From my “Illegal Of the Day West Virginia” post back on 8/22/10’
“I will leave Steubenville and it’s mostly houses of ill repute for a future post.”

Steubenville:

In the late 1960’s and early 70’s I played poker in the greater Cincinnati area with a guy named Ray XXXXXi. He walked the walk, talked the talk, a babe on both arms, drove a new Caddy convertible, and dressed to the nines. You can see his image on many TV cop shows today. (guess his profession before you read on?)
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Did you guess his profession?

He could have been the hip, suave, upscale, and well to do pimp on any TV show today. I’m pretty sure I recognized him on a South Park episode.

He worked 4 girls in Steubenville houses. Rotated them on a monthly basis. One or two sat behind him every time he played poker. The girls were open about what they did. I never understood them and their chosen lifestyles. Ray never tried to hide what he did and in fact talked freely about it.

I abhorred what he did but in fact liked him as a person. I can’t explain both feelings at the same time. He invited me to a game in Steubenville. I went. Two Madams played in the game. The win was in my all time top 10 in one poker sitting. When I got home I felt dirty. I could not wash it off for some time. Steubenville had a lot of houses of ill repute. NO, I did not visit a house when I was there. The city was just not who I was. It was hard to look my 2 little girls in the eye for some time.

One night in a game in Newport a guy walked in and said, “hey, some gal shot Ray 5 times, up in Steubenville, last night, he is dead.”

The guy in the 2 seat said “live by the gal-die by the gal.” “Shuffle up and deal.” TRUE STORY.

Enough of that:
Ohio:

I got this chip in 1999 in trade. It sat 11 years without research.

Jefferson Club
124 North 6th Street
Steubenville
Chips delivered in 1936-37

Another obvious illegal club, 4,300 chips but no Club name on the card.
The guys name alone looks illegal to me.
To me the chip has no value without a Club name.

Enter a “Friend Of the Hobby.”

Anthony Joseph Tabasso, a lifelong resident of Steubenville, died 1964 age 58. 711 North St. appears to have been his residential address when the chips were ordered.

Tabasso was involved with bootlegging during prohibition. His brother-in-law Vincent Casali was one of the biggest movers and shakers in Steubenville. In 1924 some state liquor agents tried to enter the Tabasso home looking for liquor--they were disarmed, beaten-up and thrown out on the street by Casali and a 17 year old Tony Tabasso.

I'm not certain, but I think the chips were probably used at a place called the Jefferson Club.
It was located on the upper floor of a two story building at 124 North 6th Street. For many years this address was associated with various enterprises involving Vincent Casali—including gambling. In July 1939, Tabasso was reported to be the proprietor of the Jefferson Club.

This club was in business when the chips were ordered Nov/Dec 1936 & March/April 1937. In August 1936 the proprietor of the club was reported to be Joseph Guido.

The G on the chip could be for Guido, one of the T's for Tabasso and the other T could be for Joseph Tegano. Tegano operated a newsstand-cigar store at the address; in the back of the store he was running a gambling operation with Casali in January 1936.

My note: Lots of O's and I's on the end of those names.

During this time Steubenville is said to have been known as "little Chicago" where supposedly a popular saying of teenage males was:

"Learn to steal, learn to deal, or go to the mill."

Two guys who learned to deal in the local gambling houses in the 1930's were Dino Paul Crocetti and Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos- (guess “Who” before you read on.)
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Did you guess who they are?

AKA Dean Martin and "Jimmy the Greek" Snyder. (my note: is it possible Dean handled these chips?)

Unfortunately, I didn't come across any info that either worked at the Jefferson Club. By all accounts, Martin worked at a gambling room at the rear of the Rex Cigar Store--located across the alley from the Jefferson Club.

My note: Another Rex chip to look into. I have several REX cards but none for Steubenville.

The Jefferson Club was not a place to be a sore loser--or you might end up sore indeed.

Steubenville Herald Star--14august1936:

Steubenville Herald Star--12july1939:

Steubenville Herald Star--11sept1939:

Here's a map of Steubenville from 1929; Jefferson Club at 124 North 6th, Rex Cigar at 523 Market--buildings are no longer there, but the parking lot in the rear is.