Hi — I recently bought some Club Belvedere illegal club poker chips. I traced the club to Springfield, Illinois. I emailed the Springfield “The State Journal-Register” newspaper to get information about the club. Columnist DaveBakke was interested. After one day of emails, he put together this story. I was never given a chance to proof-read it or even see an advance draft of it. Too bad he doesn't mention the name of the CCGTCC, not my fault:

"Dave Bakke: Poker chip a reminder of Springfield's sordid past"

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x2067836493/Dave-Bakke-Poker-chip-a-reminder-of-Springfields-sordid-past?zc_p=0

The article begins:

"Robert Eisenstadt of Brooklyn, N.Y., collects and sells vintage poker chips. He bought a box of them from a woman in Vermont and is selling one of them on eBay . These poker chips give us a glimpse into Springfield’s sordid, sinful past.

"The chips are from Club Belvedere in Springfield. It was at 1510 E. Taft St., just north of Sangamon Avenue across from the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The club is gone now, but must have been just east of The Stadium tavern. And, wow, the things that went on at Club Belvedere you would not believe. Or maybe you would. ... .... "

My eBay auction is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160819727076
Be sure to scroll down the auction page to see the articles about the prosti_tution raids on the club, etc.

There is a link to the story on the front page of the newspaper:

Robert