Hi, I made a post earlier this am at a cybercafe re Steve Passalacqua's inquiery about the Avalon Club in Emeryville, Ca. My time ran out just as I posted the info, so guess it didn't go through. Anyhoo... The Avalon club opened in 1946 just after WW II by Jack Conger, his wife Edith and their partner Carl Ahlin. Ahlin soon left and the conger's ran the club in the Ritz Hotel's clubroom, formerly site of the Yosemite Club, sometimes also called the Yosemite Valley club. Jack Conger had played for the Chicago Cubs at one time, and I believe the Avalon got its name from Avalon, the town on Santa Catalina Island where Wrigley had moved the Chicago Cubs training in around 1917. Anyhoo, the club was Emeryville's first "carpet joint" (rug on floor) and first to admit women. It was also a high stakes club, and of course only spread 5 card draw poker and panguigne, a rummy-like game, as required by California law. When Conger died, his wife ran the club with Edith Panuzzi, who had formerly had a cardroom in San Francisco. A 12 1/2 cent chip was used in Panguigne. On another note; a new rack is on the tables at Jackson Rancheria in the Sierra foothills. My traders are gone, but someone who plays poker might like to check out the poker room they have opened on their mezzanine.