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Once again we visit Steubenville, Ohio.
Some of my thoughts and memories of playing poker in Steubenville are described at the below link.
Also: Much more on Steubenville, Dean Martin, and Jimmy “The Greek” at this link. Scroll down to “Jefferson Club, OH” It is my “Illegal Of The Day” posted 9/27/10.
Most of the “Illegal Of The Day” posts are there. Hopefully the rest will be there soon.
http://www.marlowcasinochips.com/links/genetrimble/genetrimble.htm
Here’s a pic of Dean Martin dealing at the Sands in Vegas:
Link to story about Dean Martin dealing at the Sands written by a former pit boss (uummm....apparently Dino had a way with the ladies):
http://www.blue-eyes.com/blog/2010/07/14/pit-boss-dino-deals-21/
Enough of that:
Ohio:
HC in oval:
Harry Cooper
c/o Imperial Cigar Store
6th & Market Sts.
Steubenville, Ohio
My note: Very high possibility the chips were used at the “New Lincoln Café” and or the Half-Moon Nite Club
Chips on 10/10/35
Green- Black-Red
Harry Charles Cooper, a Russian Jew, immigrated around 1907 and died at Steubenville in 1959 age 60. Cooper was a major figure in the Steubenville gambling scene. Like a lot of the guys in Steubenville, he started young. He was arrested for gambling in 1919 and in the 20’s was several times caught violating the liquor laws.
Around 1924 he began operating the Imperial Cigar Store at 535 Market St. (in the Imperial Hotel building) and did so for 30 years. When the chips were ordered he also owned part of a restaurant/bar located across the street from the Imperial called the New Lincoln Café. Cooper also was reportedly a partner in a place in Steubenville around this time called the Half-Moon Nite Club. In the 30’s Jimmy the Greek was a dealer at the Half-Moon and Dean Martin sang some there in the 40’s (the only place I’ve seen that Dean Martin dealt in Steubenville was at the Rex Cigar Store, located a few doors down from the Imperial).
Here’s a pic looking down Market Street at 6th from the 1930’s. The Imperial Cigar Store was located on the street level in the corner of the building.
If you look down the sidewalk you can see the sign for the Rex Cigar Store, where Dean Martin dealt blackjack.
Same pic with a broader view:
1935 ad for Imperial Cigar:
1935 ad for New Lincoln Café:
1935 ad for Half-Moon:
(all articles below from the Steubenville Herald-Star)
Harry Cooper fined for gambling as early as 1919.
31july1919:
Harry Cooper arrested twice by Federal Liquor agents for bootlegging, 1923 and conspiracy against the government.
20sept1923:
31may1932:
My Note: The cops got dice but no chips.
9feb1935:
Guilty of gambling again in 1935. This was 7 months before Harry bought the chips.
11feb1935—a snip from an article a few days after the above article:
Fined $75 plus court costs. I doubt that was a hardship on Harry’s bankroll. 
O’Brien and Griffin mentioned above were supposedly Cooper’s partners at the Half-Moon.
[from Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams by Nick Tosches (1992)]: (Jimmy Synodinos = Jimmy The Greek)
Here’s a link to YouTube where someone has posted the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary on Jimmy The Greek which has some stuff about Steubenville (mostly at the tail end of part1 and beginning of part2):
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=148BB384A76819BF
Mike Vuolo has the chips to trade.
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