Reno gaming pioneer Nick Abelman's life in casinos
Nick Abelman – A Gambling Man
Nevada Pioneer Steve Pavlovich
Steve Pavlovich was born in Yugoslavia in 1889. He came to America armed with dreams and a promise of a good life. What he found were rough-and-tumble characters who would rather beat you for your pennies than give you the time of day. He traveled from New York to New Jersey to Wyoming before arriving... Continue Reading →
Meyer Lansky’s Mob Influence
Meyer Lansky was influential enough to draw hundreds of inquiries from law-enforcement agencies during his lifetime, from the FBI, CIA, Highway Patrol offices in dozen's of states, local police, detective agencies, you name it, somebody wanted to know more about him. Strange, because as dirty and sticky as his hands were for the Mob, no... Continue Reading →
"Bugsy" Siegel Still an Icon
"Bugsy" Siegel is still an enduring icon of Hollywood, the Mob, and Las Vegas. Quite a legacy, really. Growing up in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn (Feb. 28, 1906), no one expected the tough, skinny kid to even live long enough to have an impact on the world. Siegel was already street-wise by the age... Continue Reading →
Charlie Mapes
Sometimes Charlie Mapes doesn't get the respect he deserved for his work in the Reno gaming community. I mean really, here he is getting punched-out by boxing champion Jack Sharkey! The event was the 85th Birthday party of Ancil Hoffman, who was well-known in Reno as the manager of Heavyweight Champ Max Baer. The Boxing... Continue Reading →
The Tahoe Village
I always thought the photos of the Tahoe Village were cool with it's rounded shape and lots of windows to watch the snow while you had a beer after your shift. The building had a number of names from its inception in 1945 as the Tahoe Village with Mickey Wood financing. Bert Riddick was one... Continue Reading →
Illegal Gambling Clubs of Toledo
Terry Shaffer's new book, Illegal Gambling Clubs of Toledo, is just terrific. It's one of only a few books on illegal casinos and certainly the most complete. Terry is a resident of Toledo and through hard work and a little luck, managed to get files and photos from back when the clubs were in operation.... Continue Reading →
Where has the Time Gone?
Photo Courtesy (William Pettite) The last time I posted, there was a lot of snow around my car. No more than there was in the picture of the old Christmas Tree casino at Mt. Rose in Reno, but a lot. It's 107 degrees in Scottsdale, Arizona right now. I'm comfortable. In the picture above, June... Continue Reading →
Enjoy the Snow at the Ta-Neva-Ho
I just love this photo of the Ta-Neva-Ho. Taken in the late 1930s, it shows what Lake Tahoe is like every winter - snowy! No kidding, right? Well, not everybody has a chance to see the amazing lake that straddles the California and Nevada state lines. This club, built and opened in 1937, stands along... Continue Reading →
