The 500 Club Came Close To Reopening In Atlantic City, NJ

Most of us have encountered the same thing in the game of life.

We have friends and acquaintances - who are friends and acquaintances of people that we’ve never met.

Paulajane D’Amato is one such person for me. So many friends of mine know her well, yet, we have never met.

I would love to meet or talk to Paulajane D’Amato one day.

I am such a fan of The 500 Club and her Father, The legendary Paul “Skinny” D’Amato.

Paul D’Amato, Esquire, her Father’s namesake is a very dear friend of mine for more than 30 years.

Paulajane D’Amato actually lived history … growing-up right above The 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Her daily normal was regularly and routinely being around the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and all of the stars of the day.

The featured image above and below is young Paulajane collecting a smooch from Dean Martin.

It was just another day at the office.

Skinny D’Amato is the genius who partnered Martin & Lewis at The 500 Club.

Below, here is Paulajane with “The Three Stooges.”

Here is another iconic photo of the rich and famous with The D’Amato’s.

At least twice, Paulajane came close to reviving The 500 Club.

I have no doubt that The 500 Club could have had a successful second act … either as a stand-alone revival, or, incorporated within an Atlantic City casino.

I worked with Mark Etess at The Golden Nugget and joined The Trump Castle Casino Resort by The Bay shortly after his tragic death (along with Steve Hyde and Jon Benanav), in a helicopter crash on October 11, 1989.

President Donald Trump, who lost his three top executives all at one time said at the time:

These were three fabulous young men in the prime of their lives. No better human beings ever existed. We are deeply saddened by this devastating tragedy, and our hearts go out to their families, said President Trump.

I can confirm that there were serious discussions and The 500 Club would have been reimagined at The Trump Castle had Etess not died.

Another former boss of mine, Al Luciani was preparing to reopen The 500 Club at The Sands Hotel and Casino in 2002.

This was short circuited when Luciani left The Sands.

Paulajane D’Amato now lives in Delray Beach, Florida. We have 68 mutual friends on Facebook. We are not friends on Facebook and have still never met.

It’s never too late for a reimagined “The 500 Club.” It would work right now anywhere in Atlantic City. You could keep all of the memories alive and make new ones.