it certainly is a beautiful lighter that I have never seen before.

- alp52