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

105 Fremont

”49er Club, 1951-1952: Licensed for slots, 21, craps and poker."

This is a rare picture of the 49'er club, and it doesn't belong to us. Please do not copy, save or print the photo. Thank you

Fortune Club, 1952-1955: From a magazine called “This is Las Vegas” published in 1959, by the Nevada Club: “The Nevada Club itself was established in 1952. The original club, which is now the central portion of the Nevada Club, was opened in December 1952 and was known then as the Fortune Club. Three years later the room to the east was added and in 1957 the former Western Union building adjoining on the west was purchased for $300,000—more than the 1905 sales price of the entire city of Las Vegas. In July 1957 the three clubs were combined as the Nevada Club under one 75-foot marquee and the name Fortune Club was dropped and rights to it released.”

Nevada Fortune Club, 1955-1957

Zodiac Club, 1957-1958: The Zodiac Club was one of three adjoining buildings that were owned and managed by the Nevada Club. The Zodiac club did not have a bar, depending instead on the bar in the Nevada Club to serve the customers. But there were 16” concrete walls between the clubs, and the law prohibited the waitresses from walking into the street with the drinks. While waiting for the legal and engineering problems to be resolved so the walls could come down, holes were cut into the ceilings of the clubs and the waitresses carried the drinks across the rooftops to serve the thirsty customers.”