The 3 previous Missouri “Illegal Of the Day” posts were devoted to Kansas City and its cluster of illegal gambling joints. This one and the next “Illegal Of the Day” is devoted to Joplin, another cluster in Missouri. The next one will have some very interesting info if you are interested in poker history.

I have 4 different Mason record cards for REX and I am betting there are several others. It was a popular name for illegal’s and CA card rooms.

Enough of that:

Missouri-Joplin:

I got these in 2002 and the Mason record card at the same time.
Have 4 colors of the hub and 2 colors of the diamond mold. Both molds were found in the same hoard from an estate sale.

Info from Mason record card:
Rex Athletic Club
413 1/2 Main St
E Vaughn
Joplin, MO
1936

REX Athletic Club

Elmer Ellis Vaughan, native of Arkansas, died 1955 in Oklahoma City age 64 (he moved away from Joplin in the 40's and lived briefly in Hot Springs, Arkansas before moving to Oklahoma).

The structure which housed the Rex Athletic Club at 413 1/2 South Main still exists but has been updated:

Rex AC was raided in January 1937, Ellis Vaughan arrested and gambling paraphernalia seized, including chips--which were ordered to be destroyed. I guess some escaped.

As you can see below they also had a crap table and slots.

Joplin Globe--31jan1937:

Joplin Globe--16feb1937: