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 →
Stateline Country Club
In chip collecting In my humble opinion In the state of Nevada In my collection Indian headdress Incredible The Stateline Country Club was situated on the California/Nevada state border on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Originally owned by Cal Custer, the club had a reputation for fun during the short summer season at the... Continue Reading →
The State Line Country Club
How is everybody this week? I haven't really been gone for a week, in blog-world, my posts follow each other, so I've always been here. The State Line Country Club is one of my favorite stories. Part of the reason is that long ago I made friends with Karl Berge, a bartender and part-owner of... Continue Reading →
The Tahoe Mariner
The Tahoe Mariner sits forlornly in this photo to your right. Situated on a small rise above the highway, the casino property went through a long progression of owners and name changes before Valley Bank of Nevada finally foreclosed on the casino in 1983. Capy Ricks purchased the property in 1946 from Ed Malley's real... Continue Reading →
Casino Birdcage
As you know, I've been known to hang around casinos - around, and around, and around. Well, the other day a security officer was bringing a fill of chips to the "21" table I was standing next to and a woman asked what, "that plastic thingy, that, you know, holder thing, was called." I explained... Continue Reading →