Wonder why they made it that way? Food section? Protect your chips/money?

Robert
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Steve McQueen (seated, on left), Jack Weston (McQueen is grabbing his shoulder), Karl Malden (seated, third from the right), and Edward G. Robinson (seated, second from right) in poker game in "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965).
http://www.antiquegamblingchips.com/StillsA_TopMaleStars.htm