Info from Ernest Marquez, he spent years researching the CA gambling sgips.
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Thank you for your message regarding the Monte Carlo Gambling ship. I have
been working on the history of the gambling ships for the past ten years.
My primary research involves the ships and the operators themselves also
what the city, State and Federal Government did to stop the gambling ships
from operating. Of course I am very interested in the gambling that went on
and the equipment used. It is very difficult to determine exactly the types
of dice, chips, tokens etc. that were used on various gambling ships.
Thanks to chip collectors who have greater knowledge of the chips and their
history than I do, I am able to identify some items that do not have a
specific name printed on them. The Monte Carlo Chips are a prime example. I
am still not convinced the chips with MSC were really used on board. I have
no proof only a feeling based on my research of the owners and the type of
gambling ship the Monte Carlo was. The Monte Carlo opened for business off
Long Beach, California, May 7, 1932. It was reachable by water taxi from
the dock at 1375 West Seventh Street, Long Beach. The owners were Ed V.
Turner, a gambler and Marvin "Doc" Schouweiler, a rumrunner during
prohibition and a partner in the Johanna Smith the first real gambling ship
that opened in 1927. I have not seen the Mason delivery cards and would be
very interested to see them. Please keep me informed as I am nearing the
end of my rewritng and revisions. I do intend to show , when I am
absolutely sure, the types of chips and dice used on the ships. I have a
wonderful collection of photographs and advertising material from all 14
gambling ships. Be glad to answer any questions regarding the ships.
Regards, Ernest Marquez

The life of the Monte Carlo ended January 1, 1936 when she broke her anchor
chains in a terrific storm New Years Eve night. The storm washed the
concrete hulled vessel ashore. She beached on the Silver Strand near the
Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. The waves completely wrecked the wooden
structure housing the gambling casino and washed it and all the furniture,
gambling equipment, etc. ashore. The concrete hull broke in half thus
ending any hope to float her away. The hull slowly sank into the sand and
is still there today. A storm during El Nino in 1983 uncovered her and she
has risen to the surface a couple times since then. The gambling ships were
closed for good August 1, 1939. A raid led by Earl Warren closed 4 gambling
ships on that day. The Tango and Mount Baker in Long Beach and the Rex and
Texas at Santa Monica.

The 2nd order delivered to Jake Kattleman in L.A. in November 1938 could not
have been for the Monte Carlo since she was no longer in business. Are you
correct in the spelling of Kattleman? There was a Beldon Katleman who
bought the El Rancho in Las Vegas. Beldon Katleman learned the gambling
business from Guy McAfee who was involved with the Gambling ships when they
first started. He, McAfee, was a major gambling figure in Los Angeles and
partner on the Monfalcone, the first Mafia run gambling ship that opened in
1929. Sam Boyd worked on the Monte Carlo as dealer. This stuff is
really interesting and I am totally consumed by it. I love the research. I
will not use anything I have not documented. There is so much untrue and
misleading information out there that you have to be extremely careful. The
Monte Carlo was not a MOB associated gambling ship. The owners were
gamblers and entreprenuers and not part of any mob.