Peoria, Illinois was a large cluster of illegal gaming clubs. In the newspaper articles below you will read how the Shelton Gang ruled the city with brutal tactics to extract their pound of flesh for protecting the Clubs.

The Shelton’s did not start the illegal clubs in Peoria.

They were originally farmers that saw a big bootlegging opportunity during prohibition. They became the “No 1 BIG” bootleggers in Peoria and oversaw a bloody era in Peoria’s history.

They saw the same opportunity in “The Era Of The Illegals.” They came out of retirement and ruled a 2nd bloody era in Peoria’s history.

It was “The Shelton’s way” or “The Hospital.”

As stated in previous “Illegal Of The Day” postings the history of “The Era Of The Illegals” repeats itself all over the USA. From Newport, KY, Detroit, MI, Upper NY State, East St Louis, Kansas City, MO, Oregon City, OR, to San Francisco, CA. The stories are all the same, bootlegging, bribery, killings, and blood, all in the name of the almighty $. Sound familiar?

Sort of like the drug gangs of today without AK 47’s.

If you don’t collect illegal chips, at least from the area you live in, you are missing out on some great history.

I got a grey Jack Adams Sportsmen’s Club chip from Janice O’Neal back in 2006. As usual we fought over her taking anything for it. I lost as usual. Rest easy dear friend.

Since there was a Club name on the Taylor Record card, I did not look further into it. Mike Vuolo found the pink ones on ebay last week. When I took a 2nd look at the Taylor card and noticed how big the order was, I decided to try and find some info on it. Big orders normally translate to big history. I was not disappointed.

Enough of that:

And now “The Rest Of The Story.”

Jack Adams
Sportsmen’s Club.
416 Fulton St
Peoria, IL
Chips delivered 1945-51

Enter my “Friend Of The Hobby.”

Jack Adams

John C. “Jack” Adams--not 100% sure, but there’s a good chance he’s the same Jack Adams who died in Las Vegas in 1967 age 67.

416 Fulton was the location of a bar/tavern as far back as the 1890’s. Adams was running a place there as early as the mid 1930’s. In the early 40’s he started calling his place the Sportsmen’s Club and by the late 40’s he changed the name to the Clover Club. He also had a place called the Sportsmen’s Country Club located at 1001 Farmington Rd. In Dec.1953 he was described as “the former owner of a Peoria nightclub” and in June 1954, 416 Fulton was described as “formerly the Clover Club.”

The Sportsmen’s Club was described as “ornate and tastefully furnished, offering about any sort of action the gambling man could desire.” Taylor records also have this chip:

I need The Sportsmen’s Club” chip, if anyone has a trader.

Chicago Tribune—11aug1948; article about Shelton’s and Peoria, mentions Adams:

Peoria Journal Star—17feb1992; 18 years ago a guy who lived in Peoria during the wide-open days gave his recollections; mentions several gambling places and Adams; at the bottom of the article it shows that in the original hardcopy there were photos of 416 Fulton both as the Sportsmen’s and Clover Clubs:

I believe the writer of the above article Bill Adams is Jack Adams son. We got the pink chip from a seller that said they came from Jack’s son.

Here’s a map showing the locations mentioned. None of the structures which housed these gambling locations exist today.

E=Empire S=Saratoga A=Alcazar SC=Sportsmen’s Club PC=Palace Club PA=Palace Arcade L=Lyceum W=Windsor

More Taylor order cards from Peoria including the B&C Palace Club, Bernie & Carl Shelton chips. Both The Palace Club and Lyceum are on the above map.

I think Mike Vuolo has B&C chips for trade.
Michael Vuolo [mike@pokergurus.com]

I need the R M if anyone has a trader.