Sorry that I don't get here as much as I used to. Working out of the office during the Summer, come back, do laundry, fix the car, re-pack and head out.

I actually remember the exact location of the "smoke shop" in the articles. Across the street was the Clock Lounge (which had a piano bar), and at 743 N. 4th, 2nd floor was an office where salesmen rented cubicles. More of a place for business mailing, but the guys got together for drinks after work, went fishing together and had home poker games. Cops, well at least one was in the game. But it was friendly and they played with the old plastic stacking chips.

There's a whole Wisconsin thing about money on the table. Even for sheepshead or hearts, any card games. The county golf course enforced it even in the 80s. Don't know now. Playing cards and if you had you change on the table from drinks, they would warn you. So everything had to be chips or on paper. Funny thing is almost every bar in town you could shake bar dice for your drink, maybe shake of the day, and that seemed to be legal and allowed.

While my Dad wasn't a gambler, he did frequent this area, and the bars downtown. Some of the names in the articles are old Milwaukee family members. I probably went to school with their children.

Great articles and research. That whole block, both sides, has been demolished and has new office buildings.