First published in the Casino Chip & Token News, Fall 2006, “reprinted” here with the permission of Todd Barrett. Thanks, Todd!

15 Fremont Street

"Turf Club & Bar, 1943-1944: The 1944 phone book shows Dave and Sam Stearns as the proprietors."

"Monte Carlo Club, 1945-c.1956: Wilbur Clark moved to Las Vegas, from Reno, in 1945 and opened the Monte Carlo Club as his first Las Vegas venture. With the profits he got from the sale of the Monte Carlo Club, he began building the Desert Inn. Though ownership changed a couple of times, the Monte Carlo operated at this location until c.1956 (various sources range from 1955-1966). "