Ruby’s employees displayed a wide range of personal reactions to him. Those associated with Ruby long enough to grow accustomed to his violent temper and constant threats of discharge generally portray him sympathetically.[A16-296] They reported he was genuinely interested in their welfare and happiness. In addition, many former employees stated that he was a pleasant or unobjectionable employer.[A16-297]
There is also considerable evidence that Ruby tended to dominate his employees, frequently resorted to violence in dealing with them, publicly embarrassed them,[A16-298] sometimes attempted to cheat them of their pay,[A16-299] and delayed paying their salaries.[A16-300] Other employees reported Ruby continually harassed his help,[A16-301] and used obscene language in their presence.[A16-302] However he frequently apologized, sought to atone for his many temper tantrums,[A16-303] and completely forgot others.[A16-304]
One of the many violent incidents that were reported took place in 1950, when Ruby struck an employee over the head with a blackjack.[A16-305] In 1951, after his guitarist, Willis Dickerson, told Ruby to “go to hell,” Ruby knocked Dickerson to the ground, then pinned him to a wall and kicked him in the groin. During the scuffle, Dickerson bit Ruby’s finger so badly that the top half of Ruby’s left index finger was amputated.[A16-306] In approximately 1955, Ruby beat one of his musicians with brass knuckles; the musician’s mouth required numerous stitches.[A16-307]
During 1960, Ruby and two entertainers, Breck Wall and Joe Peterson, entered into an agreement that the performers would produce and star in a revue at the Sovereign in exchange for a 50-percent interest in the club.[A16-308] After performing for 2 months, the entertainers complained that they had received neither a share of the profits nor evidence of their proprietary interest. Ruby responded by hitting Peterson in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. The two men left the Sovereign’s employ, but they subsequently accepted Ruby’s apology and resumed their friendship with him.[A16-309]
In September 1962, Frank Ferraro, the Carousel’s handyman, became involved in a dispute at a nearby bar. Ruby told him not to get into a fight, and Ferraro told Ruby to mind his own business. Ruby then followed Ferraro to another club and beat him severely. Ferraro required emergency hospital treatment for his eye, but he decided not to press charges since Ruby paid for his hospital care.[A16-310] In March 1963, during an argument about wages, Ruby threatened to throw a cigarette girl down the stairs of the Carousel.[A16-311]
Ruby’s relationship with his employees commanded much of his attention during the months preceding the assassination. The Carousel’s comparatively high turnover rate[A16-312] and Ruby’s intense desire to succeed[A16-313] required him to meet numerous prospective employees, patrons, and other persons who might help improve his business.
Ruby frequently encountered difficulties with the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), the union which represented Carousel entertainers.[A16-314] For several years, starting in about 1961, he unsuccessfully sought modification of AGVA’s policy permitting “amateur” strippers,[A16-315] inexperienced girls paid less than union-scale wages,[A16-316] to perform at union houses. Ruby apparently believed his two competitors, the Weinstein brothers, were scheduling amateur shows in a manner calculated to destroy his business.[A16-317] Ruby’s discontent with AGVA grew particularly acute during the late summer and early fall of 1963 when, in addition to meeting with AGVA officials,[A16-318] he called upon several acquaintances, including known criminals, who, he thought, could influence AGVA on his behalf.[A16-319] Other problems with AGVA arose because of his policy of continuous shows, which did not give masters of ceremonies enough time off,[A16-320] and his alleged use of AGVA members to mingle with patrons to promote the consumption of liquor.[A16-321]
In June 1963, Ruby visited New Orleans, where he obtained the services of a stripper known as “Jada,”[A16-322] who became his featured performer.[A16-323] Jada and Ruby had numerous contract disputes and he was concerned about her high salary, recurrent absenteeism, and diminishing drawing power.[A16-324] Moreover, he thought that Jada had deliberately exceeded even the Carousel’s liberal standards of decency in order to cause him to lose his license or to obtain publicity for herself.[A16-325] On several occasions Ruby excitedly turned off the spotlights during her act, and at the end of October 1963, he fired her.[A16-326] However, after Jada sued out a peace bond, she apparently recovered a week’s salary from Ruby.[A16-327]
In addition to problems with its star stripper, the Carousel was required to employ three masters of ceremonies in rapid succession following the departure in about September 1963, of Wally Weston, who worked there about 15 months.[A16-328] And in early November, the band that had played at the Vegas Club for about 8 years left the Vegas to accept the offer of another Dallas club.[A16-329]