I just can’t resist. One more poker story that ties to the area around the chips below.

I think Spragg has heard all my poker stories, as we had plenty of time on the poker cruises to BS. He can just skip down.

Maybe 1968 or so I used to play in a Friday night private poker game on Reading road out close to Evendale. It was a good game and I did well there. My poker partners Brownie and Howard would play at times also.

One Friday Joe (the host) called me and asked me if I would deal the game for him as one of his dealers had called in “stuck.” Meaning he was in a game and losing, not unusual for a dealer. They usually play bad! I said, sure.

BTW, I allowed dealers to call in “stuck” at the Four Queens and Palms. It saved a sick call on their records. Dealers just can't stand to have $ in their pockets.

7 card stud, pot limit.

Game started a 6:00PM. His 2nd dealer called in and said he wasn’t coming also. I put a TV tray behind the dealer chair for a sandwich and Pepsi, bellied up to the table and dealt. Brownie said “Well you said you were a dealer, sit up and deal.”

Roughly 7:00AM Saturday morning (2 black beauties into the game. ) Brownie called a hand and the guy said 3 Kings. Brownie said “beats me.”) A number of hands later (who’s counting?) Brownie calls the same guy again. He shows his hand that only had 1 king showing and says “4 Kings. Brownie says “Beats me.) I could see Brownies nose was real close to getting out of joint! A number of hands later (who’s counting?) Brownie calls the same guy again on the river. The guy says “pair of kings. The usual from Brownie “Beats me. Wow, I am in trouble!

About 3:00PM that afternoon Brownie calls the same guy one more time. He had 4 cards under 10 showing, 10, 7, 4, 2, 2 red, 2 black. The guy says “you finally got me king high.” Brownie had his head down and raised it just high enough for me to see his eyes. I saw murder and mayhem! Brownie muttered “beats me.” I said “maybe you better start looking for that “Bird”. “ Brownie said, “I’ve seen all the kings I want to see” and cashed out. We called him “King High” until he threatened us with the death penalty.

The game lasted until about noon on Monday. Roughly 66 hours. Bad news, I was dead! Good news, I made right at $3,000. Joe asked if I would deal next week. I said sure. He said he would make sure I had a relief dealer. I said don’t bother, I will handle it. I dealt that game for about 4 months until it broke up. It did not always go that long. It was a heck of a gig! Geez, just goes to show you what you can do when you are young. Today I am in bed no later than 10:00PM.

Enough of that:

OHIO-Cincinnati area.

5911
5911 Vine St in Elmwood, Cincinnati
Owned in part by The Nasons 1952-56 - closed about 1958. The Nason’s did not use the chips.

Read about the 5911 in my Arrowhead Inn articles.
http://www.marlowcasinochips.com/links/genetrimble/genetrimble.htm

There were only 3 known at the time I got this one in 2000. I am sure the KY boys can update me on that number.

From Jim Linduffs article. The whole article is here.
http://www.preservinggaminghistory.com/
Click: Other Links Articles and Records.

On the other hand, one of my old friends remembers the EVA but thinks it was associated with Charlie Dwyer, a major Elmwood player who worked for the Nason/Cleveland Syndicate operation. Charlie ran the 5911 Club located behind a second hand furniture store at 5911 Vine Street. Charlie was also one of the original managers of Ezzard Charles along with Max Elkus, George Rhein and probably Ike Hyams, although Ike couldn’t be listed because of his criminal record.

Not far from Cincinnati.

Garfield Café
1126 Garfield St
Middletown, OH
1944

From the Hunt & Co records.

Linden Bar
5912 Vine St
Elmwood.

From Jim Linduffs article. The whole article is here.
http://www.preservinggaminghistory.com/
Click: Other Links Articles and Records.

LINDEN BAR

The Linden Bar chips are thought to be from the club of the same name in Elmwood Place located at 5912 Vine Street, but to my knowledge the chips have not been authenticated. The Linden Bar was a large building with a back room called the Hideaway and managed by Sam Coleman. I remember horse boards there and sometimes bet at the Linden Bar, but don’t remember first hand, gambling tables, chips.

I think Jim was a little too cautious with” authenticated.”
IMO both chips are from the 1940’s.

Sinclair Grill
J Tobin
4922 Vine St
St. Bernard
1938

The “S” Skey chip is documented to have been used at the Sinclair. It is a generic chip sold by BC Wills. We also have it documented to have been used at Southern Belle, Five Points, Georgia in the 1940’s. More than likely used in other illegal’s also. IMO if you find one, you get to name the place it was used.

Jim Linduffs article on the Sinclair can be found here.
http://www.preservinggaminghistory.com/
Click: Other Links Articles and Records.

The chips were used prior to the Nason’s running the Sinclair.
I covered the Nason’s and the Sinclair in my Arrowhead Inn articles.
http://www.marlowcasinochips.com/links/genetrimble/genetrimble.htm