IMO, a rather strange order coming out of New Orleans for this “Illegal Of The Day” post. I got 2 colors of the 5¢ chip in 2008 and never looked into them. A few weeks ago Dave Hepburn emailed me an ebay link for an auction that had 9 different in it. Dave was kind enough to buy two sets. That made me 10 different chips as I color was a dupe. 8 of them were 5¢ chips. I thought that odd until I got the record on them. Geez,, there are 20 different chips with 2 different fonts delivered in the same order.

Playing “numbers,” “policy,” and “lottery” were real close to the same thing back in those days. It depended on which part of the country you lived in, what it was called. In Newport, KY it was called playing the “Numbers.” The cops called it the Numbers Racket! Screw Andrews was the Numbers king of northern, KY and southern, OH.

The numbers business in Newport was mostly a “Black” business and bet mostly at 5¢ to 10¢ a set of numbers. The more numbers you bet, the higher the odds.

When I opened a Bingo in Screw’s Sportsman’s Club early 1960’s there was a room with dozens of telephones. Screw had a big call in business all over northern KY and southern OH. Although mostly a black’s business many poor people played the numbers every day.

Most cities had this type of gambling. Some cities winners were tied to the stock market closing numbers, some tied to horse race winners, and some just drew the numbers like a bingo would.

I played the numbers in Pittsburg while at a poker game back in the 1960’s. You had to read the evening paper to find out if you won. It was tied to the stock market closing numbers.

I never once got a “gig.” Read on and you will understand that one.

Ebay sellers description:
"BLUE HORSESHOE CLUB"..JEFFERSON PARISH..SOUTHPORT, LA....OWNERS :..H..Mills, O. Litolff....THESE CHIPS WERE FOUND IN A BOX IN AN OLD HOUSE IN LOUSIANA .. in NEW ORLEANS.
My note: Finally an ebay seller that told the truth!

Enough of that:

Louisiana:

Mason & Co record:
O J Littolff
The Blue Horse Shoe Club
2919 Daneel St
New Orleans, LA.
BLUE in horseshoe – 2 different fonts both from same order
1937 to 1939 – 20 different chips, nearly all 5c on reverse but different colors.

My Note: At least 1-25¢ and 1-$1 chip.
Total of 5900 chips

Note the top right chip is from a different die.

Enter a “Friend Of The Hobby.”

Osmond Joseph Litolff, born 1900 in New Orleans, died 1967 in Slidell, LA where he had moved from NOLA two years prior. When the chips were ordered in 1937-39, 2919 Danneel St. was the location of the Blue Horse Shoe Club (the address was in a predominately African-American neighborhood).

The club was located at this address at least as late as 1946.

1938 NOLA city directory:

For many decades Litolff and Henry Mills were associated with the operation of lotteries or policy in NOLA. Some of Litolff’s uncles and brothers as well as his son Edwin were involved with lottery operations as were many members of the Mills family. One of their lotteries, and one of the more popular and long lasting, was the Blue Horse Shoe. This lottery was operating at least as early as 1928 and as late as 1974.

5dec1928

10may1974 (August J. Mills, Jr. was Henry Mills’ nephew)

Here is a copy of a lottery ticket from 20nov1939. In the bottom right is the word BLUE with a horseshoe underneath (underneath horseshoe is DAY, for day as opposed to night drawing). At the top are the three numbers the player selected, 5-17-32, and writing saying that if your numbers come up you would win $18.00 on your 10 cent ticket.

I’m assuming that the Blue Horse Shoe Club on Danneel St. was where the drawings took place. A drum with 78 numbered balls would be spun and 12 balls selected. If your 3 numbers came up, a “gig,” then you’d win. 5 and 10 cent tickets seem to have been the most popular gigs. Do you have any idea what the purpose of the different colored 5 cent chips was? Do you think it had anything to do with the lottery?

My note: I have no clue why so many different color 5¢ chips were needed. How about a guess from some of you guys?

Mills & Litolff were involved in more than just the lottery in New Orleans. I’m not sure of the dates, but certainly in the late 1940’s members of the Litolff and Mills families were the principal owners of the “Club Forest” in Jefferson Parish on East Jefferson Hwy. Opposite the Club Forest, Mills & Litolff had a place called the Blue Horse Shoe Tourist Court which was around as early as the 1930’s. It had a “reputation” (a place where you could get a room, but you didn’t stay the night).

My note: New Orleans and ladies of ill repute. Who would have thought that!

In 1951 Estes Kefauver wanted to talk to both Litolff and the Mills brothers but they were nowhere to be found.

My note: The Kefauver Commission could be considered the sponsor of the “Illegal Of The Day” posts.

In 1958 an Orleans Parish grand jury investigating corruption in the NOLA police department questioned both Litolff and Mills about payoffs to the police. Both refused to answer the questions and both were found guilty of contempt.

My note: New Orleans police officers bribed. I don’t believe it!

Over a period of two years they appealed their conviction but it was upheld by both the LA and US Supreme Courts.

However, Gov. Earl Long cut Litolff some slack:

My note: Once more the Louisiana governor helps the good old boys. I think we saw that one coming from earlier “Illegal Of The Day” posts.

The structure which housed the Blue Horse Shoe Club at 2919 Danneel no longer exists. Here’s a recent picture of the corner of Seventh and Danneel; Blue Horse Shoe was located at the red X. The buildings certainly look like they were there in the 30’s (store keeping tradition alive with lotto). A couple of old cemeteries are located a block away--certainly would have added an interesting dimension to the old neighborhood back when the Blue Horse Shoe was running.

My note: If you have never watched a New Orleans funeral put it on your “Bucket List.” It is a sight to behold.

In 1946 New Orleans jazz musician Irving Fazola (1912-1949) recorded a song with his Dixieland Band called “Stompin’ at the Blue Horseshoe” which has these lyrics:

I’ve been to Chicago,
Been to New York and Kalamazoo,
I come back to New Orleans,
On account of the Blue Horse Shoe

I’ve attached the recording as a WindowsMediaAudio attachment—it should open up in windows media player. (not sure if the lyrics are talking about the Blue Horse Shoe Club or the Blue Horse Shoe Tourist Court or something else)

Sorry, file would not upload.

Also, here’s a couple of Jones Bros. chip dies—not sure where these were used:

My note: Not sure if these were dice dies or chip dies. If chips “I WANT THEM.”
They would be on the LgSq mold.