Here’s one I thought I did some time ago. When I look through my note, I realize I did all the research, but never wrote up the results. I’m probably sitting on a couple dozen of these that I just haven’t taken the time (considerable time!) to actually write out.

I received these Taylor mold chips about a year ago along with the cord mold.

The Taylor chips were ordered in 1950 by Clarence Fambrough and delivered straight to the club in Henderson, Kentucky (along the north border of Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana.)

The Little Commando started its career in 1945 with owners Clarence Fambrough and Fred Downs applying for a liquor license. Within a year, it was discovered that they were selling more than just liquor as they were soon in trouble with the law. Along with three local establishments - The Trocadero, the Dells and the Green River Gardens – the Little Commando was hit with large fines for allowing gambling on their premises.

The gambling at the Little Commando was estimated to be quite considerable and a theft in 1950 shows perhaps just how much. On March 1, 1950, two men brandishing shot guns busted in the back of the club and got away with an undisclosed amount of money. Reports were anywhere between $10,000 to a whopping $100,000. A reporter trying to get the scoop asked owner Clarence Fambrough about the theft, and received only, “What robbery?”

By 1952 the club had passed ownership to a corporation called Club 101 that owned other clubs in the area. Although ownership had changed, its activities did not. In April 1952, the Little Commando was cited by the state when a dice game was found in full operation. The Good Government League official remarked, “We’re happy that the state officials have better eyesight than the local officials.” This was a clear crack aimed at the city sheriff who had refused to raid the local clubs who were in clear violation of the law.

Three weeks later, on April 24, 1952, the state had concluded an undercover investigation and implemented a raid on the club. The owners had been tipped off and the police were surprised to find one table with a group of men innocently playing bridge. Their smirks didn’t last long however as a search turned up loads of hidden gambling equipment – prompting the owners’ arrests.

Before the owners could catch their breath, the state hit them once more a week later and found a craps table and blackjack game in full action in the Little Commando. This was the last straw and the state took steps to pull their liquor license.

All appeals failed and the Little Commando had to close its doors.

In a bizarre afterlife, the Little Commando was purchased by the local sheriff’s widow in 1955 who converted it into a restaurant and teen-age center. She was forced to close the doors soon after when she was hit with a $100,000 law suit. It seems another woman in town was claiming the widow caused her damages of “alienation of affection” when her blind husband left her for the widow. The case was settled out of court, but the restaurant never reopened. Soon after, a mysterious fire burned the building to the ground.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you missed the last few IOTD, here are the links. Enjoy!

Del-Shore Club, Chicago, Illinois
http://www.thechipboard.com/index.cgi/md/read/id/1518621/sbj/illegal-of-the-day-illinois-52/

Sportsman’s Club, Galveston, Texas
http://www.thechipboard.com/index.cgi/md/read/id/1516398/sbj/illegal-of-the-day-texas-42/