... as tournament chips at Sonoma Joe's when I first played there (in February 1995). Later that year, they introduced a set of SJ's own tournament chips. As I recall, there was some connection between Patti & Gloria and Sonoma Joe's. I think one or both had some ownership interest or management responsibility at SJ's.

I have a red mermaid mold $5 P&G chip. Also, a non-denominational Pewter "chip" which has the P&G logo on one side and the name & address on the other. It is slightly larger than a slot token (diameter) and slightly smaller than a chip. The holder in which it was contained when I bought it is dated 1993.

Eastman's California Guide, BTW, gives the address of the P&G Casino as 3600 Petaluma Blvd, Petaluma, and the dates as 1993-94. He also lists $1 gray and $5 pink diamond mold chips; $1 blue, $5 red and $20 white dragon mold chips; and non-denom white, $5 red, $20 green and $500 white mermaid mold chips.

The Jung-Pfaender California book lists some of the above chips (omitting the $5 and $20 dragon molds), plus a $1000 blue diamond mold chip; non-denom purple & $100 orange mermaids mold chips; and $1 blue with 3 orange and 3 grey inserts H&C mold chip. It also contains the notation "all mermaid chips were used Sonoma Joe's until they had their own; now obsolete".

----- jim o\-S