JACK RUBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INSTALL AIR-CONDITIONING IN A WESTERN-TYPE
NIGHTCLUB HE HAS JUST PURCHASED. INFORMATION ABOUT THE "BOB WILLS RANCH HOUSE"
CAN BE FOUND IN THE WARREN REPORT.
Within five months, Ruby abandoned his interest in the nightclub and had a
"mental breakdown".
JACK RUBY
Typed DS: "Jack Ruby" as Lessee and "O L Nelms" as Lessor, 1
page, 8½x14. (Dallas, Texas), 1952 February 11. In full: "This letter
is intended to be, and shall be construed as part of and merged with lease
executed between O.L. Nelms, as Lessor, and Jack Ruby, as Lessee, even date
hereof, as follows: 1. The Lessee shall have the right, without further consent
of Lessor, to make all reasonable and necessary changes and break-throughs on
and of the leased premises, at Lessee's expense; and it is agreed that such
installation may be moved and removed by Lessee at his will and/or at
termination of this lease, if Lessee is not in default thereunder, so long as
Lessee makes all reasonable and necessary repairs to save premises from any
damage or injury." Staple holes in upper left and right blank edges, bottom
blank edge torn and stained, else fine condition. Accompanied by photocopy of
the two-page lease of Bob Wills Ranch Barn from Nelms to Ruby, also dated
February 11, 1952.
From the report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of
President Kennedy (WARREN REPORT): "In about 1952, Ruby borrowed $3,700
from a friend, Ralph Paul, to purchase the Bob Wills Ranch House with Martin
Gimpel, a former associate in the Spartan Novelty Co. The Ranch House was run
as a western-type nightclub. With two establishments to run, Ruby
experienced substantial financial reversals in 1952. He abandoned his
interest in the Ranch House and, on July 1, 1952, transferred the Silver
Spur to Gimpel and Willie Epstein, who assumed some of its debts.
Disappointed by these setbacks, Ruby stated that he had a 'mental breakdown,'
and 'hibernated' in the Cotton Bowl Hotel in Dallas for 3 or 4 months, declining
to see his friends.". In original worn and nicked blue folder titled:
"Lease/O L Nelms/to/Jack Ruby", imprinted at bottom: "Brundidge, Fountain,
Elliott & Bateman/Attotneys (sic)/Dallas, Texas". Fine
condition.
JACK RUBY (1911-1967), born Jacob Rubinstein in Chicago, spent much of
his youth in foster homes and correctional facilities. As an adult he performed
odd jobs, and there are claims that he worked for Al Capone. Ruby moved to
Dallas in 1947 and engaged in a series of failed nightclub ventures (including
the Ranch House, leased in this document), before opening his Carousel Club in
1954. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in
Dallas. On November 24, 1963, in front of millions of television viewers, Ruby
shot Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President Kennedy. Ruby was
found guilty of murder, but the verdict was set aside; he was awaiting a new
trial when he died of cancer. Some have claimed that Ruby was assigned to
silence Oswald. Others, including the Warren Commission, viewed him as a
psychologically unstable and violent individual who had acted alone. O. L.
NELMS was a very eccentric Dallas real estate tycoon who posted
billboards thanking Dallas every time his worth increased by another
million. He tried to endow a $5 million fund for the holding of lavish
cocktail parties in his honor after his death, with his coffin present at the
festivities, but when he died in 1972 the city refused to issue permits for such
an event. After Ruby returned the Ranch House to Nelms, he converted it
into the Longhorn Ballroom, which hosted major musical attractions for many
years. Two items.
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