by pam goertler #r-3432 time goes by 1.pdfin 1911 oscar stocker arrived in las vegas, with his wife...

By Pam Goertler #R-3432By Pam Goertler #R-3432By Pam Goertler #R-3432

THE DECADE WAS THE 1930S… In1930familiesgatheredaroundtheradio,tolaughwhilecomedianEddieCantorbaitedorchestraleaderDavidRubinoff.ListenerssangalongtoGeorgeGershwin’s“IGotRhythm”,theyswayedandhummedastheylistenedto“BodyandSoul”and“GeorgiaonmyMind”.

Thefamilycouldgotothemovietheatertoseethe1930AcademyAwardwinningmotionpicture“AllQuietontheWesternFront”,orperhaps“TheBigTrail”whichwasJohnWayne’sfirstleadingrole.

Thestockmarket,whichhadstarteditsdescenton“BlackThursday”,October24,1929,keptfallingthrough1930 and1931.Itfinallybottomedoutat41.22onJuly8,1932,afterahighof381.17onSeptember3,1929…adropof89%.ThestockmarketcrashtriggeredtheGreatDepression;atimewhenbanksfailed,businessesfailedandpeoplelosttheirsavings,theirjobsandtheirhomes.

In1930theaverageincomewas$1,970andanewhousecostanaverageof$7,145;thosefigureswoulddropafterafewmoreyearsofthedepression.A1930Buickwouldsetthebuyerback$1,195,adimewouldbuyagallonofgas,andapostagestampwas2cents.AstronomersdiscoveredPluto,the9thplanet;VannevarBush,anelectricalengineerandphysicist,inventedthe“differentialanalyzer”—thefirstanalogcomputer.

AccordingtotheLasVegasReview-Journal,onDecember6,1930,federalagentsmadearaidandarrestedninebartendersfromsuchspotsastheJazz,LaSalle,GreenLantern,BlueGoose,HonoluluInn,Mineral,BrownDerbyandTriangleClubs.FederalprohibitionwasineffectuntilDecember5,1933.

WorkbeganontheBoulderDamprojectonSeptember17,1930.Priortothat,thousandsofdesperatefamilieshadflockedtoLasVegas,fromalloverthecountry,inhopesofbeinghiredasadamworker.Afterthehiringwasdone,hundredsofthestill-unemployedstayedinVegas.Manyofthem sleptonthelawnsofthecourthouse,acrossfromthefederalemploymentoffice.Everymorningtherewouldbealineofmen,ablockandahalflong,hopingtobehired.Aboutahundredmenadaywouldquittheirdamjobs,becausetheycouldn’tstandtheheatwhichwentover120degreessomedays,afewwouldbefiredfornotproducingafull-day’sworkfortheir$4adaypay.Thecallwouldgo

downtotheone-roomofficeinLasVegas“Weneed10muckersand15drillers…”Thehiringwouldbedoneandtheworkerswouldpileontotrucksforthebumpy25-mileridetoBlackCanyon.

1931

Nevadawastheplacetogoifyouwantedadivorce.Inthe1920s,divorcewasbarelytolerated,causingsocietymatronstolookdowntheirpatriciannosesatanyonewhowouldindulgeinsuchscandalousbehavior!InNevada,however,divorcewasacceptedandresidencyrequirementshadbeendroppedfromsixmonthstothreemonths.Then,in1931,theresidencyrequirementsweredroppedtoameresixweeksandNevadacouldmarketitselfastheplacetocomeandhavefuninthesun,whileyouwaitedoutyoursixweeks.ManystarsandsocialiteswhosoughtadivorceheadedforReno,whichbecameknownasthedivorce-capitoloftheworld.

In 1931 Al Capone was sentenced

to 11 years in prison for income

tax evasion. Francis Scott

Key’s The Star Spangled

Banner officially became

the National Anthem.

Federal spending was $3.58

billion; unemployment was

16.3%. The Empire State Building

was completed. The Saint

Louis Cardinals won

the World Series and

Montreal defeated

Chicago to claim

the Stanley Cup.

The first traffic light

was installed on

Fremont Street,

in Las Vegas.

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 4 41

THE NORTHERN CLUB ANDMAYME STOCKER-LAS VEGAS In1911OscarStockerarrivedinLasVegas,withhiswifeMaymeandtheirthreesons.Withnostreetsorsidewalksandnoflowers,grassortrees,LasVegasseemedtobeonthedoorstepofhell.Still,tiredofmovingeveryfewyearsbecauseofOscar’sjobwiththerailroad,theStockersvowedtostayinLasVegasaslongaspossible.Likeothermembersofthecommunity,theyhikedtothe“OldRanch”onhotsummerdays,topicnicandspendafewhoursrelaxingintheshadeofthebigtreesthatsurroundedtheranchhouse.TheylistenedtoBenEmrickandhisbandperformingon Saturdaynights,theycooledoffatLadd’sSwimmingPoolonEastFremontStreetandtheywenttothePrincessTheatertowatchmovies.

The18thamendmentwentintolawin1920,forbiddingthemanufacture,saleortransportofintoxicatingliquors.Thelawwaswidelydisregardedbythethousandsofspeakeasiesthatoperatedthroughoutthecountry.TheStockersopenedtheNorthernClubonMayme’sbirthday,September5,1920;tothoseintheknow,thenameindicatedthattheyofferedmorethanjustsoftdrinks.Sincetherailroadfrownedontheiremployeesbeinginvolvedinanythinglikedrinkingorgambling,Maymewastheowneroftheclub.TheStockersservedonlymixeddrinksinsuringthat,intheeventofafederalraid,theycouldn’tbeaccusedofsellingliquor…atleastnotwithouttheprooffromacostlyanalysis.Whilewide-opengamblingwasn’tlegalizeduntil1931,therewerefivegamesthatwerelegalbeforethat:stud,draw,andlowballpoker,aswellas“500”andbridge.Duringthe1920’s,TheNorthernofferedthosegamesundertheguidanceofMayme’ssonHarold,whohadlearnedtodealthegameswhenhewas17;he’dspentthesummerworking

atacasinoinTijuana,wheretherewerenoagerestrictions.

Mayme’ssonLesterwasaprofessionalgamblerwhowastryingtogetwide-opengamblinglegalizedinNevada.AccordingtohisbrotherHarold,Lesterhadtriedbutfailedtogetitpassedin1925,1927and1929.In1930Lestercalledameetingwithsomeclubowners,businessmenandpoliticians.ThemeetingwasheldatatableinthebackoftheNorthernClub.Reportedlyanun-namedpersonsaid“IfIhadsomemoneytospreadaround,Icouldprobablygetitdone.”TheStockersandtheirpartnerscontributedmuchofthe$10,000thatwasrequested.Harolddidn’tknow(or

care)wherethemoneywentfromthere,butPhilTobinintroducedthegamblingbill,anditwaspassed.Ina1970interviewTobinsaidthatallhemadefromthedealwasthreebottlesofscotch…hewas“justplumbsickandtiredofseeinggamblin’goingonalloverthestate,payoffsbeingmadeallovertheplace”.OnMarch

19,1931,wide-opengamblingwas

legalized.ItonlyseemsappropriatethatthefirstgamblinglicenseissuedinClarkCountywenttoMaymeStockerandtheNorthernClub,whichwaslocatedat15FremontStreet.AccordingtoFuller’sIndex,theClubwaslicensedfor21,craps,roulette,pokerandpan.

Haroldandhisbrothersrantheclub,whileMaymeranthehotelthatwasabovetheclub.In1943theStockersleasedoutthecasino,whichwasrenamedtheTurfClubandBar,butClarenceStockercontinuedtooperatethehotel.MaymeStockerpassedawayin1972,attheageof97.

THE LAS VEGAS CLUB-LAS VEGAS In1929JohnKellHousselsmovedfromCaliforniato

The first gaming license issued by Clark County for Mayme Stocker and the Northen Club. Notice the $1,410.00 fee per quarter!

42 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 4

LasVegas.Hepaid$6,000forone-thirdinterestintheSmokeShop,at21-23FremontStreetandrenamedittheLasVegasClub.Whengamblingwaslegalizedin1931heandhispartnersJ.F.HordonandA.F.Gillmorewereamongthefirsttoreceivealicensefortheirclub.Theyremodeledtheirbusinesstoaccommodateslots,blackjack,craps,rouletteandkeno,inadditiontopoker.

In1949TheLasVegasClubmovedacrossthestreettooccupyaportionoftheOverlandHotelbuilding.Theystilloccupythatlocation,thoughit’sundergonemanyrenovationsandexpansions.

TONOPAH CLUB-

TONOPAH NickAblemanopenedtheTonopahClubin1913,alongwithJamesMcKay,CharlesBrown,G.T.

Osborne,andChetCarpenter.NickhiredBillGrahamtoworkattheTonopahClub-Bill’sfirstinvolvementwithNevadagambling.BillwouldsoonteamupwithJamesMcKayandthepairwouldbetwoofthemostinfluentialmeninReno’searlygamblinghistory.TheTonopahClubwasfirstlicensedonMarch23,1931;itclosedin1974.

CAL-NEVA LODGE-CRYSTAL BAY

TheoriginalCal-NevaLodge,atCrystalBayonthenorthshoreofLakeTahoe,wasconstructedin1926 bySan FranciscobusinessmanRobertSherman.TheLodge,builtto

resemblealogcabin,wasusedasaguesthouseforSherman’sfriendsandrealestateclients.Itquicklybecamepopularamongcelebritieswhowantedtoescape,foratime,frompublicview.ContinuingtheconnectionbetweentheCal-Nevaandtherich-and-famous,in1928theCal-NevacameintothehandsofNormanBiltz,knownasthe“DukeofNevada”.In1930BiltzmarriedEstherAuchinclossNash,whowasagranddaughterofthefounderofStandardOilandanauntofJacquelineKennedy-Onassis.

OnMarch23,1931theCal-NevareceivedoneofthefirstgaminglicensestobeissuedinNevada.

OnMay17,1937theCal-NevaLodgeburnedtothe


ground.Cal-Nevawasonlyopenfromspringuntilautumn(haveyouseenthesnowtheygetupthere?),sosomethinghadtobedonequicklytosavetheseason.Biltzemployed500mentoworkaroundtheclock,andthenewlodgewasbuiltin30days,intimetoaccommodatethesummervisitors.ThenewbuildingincludedtheIndianRoomandCircleBar,aswellasalargenewcasinoarea.Agoldandsilverlinewasadded,indicating wheretheCal-NevaisdividedbytheCalifornia-Nevadastateline.

TheCal-Nevaunderwentmanychanges,asitoperatedunderseveralownersovertheyears.From1960-1963FrankSinatraownedtheCal-Neva.TwoofthechangesthatSinatramadeweretheaddition

ofahelicopterpadontheroofandthebuildingoftheCelebrityShowroom.

SeveralyearsagomyhusbandandIwereattheCal-Nevaandrequestedatourofthetunnels.Theclubwasn’tterriblybusyandasecurityguardtookusonthetour.Heexplainedthataseriesoftunnelshadbeenbuiltduringprohibition,whentheoriginallodgewasconstructed.Boatloadsofboozecouldbebroughtoverthelakeandstoredinthetunnels,tobebroughtoutasneededfortheguestsofthelodge.Duringlateryearsthetunnelswereoftenusedbycelebritiestobypassthepublicwhilegoingtoandfromtheshowroom.Wewereshownonecabinon thepremisesthatwasreservedfor

FrankSinatra’suse,ortheuseofhispersonalguests.Wewereshownanothercabin,nextdoor,thatwasreservedforMarilynMonroe.Bothofthosecabinscontaineddirectaccesstothetunnelsystem,insuringcompleteprivacyastheoccupantswenttoandfromtheshowroomortoand

A beautiful interior shot of the Cal-Neva Lodge from 1947

ABOVE: George Goertler (Right), tour guide, and a Marilyn Monroe cardboard cut out at the entrance of one of the tunnels beneath The Cal-Neva Lodge.

LEFT: Tunnels have since been closed off.


fromeachotherscabins.TheguardtoldusthatthewickerfurnitureinMarilyn’scabinwasthesamethatwastherewhensheusedit,buttheroundbedthatsheusedhadbeenremovedafewyearsearlier.Mostofthetunnelshadbeenclosedoffovertheyears,butitwasstillprettycooltoseewhatwasleft.ThetourendedintheCelebrityRoom,whereSinatra’spianostilloccupiedthestage.Wewereallowedtogoonthestageandplaythepiano,unfortunatelyIcan’tplaythepiano…sigh…

DuringtheSinatraeratheCal-Nevaenjoyedapopularitythatithad neverknownbefore,andwouldneverknowagain.SomeofthestarsthatperformedintheCelebrityRoomwereDeanMartin,TriniLopez,VicDamone,JulietProwse,theMcGuireSistersand,ofcourse,MarilynMonroeandFrankSinatra.PeterLawfordwasabuddyofSinatra’sandvisitedtheCal-Neva,asdidLawford’sbrother-in-lawthesoon-to-bePresidentJohnF.Kennedy.ItwasreportedthatKennedywasgrantedtheuseofSinatra’scabin,whileMarilynwasinresidenceathercabin.

AnothervisitortotheCal-NevawasSam“Momo”Giancana,ofChicago.HisvisitscoincidedwithappearancesbytheMcGuireSisters,includinghisgirlfriendPhyllisMcGuire.UnfortunatelyforSinatra,GiancanawasoneoftheinitialelevennamesinNevada’s“black

book”…thelistofnamesofpersonswhoarebarredfromcasinos.Admittingablack-listedpersontoacasinowasaskingfortroublewiththeGamingControlBoardand,inspiteofSinatra’sarguments,Giancana’svisitstotheCal-NevacostSinatrahisgaminglicenseandhewasforcedtoselltheclub.

From1985until2005,afteraperiodofneglect,theCal-NevawasownedbyCharlesBluth.BluthrestoredtheIndianRoom,thecasinoandthemainentrancetotheiroriginal1937designswhichincludeopen-beamedceilingsandaslatefloorintheentry-way.Bythetimealloftherenovationswerecomplete,theCalNevaLodgehadbecometheCalNevaResortandSpa,with200lake-viewrooms,cabinsandchalets;afullserviceweddingandhoneymoonfacility;aflorist,photographystudio,videoarcade,pizzeria,andacompleteEuropeanHealthSpa.

In2005thepropertywassoldagain,totheNamcalLLC.InDecemberof2008Namcaldefaultedona26.8milliondollarloan(forthreeadjoiningparcels-thelargestofwhichholdstheCal-Neva),andCanyonPartners,aLosAngelesbasedinvestmentgroup,tookpossessionoftheResort.InApril2009twoauctionswereheld,oneinNevadaandoneinCalifornia;withanopeningbidof$15millionfortheNevadaportion,theResortfailedtosell.

BANK CLUB-RENO TheBankPalaceCluboriginallyopenedaround1890,at239NorthCenterStreet,andclosedin1910,whengamblingwasoutlawed.Inthe1920stheClubreopened

Exit of one of the Cal-Neva tunnels in the Marilyn Monroe suite. The trap door is now sealed and carpet

is laid over it.


withacasinooperatingillegallyinthebasement.OnMarch30,1931,thesecondgamblinglicensetobeissuedinRenowenttotheBankClubwithJamesMcKay,BillGrahamandRayKindlenamedasthelicensees.The

main floorwasenlargedtohouseacasinothatwasnearly5,000squarefeet--thelargestinthestate.Anewfaçade

wasaddedtothebuilding,andanelectrickenoboard,with1000lightbulbs,wasinstalled.Inadditiontokeno,thenewclubofferedtworoulettetables,twocrapstables,

twoblackjackgames,threefarogames,hazard,pan,studpokerandaslotmachine.OnApril25,1931,thenewlyrenovatedBankClubheldtheirGrandOpening.

JackSullivanandTexHallcametoReno,fromEly,inthe1920’s.BothofthemwenttoworkforGrahamandMcKay;SullivanbecamemanageroftheBankClub.TexHallworkedattheBankClubuntilhewassenttojailin

1935,convictedofconspiracytoharboroneofAmerica’smostwantedcriminals…George“BabyFace”Nelson.

Duringthelate1930sand1940stheBankClubwasthemostpopularcasinoinReno;eventheownersandbossesofotherclubsgatheredtheretohaveanafter-workdrinkandcatchupontheeventsoftheday.BillHarrahoftenvisitedtheBankClubduringtheweehoursofthemorning.OnedayabartenderfromtheBankClubstolea$1slotmachineoutofHarrah’sBlackoutBar.JackSullivanthoughtthatheandHarrahshouldhandlethe

problem.Harrahdidn’tagree,hereportedthethefttothepoliceandtestifiedagainstthebartenderwhowassenttojail.HarrahwasneveragainwelcomedintheBankClub.

In1950JackSullivansoldhisshareoftheBankClubbacktoGrahamandMcKay.Then,in1952Grahambecamethesolelessee.Henegotiateda20-yearleasewithFrankHofues,owneroftheGoldenHotel,andthecasinobecameknownastheGoldenBank.In1954HofuessoldtheGoldenHoteltoJamesandWilliamTommerlin.SoontheTommerlinsandtheirpartnersboughtouttheyearsthatremainedonthecasinoslease.EffectiveonDecember1,1955,theTommerlinswerelicensedbythestatefornearly300slotmachinesandadozentablegames.ThatwastheendofBillGraham’scareerasaRenocasinoowner.OnApril3,1962,theGoldenHotelandtheGoldenBankCasinoweredestroyedby fire.

BOULDER CLUB-LAS VEGAS TheBoulderClubwasopenedin1929byP.J.Goumond,ClydeHatch,J.V.MurphyandWalterWatson.Itwasadvertisedasaclubforgentlemen,wherecigars,cigarettesandsoftdrinkswereavailable.OnApril1,1931the

maintothat

state.was

mainmainto


offeringswereexpandedtoincludeslots,21,craps,big6,faro,kenoandpoker.TheBoulderClubclosedin1960,andtheFremontStreetpropertywastakenoverbytheHorseshoeClub.

RED ROOSTER-LAS VEGAS AliceWilsonMorrisopenedtheRedRooster,ontheL.A.Highway(latertheaddresswouldbeknownas3201LasVegasBoulevardSouth),in1931.Thesinglestorybuildinghadastageforasingerandorchestra,adancefloorandarestaurant.Italsoservedliquor…duringprohibition.InFebruary1931

afederalmarshalorderedtheRedRoostertostopsellingalcohol,ortheywouldriskbeingshutdownbyfederalagents.Themanagementoftheclubcompliedwiththeorder…forawhile.

OnApril1,1931,theRedRoosterreceivedalicensetooperateoneblackjacktableandthreeslotmachines.Then,inJuly,theclubwasraidedbyfederalagentswhofoundthatliquorwasagainbeingsold.MorriswaschargedwithillegalliquorsalesandtheRedRoosterearnedthedubioushonorofbeingthefirstcasinotoloseitsgamblinglicense.

In1933,afterprohibitionwasrepealed,thecountygrantedtheRedRoosteralicensetoservebeer.InJulyof1933theClubburnedtotheground.Likeaphoenix,it

A Red Rooster Promo shot from 1946. Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections


quickly rosefromtheashesandreopenedonDecember30,1933;theclubsoonregaineditsformerpopularity.

In1947actressGraceHayesboughttheclubandrenamedittheGraceHayesLodge.Amotel,alsoknownasan“autocourt”,namedtheSansSoucihadbeenaddedtotheproperty.Hayeschangedtheclub’snamebacktotheRedRoosterandsoldtheclubin1950,onlytobuyitbackayearlater.In1953shesoldtheclubagain.

TheclubwassoldseveralmoretimesandoperatedundervariousnamesincludingHi-HoandthePatioClub.From1955until1962itoperatedastheSansSouciHotel.In1963theCastawayswasbuiltonthesite;in1987itclosed.TheMirage,whichopenedin1989,isthecurrentoccupantoftheproperty.

BRUNSWICK CLUB-RENOLicensedforpokerandpanonly,

onApril1,1931,TheBrunswickwasasmallclubthatwaslocatedintheGoldenHotel.TheBrunswickclosedin1946whentheGoldenHotelwassold.

LAWTON’S HOT SPRINGS-RENO Inthe1880sSumnerLaughtonopenedaresortaboutfivemileswestofReno.Heintendedtocalltheresort“Laughton’sHotSprings”,butthefirstsignswerespelledwrongandhedidn’thavethemchanged…thus“Lawton’sHotSprings”.

TheMarkYorifamilyboughttheresortinthe1920sanditbecameknownforitslargeswimmingpoolandtree-filled

parkareas,aswellasthe130degreemineralbathsthatitwasfamousfor.MaxBaer,latertheworldheavyweightboxingchampion,useditasatrainingcampintheearly1930s.Theresortoftenclosedduringthewintermonths,andtheoperationsofcasinos,bars,clubsandrestaurantsweresporadicasvariouspeopleleasedandoperatedtheproperty.

Earlyinthe1930sFelixTurillasandJohnEtchebarrenleasedtheresortfromYori,andonApril7,1931theywerelicensedforonecrapsgame,oneroulettewheelandsevenslotmachines.

GeneRovettioperatedclubLawtonin1936and1937.In1938 therewereeightgreyhounddograceseachnight,withaten-centadmissioncharge.In1939JohnHickockopenedabar,clubanddiningroom.

Thepropertycontinuedtooperateundervariousownersandlessees,underseveraldifferentnames(includingHolidayLodge)until1982.

NORTHERN CLUB-RENO TheNorthernClub,onthegroundflooroftheCommercialHotelat207NorthCenterStreet,wasoneoftheearliestcasinosinRenotobegrantedalicense.Thecasino,ownedbyFelixTurillasSr.andJohnEtchebarren,


openedintheSpringof1931withcraps,hazard,faro,21,abig-sixwheel,pan,studpokerandthreeslotmachines.InMayof1936a$4,000limitkenogamewasadded.TheNorthernoperateduntilDecemberof1940,whenitwassoldandrenamedtheBarn.

WALDORF CLUB-RENO InAprilof1931theWaldorfClub,locatedat142NorthVirginiaStreet,receivedtheirfirstgamblinglicense...forfiveslotmachines.OverthenextfewmonthsRobertPreston andCharlesBrenda,ownersoftheclub,added

varioustablegames.Inadditiontothecasino,theWaldorfhadasmokeshop,abarbershop,asandwichbarandofferedCoca-Colasoftdrinks.

InDecember1932RobertPrestondied,leavinghisshareoftheclubtohiswidowMildred.ThusMildredPreston becamethefirstfemalecasinoownerinNorthernNevada.Mildred,withCharlesBrenda,operatedtheWaldorfuntiltheysolditin1938.

ThroughoutthenextfortyyearstheWaldorfwassoldseveraltimes.Itoffereddifferentgamesunderdifferentowners,andattimesoperatedwithoutgambling.In1979thepropertywassoldtotheClubCal-Neva,whichclosedtheWaldorfonJuly28,1979.

WINE HOUSE-RENO

TheWineHousewasoriginallyopenedin1874byEliFrankovich.Fromtheearly1900sthroughthe1920stheclubofferedabar,arestaurantandallkindsofgamingincluding,at onetime,cock-fighting.

TheWineHousewaslocatedat16-18EastCommercialRow,withentrancesonbothCommercialRowandDouglasAlley.ItwaslicensedonApril6,1931forpan,craps,21,roulette,faroandbig-six.InAugustaracehorsepoolwasadded;inOctoberspacewasleasedoutforafarogame;racehorsekenowasaddedin1936.Theyalsoofferedwireservicesfromeverymajor-leaguebaseballparkinthecountry.

addition tohad a

femaleNorthern Nevada.


Astheyearspassed,theWineHousebecamemorepopularforfoodthenforgambling,andthegamblingbecamealmostnon-existent.In1961thepropertywassoldtoHarold’sClub;thebuildingwasrazedinthe1970s.

TONY CORNERO AND THE MEADOWS-LAS VEGAS TonyCornero(bornAnthonyStralla)wasanentrepreneur.Duringthe1920’sTonyranasmallfleetofboats…ostensiblyshrimpboats.Theshrimp,however,wereonlyontheboatstohidetherealcargo,whichwasbooze.Afterall,duringprohibitionboozewasmuchmore

profitablethanshrimp,andTonywasinitforthemoney.The“shrimp”boatswaitedoffthecoastofCalifornia,wheretheyweremetbysmallerspeedboats.Underthecoverofdarkness,Cornerowouldoverseethetransferofthecasesofliquorintothesmallerboats,whichwouldthenspeedtoadesertedbeachwheretheboozecouldbeunloadedbeforedawn.Cornerobecameamillionaire…then

hegotcaughtandwasconvicted.Corneroescapedbeforebeingincarcerated,buthelaterturnedhimselfin.Heservedtwoyears.

SoonafterhisreleasefromjailTonyandhisbrothersFrankandLouismovedtoLasVegas.TheypurchasedlandneartheintersectionofFremontStreetandCharlestonBoulevardand,earlyin1931,builtacasinowithasmallhotel.Thehotelhadelectriclightsandithad30rooms,eachwithaprivatebath.ThecasinoopenedonMay3,1931,itwascarpetedandwasconsideredluxurious,atthetime.Itofferedslots,21,crapsandroulettetoitspatrons.Accordingtooneold-timer,thecasinowasinthesouthwingofthebuildingandtherewereaboutfourparapetsaroundthewalls.Seatedbehindtheparapetswereguyswith30-30rifles,readytotakecareofanyonewhocameinwiththeintentiontorobtheplace.HealsosaysthatTheMeadowsusedsilverdollars,insteadofchips,becauseabagofsilverdollarsweighsalot,soifanyonetriedto“heistthem”theywouldn’tbeable torunfastandtheywouldn’tgetawaywithmuchTwomonthsafterThe

Meadowsopened,theCornerossoldthehotelpartoftheoperationtoAlexRichmond.Then,onLaborDayin1931,thehotelburnedtotheground.TheCorneroscontinuedtorunthecasinountilearlyin1932,whenTonyreturnedtoCaliforniatooperatetheSSRex;agamblingshipthatwasanchoredbeyondthethree-milelimit,butwasonlya10-minutewater-taxiridefromSantaMonica.AccordingtoFuller’sIndex,TheMeadowsclosedafterafireonFebruary2,1943.

THE ARIZONA CLUB-LAS VEGAS WhenLasVegaswasformedtherailroaddecreedthatBlock16,andthelesserknownblock17,weretheonly


areasintownwhereliquorcouldbesold.Block16wasborderedby1stStreet,2ndStreet,StewartandOgden.

In1905TheArizonaClub,anelitesaloonandgamblinghall,wasbuiltat219North1stStreet,byJimMcIntosh,andbecameknownas“TheQueenofBlock16”.TheClub’sfrontdoorhadbeveledleadedglassandthefifty-by-seventy-five-footbarwasmadeofmahogany.Untilgamblingwasoutlawedin1910,TheArizonaClubofferednickelslotmachines,faro,rouletteandblackjack;drinkswerefifteencentseach,ortwoforaquarter.Therewereotherlesselegantclubsontheblockthatofferedliquorandgambling;TheGem,RedOnion,TurfandtheFavorite.It’sbeenreportedthatafewoftheclubsadded“ladies”totheamenitiesthattheyoffered--theStarSaloon,DoubleOandtheArcade.WhenMcIntoshsoldtheArizonaClub,asecondstorywasaddedwithroomsand“ladies”.OnJuly7,1931,theArizonaClubwaslicensedforslotsandblackjack.TheClubclosedin1942andWilliamMooreboughtthebeveledbarroomentranceandthemahoganybarforuseintheLastFrontierCasino.

RAILROAD PASS-HENDERSON LasVegaswastheclosesttowntotheBoulderDamsite,butitwasa25-miletriponanunpavedroad,notreallyareasonableoptionformostworkers.Inaddition,LasVegas

hadabadreputationbecause“everyoneknew”thatwomen,liquorandgamblingwereallreadilyavailable,inspiteofbeingillegal.TheBureauofReclamationwasinchargeofgettingthedambuilt,andtheydecidedonthelocationofBoulderCityasthebestareatobuildatownforthedamworkers.Theybuiltdormitoriesforsinglemen,familycottagesandgovernmentbuildings.Theyenclosedthetownwithafenceandstationedguardsatthegate.

SimsElywasthecitymanager,anditwasreportedthathegovernedwithanironfist.Everyoneinthetownhadajob;iftheylosttheirjob,theyhadtomove.Peoplewholivedtherewereissuedpasses,andtheycouldn’tjustcomeandgothroughthatgate…theyhadtopresenttheir

passes.Prostitution,gamblingandalcoholwerestrictlyforbidden,evenafterprohibitionwasrepealed,andthevehiclescomingthroughthegateweresearchedbyfederalrangers.Thelandjustoutsideofthegatewaslitteredwiththeglassofbottlesthatbrokewhentheyweretossedoutthewindowsofcarsapproachingthegate.

Simscouldn’tcontrolwhathappenedoutsideofthegate.WhilethereweredozensoftentbarsandroadhousesbetweenBoulderCityandLasVegas,theclosestwasonlyaquarter-milebeyondthegate;RailroadPass.OpenedonAugust1,1931,andtherecipientofoneoftheearliestgaming licensesinClarkCounty,theRailroadPassstartedasjustonebigroom.Therewasabaragainstthebackwall,anddancingwasinthefront,withathree-pieceorchestra.TherewasapooltableinfrontoftheRRPass,andwhenacustomergottoodrunk,they’dbestretchedoutonthepooltableuntilthey couldnavigateagain.

RRPasscouldbearowdyplace,filledwithconstructionworkersthatwerereadytoletoffsteam.Onetimethere


wasahighscalersball,andseveralfightsbrokeout,nothingtooserious,justtheirwayofhavingfun…oneoftheattendeesquippedthatitshouldhavebeencalledthe“HighScalersBrawl”.Sincemanyofthedamworkersweresinglemen,theRRPasswasanidealplaceforsinglewomentoearnsomemoney.Theworking-girlswerediscreetanddidn’tminglewiththewomenorfamiliesfromBoulderCity,therewereafewcabinsoutinbackwheretheyentertainedtheirmaleguests.Gamblingwasalsoavailable,butduringtheearly1930sitseemedsecondaryinimportancebehindthealcoholandtheprostitutes.

Stillopen,theRRPassCasinoadvertisesthatthey

holdtheoldestactivelicenseinSouthernNevada.

RIVERSIDE-RENO In1925GeorgeWingfieldboughtthepropertyat17SouthVirginiaStreet.HebuilttheRiversideHotel,andin1931hereceivedagamblinglicense.In1933heleasedoutaportionofthehoteltoagroupthatincludedNickAbelman.ThegroupcalledtheirareatheRiversideBuffetandtheyofferedroulette,21andhazardinadditiontodiningandabar

In1949theAbelmangrouplefttheRiverside,andWingfieldleasedthegamingconcessionstoMertWertheimer.Wertheimerheldhisgrandopening

on May7,1949,withone21

game,onecrapstable,oneroulettewheelandtenslotmachines.OvertheyearsWertheimerbroughtinbig-nameentertainment,includingFrankSinatrain1951.

In1955GeorgeWingfieldsoldtheRiversidetoagroupthatincludedMertWertheimerandhisbrotherLou,whohadbeenaddedtothelicense,asapartner,in1951.In1958TheWertheimergroupsoldtheRiverside,butretainedaten-yearleaseonthecasino,bars,restaurantsandentertainmentfacilities.FivemonthslaterLouWertheimer

died; Mertdiedtwomonthsafterthat,andtheleasewastakenoverbyVirgilSmith.TheRiversidewassoldseveraltimesoverthenextfewyears.

TheRiversideclosedonDecember20,1962,tellingthe325employeesthatthecorporationranoutofmoneyandwouldn’tbeissuingtheirfinalpaychecks.TheRiverside


advertisesholdhold

May

remainedclosedforsevenmonthswhileitwasreorganized,anditreopenedonJuly25,1963.Thecorporationcontinuedtostrugglethroughoutthe1960s;interestsinthepropertywereboughtandsold,policieschangedandmanagementchanged.In1967gamingagentsconfiscatedcrookeddiceandputanendtothegamblingandshowroom.In1968theRiversidewassold,anditclosedagain,onlytoreopeninMayof1969,withoutgambling.InNovemberof1969theIRSforcedtheclosureoftheRiverside,duetounpaidtaxes.TaxeswerepaidandtheRiversidewas

soldyetagain.

In1971JessieBeckboughttheRiverside,whichreopenedonApril1with100slots,ninetablegamesandkeno.Sheoperatedituntil1978whenshesoldittoHarrah’s.Harrah’sboughttheRiversidesotheycouldtradeittoPickHobsoninexchangeforhisOverlandHotel-CasinopropertyatthecornerofCenterStreetandCommercialRow.Harrah’swouldusetheOverlandsiteforanexpansion.

In1986Hobsonfiledforbankruptcy,andclosedthecasinoinDecember.InNovemberof1987Hobsonclosedtherestaurantandhotelandturnedthepropertyovertothebank.Nearlythreehundredcreditorswereunabletocollecton wellover$1millionthatwasowedtothem.

In1997theCityofRenotookpossessionoftheRiverside.Portionsofthehotelweredemolished,buttheoriginalstructure,builtin1927,wastoberenovatedandturnedintolofts,restaurantsandshops.

BIG 4 CLUB-LAS VEGAS TheBig4Clubopenedin1931at112-114SouthFirstStreet.Licensedforslots,21andcrapstheBig4closed

inthe1940s.Fourdifferentdicestylesandsixdifferentcolorsofchips(allarenon-denominated)havebeenfoundfromtheBig4,aswellasmatchbooks.

1932

ABoulderDamworkerreminiscesabouttheLasVegasoftheearly1930s:Probablyeverysecondorthirdbuildingon FremontStreetfromtheUnionPacificdepotdowntoFourthStreetwasasaloonorgamblinghall,orboth.ThiswasduringProhibition.Theyneverclosedthem—theyoperateddayandnight.Therewereopensaloonswithinablockofthepolicestation—madenodifference.Itwasafederaloffense,notastateoffense.Gambling?Therewascardgames,slotmachines,theworks.Notsophisticatedorfancy.


remained

boughtmanagement

the

thedifferent

from

in thein the

In 1932 The Reconstruction Finance

Corporation was set up by the US

Government, to lend money during the

depression, in order to assist in the

nation’s economic recovery.

Charles Lindbergh’s baby son

was kidnapped and killed.

Amelia Earhart was the first

woman to fly solo across

the Atlantic Ocean. Manhattan’s

Radio City Music

Hall opened. The NY

Yankees defeated the

Chicago Cubs in a 4-game

World Series. Pearl S. Buck

was awarded a Pulitzer Prize

for her novel “The Good Earth”.

In Nevada,

Patrick

McCarren was elected

to the U.S. Senate. On

October 29, 1932 every

bank in Nevada, except

three, closed their doors

due to the economics of the Depression.

nation’s economic recovery.

Charles Lindbergh’s baby son

was kidnapped and killed.

the Atlantic Ocean. Manhattan’s

J. H. MORGAN AND THE SILVER CLUB-LAS VEGAS ClarkCountyGamingLicense#1showsthatJ.H.MorganwasapartnerintheNorthernClub.HaroldStockerhadmetMorganattheMexicanbordertownofCalexico,inthe1920s.Whentheborderwasclosedin1926,MorganandhisgirlfriendcametoLasVegas.AccordingtoStocker,MorganwasactivewiththeStockersforsixtosevenyears,andthenheopenedalittleplacearoundthecorner,onNorth1stStreet.

ItwouldseemthatMorgan’saffiliationwithTheNorthernClubendedlessthanayearaftergamblingwaslegalized.AccordingtotheminutesoftheJanuary6,1932meetingoftheClarkCountyLicenseBoard,anapplicationwasmadeandapprovedfortheoperationofonetwenty-onegameatMorgan’sClub,locatedat108North1stStreet.Morgan’sClubisnotlistedinFuller’sIndexorTheGamingTable.PerhapsMorgan’sClubwasjustatemporaryname?BothofthereferencebooksindicatethattheSilverClubopenedat108North1stStreetin1932,ownedbyJoeMorgan,andFuller’sIndexshowsthatthelicensedgameswereslots,21,crapsandroulette.Thoughitchangedownersfromtimetotime,TheSilverCluboperatedunderthesamenameuntil1956.

SHIP AND BOTTLE CLUB-RENO TheShipandBottleClubwaslocatedat222NorthCenterStreet.ItwaslicensedonMarch31,1932,andwasoperatedbyNickAbelman,StevePavlovichandBertRiddick.Thefrontofthebuildingreplicatedtheprowofaship.Theinterioroftheclubwasdecoratedwithantiques,includingaclockthathadpreviouslybeenusedinthecaptain’squartersonanoldsailingship.

Theelegantclubofferedslots,blackjackandroulette,andfeaturedtop-qualityentertainment.ManyofthepatronswerewealthydivorceesandcelebritiesincludingBarbaraHutton,actressMaryPickfordandboxingchampMaxBaer.

TheShipandBottlewassoldseveraltimesovertheyearsbutcontinuedtooperateuntillate1940.InFebruaryof1941thepropertyreopenedasthe222Club.

HOTEL APACHE AND APACHE CASINO-LAS VEGAS InMayof1931P.O.Silvagni,whohademigratedfromItalyin1904,boughtalotonthecornerofSecondandFremontStreetsinLasVegas,nexttotheBoulderClub.Constructionbeganimmediatelyonathree-storybrickbuilding,whichwouldopenlessthanayearlaterastheHotelApache.Thehotelwasdecoratedwiththickcarpeting,oilpaintingsandchandeliers;handcarveddivansandarmchairswerescatteredthroughoutthehotel.TheApachewashometothefirstelevatorinLasVegas.Inthebasementwasabanquethallthatcouldholdover300people,wheremanyluncheons,dinnersanddanceswereheld.ThemainHotelentrancewasonSecondStreet,approximatelywhereBinion’snewsstandiscurrentlylocated.ThemainentrancetotheCasinowasonFremontStreet.

SilvagnileasedtheApacheCasinotoCharlesE.MasonandJackDoyle.ThoughtheApacheCasinowouldn’topenuntilMarch19,1932,theminutesoftheClarkCountyLicenseBoardmeetingfrom


after

for

January6showthatalicenseforoneroulettewheelwasapproved.Licensesformoregameswouldbegrantedatlatermeetings.TheApacheCasinoclosedin1941.SeetheSpring2002issueofCCTNforanin-deptharticleabouttheApache(availableonlineathttp://cctn.ccgtcc.com)

TOWN HOUSE-RENO CharlesRenniebuilttheTownHouseat39WestFirstStreet;itwasfirstlicensedonOctober5,1932.Thecasino,barandrestaurantwereonthemainfloor,withdancingandsmallpartiesinthespaciousbasement.Thedécorresembledthatofawesterndude-ranch,includingtheirfamous“TheRidingLesson”logowhichfeaturedacowboyflankedbytwoyoungwomenseatedonbarstools…allviewedfromtherear.

TheTownHousewassoldseveraltimesthroughthe

years,andattimessufferedfromfinancialproblems.InJulyof1953,withaninvestmentof$14,000CarlAmantewaslicensedbythestatefor31%oftheTownHouse.In1954AmantebecamethesoleowneroftheTownHouse,thoughtheownerofthelandwasMarkYori.YoriplannedtohavetheTownHouserazedfortheconstructionofaJ.C.PenneystoreandevictionpaperswereservedtoAmanteinAugust1955,tobecomeeffectiveon January1,1956.OnSeptember2,1955theTownHousewasdestroyedbyfire.Twoinsurancecompaniesrefusedtopayclaims,sayingthatthefirewastheresultofarson.OnDecember21,1955thecourtaccusedAmanteofdeliberatelyburningthepropertyandruledthattheinsurancecompaniesdidnothavetopaytheclaims.

WHITE SPOT CAFÉ-LAS VEGAS TheWhiteSpotCafé,at109FremontStreet,wasopenedbyJ.MPappasin1932toservemeals.InOctoberof1949theyadded50newslotmachinesandbegancallingthemselvestheWhiteSpotCafé&Arcade.



1933

AccordingtotheGoldenAnniversaryeditionoftheLasVegasReview-Journal,onMarch1,1933theLasVegasboardofcitycommissionersvotedkenoparlorsout.TheBoulderClubwasrefusedakenolicense;kenolicensesoftheRainbowClubandtheLasVegasClubwererescinded.

JOE DINI’S LUCKY CLUB-YERINGTON JoeDinihadasoftdrinkparlorintheoldminingtownofBodie,California.InJuneof1932two-and-a-halfyearoldBillyGodward,laterknownas“BodieBill”,wasattendingafriend’sfourthbirthdayparty.Billydiscoveredthat,insteadofcakeandicecream,Jell-Owastobeserved.Hestompedoffinafitofpique,withhispacifierinhismouth.Somehowhegotholdofsomematchesandmanagedtostartafire.MostofthebuildingsinBodiewereconstructedfromwood,andBilly’sfiredestroyedmostof

The hard hat was invented for

the Boulder Dam workers.

Federal prohibition was

repealed. Adolph Hitler

was appointed Chancellor of Germany

and the reign of Nazi terror began.

President Roosevelt launched

the New Deal program.

Unemployment rose to 25.2%.

“Esquire” debuted

as the first

magazine for

men. “Stormy

Weather” and “It’s Only

a Paper Moon” were two

of the popular songs.

Fred and Ginger danced

across the silver-screen in

“Flying Down to Rio”.

President Roosevelt launched

the New Deal program.

Unemployment rose to 25.2%.

“Esquire” debuted

as the first

magazine for

men. “Stormy

The hard hat was invented for

the Boulder Dam workers.

was appointed Chancellor of Germany


thetown.Manypeople,includingJoeDini,leftBodieafterthefire.

JoeDiniwenttoYerington,Nevadaandin1933heopenedtheWoodenShoeClubinthemiddleofdowntown.Soonafteropening,thenameoftheclubwaschangedtoJoeDini’sLuckyClub,whichwaslicensedforgamblinginDecemberof1933.

In1938JoeboughttheBankBarbuildingthatwasat45N.MainSt.,andmovedhisLuckyClubtothenewlocation.

JoeJr.hadgoneawaytocollegebuthereturnedhomein1952 tohelp thefamily,becausehisfatherwasill.In1960heboughttheLuckyClubbusinessfromhisfather,andthenin1965 hepurchasedthepropertyfromhisparents.EventuallyJoeJr.boughtthebuildingsoneithersideoftheLuckyClub, whichallowedtheclubtoexpand.

TheClubisstilloperating,andisstillintheDinifamily.IfyougototheLuckyClub,besuretoaskaboutthefloor.Yousee,in1911anewfloorwasputintothebuilding.Nobigdeal…right?BUT…oneofthepeoplewhohelpedtolaythenewfloorwasfutureheavyweightchampionJackDempsey.Thesamefloorisstillthere,underthecarpeting.

TOMMY’S VICTORY CLUB-CARSON CITY Tommy’sVictoryClubwasopenfrom1933until1937at406NorthCarsonStreet,ownedbyTommyPardini.In1937theClubmovedto302NorthCarsonStreet,whereitoperateduntil1954.Overtheyears,Tommy’sVictoryClubofferedslots,blackjack,craps,rouletteandkenototheirpatrons.

STAG INN-RENO TheStagInnwaslocatedat265NorthVirginiaStreetandwasfirstlicensedonDecember30,1933.Overthenexttwenty-sevenyearsvariouspeoplewerelicensedforslots,blackjack,roulette,faro,pokerandcraps.

In1960theClubclosedandLincolnFitzgeraldboughtthepropertyfortheconstructionofFitzgerald’s.

Lucky Club first building on right


1934

PALACE CLUB-RENO In1924JohnPetriccianipurchasedthepropertyat46EastCommercialRow.Heleasedoutthepropertyforthenext10years;from1931through1933heleasedthesecondfloortoBillGrahamandJimMcKayfortheirBankPalaceClub.

In1934Petriccianihimselfreceivedalicenseforoneroulettegameandone21game.In1935thelicensewas

expandedtoone21game,onestudpokergame,twofaro,tworouletteandtwocrapsgames,inadditiontosixslotmachines.

InAprilof1936thePalaceClubbeganadvertising“Reno’snewestsensation”racehorsekeno;posttimetwelvenoon.Racehorsekenoprovedtobesopopularthat,onlyaweekafterintroducingthegame,thePalacechangedthefirst“posttime”to10:00am,withnew“races”beginningeverytwentyminutesuntil2:00am,4:00amonSaturdays.BythefirstofJune,thegamewasoffered24-hoursaday,andthegamelimithadbeenextendedto$500.

InJulyof1943thePalaceClubannouncedthattheyhadfemaledealers,forthefirsttime.ThatNovemberthePalaceClubpostedanadinthehelp-wantedsectionofthepaper,offeringyoungwomenfrom21to25yearsoldtheopportunitytolearntodeal,andmakeupto$90aweek.

John’ssonSil(Silvio)hadalwaysworkedwithhimatthe PalaceClub.InJuneof1943Silenteredmilitaryservice,andJohnbeganleasingoutthePalaceClubagain.Variouspeopleheldtheleaseuntil1964 whenJohnPetricciani’sfourchildrenappliedfor,andreceived,thegaminglicenseatthePalace.LedbySil,theclubwascleanedup,anewrestaurantofferinggoodfoodforreasonablepriceswasadded,andaneye-catchingnewsignwasaddedtotheoutsideofthebuilding.

The Dionne quintuplets were born, the

first quints to

survive beyond

infancy. Clyde

Barrow and Bonnie Parker’s crime spree

ended when they were ambushed and

killed in Louisiana. Near Chicago, John

Dillinger was killed in a shoot-out

with the FBI. Detroit has a good

year/bad year in sports; they

made it to the World Series, but

they were defeated by the

St. Louis Cardinals; they made it to the

Stanley Cup finals, but were

defeated by Chicago.

The Loch Ness Monster was

sighted for the first time;

Donald Duck made his

debut. The federal penitentiary at

Alcatraz opened. Sophia Loren was born.

Five-year old Shirley Temple appeared

in Stand up and Cheer, later

in the year she sang On the

Good Ship Lollipop in the film

“Bright Eyes”.

The Dionne quintuplets were born, the

they were defeated by the

St. Louis Cardinals; they made it to the

debut. The federal penitentiary at

Alcatraz opened. Sophia Loren was born.

Palace

In

JohnPalacePalace

untiluntiluntil


OnSeptember28,1979SilPetriccianiannouncedtohis281employeesthatthePalaceClubhadbeensoldtoHarrah’sClub.Soonafterthat,thePalaceClubwasclosedanddemolished.

EL CORTEZ HOTEL-RENO OnOctober9,1934,W.H.RutledgewasgrantedagaminglicensefortheElCortezHotel,whichhadbeenopensince1931.In1941theElCortezwasrenovatedandexpanded,nearlydoublingtheroomcountandaddingtheTrocadero,anightclubandcocktaillounge.Adjacenttothecocktailloungewasacasinowithtworoulettetables,onecrapstableandseventeenslotmachines;blackjackwasaddedlater.Tablegamesendedin1948.

SAL SAGEV-LAS VEGAS ItisbelievedthatthegamblingstoppedattheSalSagevCasinoonOctober27,1934,andthattheroulettewheel,manufacturedbyAlbertPick,waspackedupandputintostorageonthatveryday,nottobeseenagainuntilsometimein1956.Butthat’sthemiddleofthestory,perhapsIshouldgobacktothebeginning…

In1906theHotelNevadaopenedatthecornerofFremontandMainStreets,downtownLasVegas.In1931

thehotelwasexpandedandthenamewaschangedtoSalSagev,whichisLasVegasspelledbackwards.TherearehundredsofpostcardsthatpicturetheSalSagevhotel,thereareashtrays,chinaandmatchbooks…butthereweremorequestionsthananswersabouttheearlydaysoftheSalSagev.WastheregamblingattheSalSagev?Didtheyhavealicense?Whataboutchips?Inthe1990sGeneTrimbledidsomeresearchandfoundsomeanswers.

Itisn’tknownif,orwhen,theSalSagevwaslicensed;therewasafirein1960at theWhiteHorseHotelinCarsonCity,thatdestroyedmanyoftheearlylicensingrecords.TherewasevidencetoindicatethatAbeMillerofferedrouletteandblackjackgamesintheearly1930s.InOctoberof1934Abesaidthathewasfinishedwithgambling,andwrappedtheroulettewheelplusfivecolorsofSSCroulettechipsinnewspaperandatarp,thenstoredthebundleinthebasementoftheSalSagev.PokergameswerewitnessedattheSalSagevinthe1940sandearly1950s,reportedlywithSSCchipssimilartotheroulettechipsthatwerestillstoredinthebasement;perhapsthechipsthathadbeenusedforblackjackinthe1930s.

In1955AbeMillermadeadealwithfourmenfromSanFrancisco,toopenacasinointheSalSagev;Picardo,Durante,GhelfiandMassaro.In1956Millertoldoneofthementhathehadsomethingforhim“asouveniroftheearlydaysoftheSalSagev”,andhegavethemantheroulettewheelandchips,stillwrappedinthenewspapersandtarp.Themantooktheroulettewheelhome,anditbecameacoffeetablethatwasshowntoGene,alongwith686chips:5brown,200white,162yellow,162blueand157green.ThechipsaresmallkeyandweredistributedbyB.C.Wills.Thechipsarehotstampedingold,withSSoveranoblongC.

OnOctober7,1955thefourmenfromSanFranciscoopenedtheGoldenGateCasino,thoughsomeoftheearlyitemsusethenameGoldenGateClub.ThedécorhadaSanFranciscothemewiththeGoldenGateBridgeusedoftenon ashtrays,chipsanddice.In1991theGoldenGateservedtheirfirstshrimpcocktail,beginningaLasVegastraditionthatcontinuestoday.

to Be continued. . .

by pam goertler #r-3432 time goes by 1.pdfin 1911 oscar stocker arrived in las vegas, with his wife...

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