It's not often that one has the pleasure of introducing previously unknown 50+ year old Las Vegas chips to the chip collecting community. This is one of those times! First, however, the story.

Our principal character, Harold Davis, was born on August 10, 1896 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was of Welsh, Irish and German decent. When he was growing up there was a gym nearby where many of the neighborhood kids hung out. That's where he initially got interested in boxing.

He left home in his early teens and, as he put it, "rode the rails" out west. The story progresses. He was now called Frankie (his middle name) Davis, and ended up in Goldfield, Nevada, where he met Jack Dempsey. He began boxing himself, and was now billed as either "Kid" Davis or, the name he preferred, "Speed."

This picture below was taken on May 31, 1915. The fighter on the right is the great Jack Dempsey, very early in his career. He was fighting a 10-round bout with Johnny Sudenberg in Goldfield. The fight ended in a draw. The young lad on the left of the picture, with the suspender over his right shoulder, is our 18-year-old friend, Speed.

Speed himself was a real crowd-pleaser in the ring. A newspaper of the day described him as, "always battling from the crack of the first gong until the bout is over." He campaigned as a featherweight and was a contender for the Utah State championship, held at the time by Jimmie Johns of Ogden.

By this time Speed was married. He and his wife, Martha, had two children, Pat and Bob. Pat is an interesting story herself. She says the family didn't know Bugsy Siegel too well, but brags a bit when she shares the fact that he did comp she and her husband a room on their wedding night.

Speed next traveled to San Francisco and met a man named Manny Levine. They became partners and bought a liquor store in Oakland. Eventually the store was sold and they headed for the desert…Las Vegas.

It was now 1947. They bought a place on "Hiway 91…on the strip" formerly called the Diamond Horseshoe. They immediately changed the name to the Stork Club. They were doing quite well, and according to Harvey Fuller's 1992 Index of Nevada Gambling Establishments, the club offered craps, 21, and roulette.

All of this changed in an instant. This happened when Manny went to one of the neighboring clubs and gambled away all of their money. As his daughter Pat tells the story, "My father was so mad he threatened to shoot Manny, so Manny left town."

Speed (now also known as Hal) needed a new partner. Enter Harvey Bynum. Bynum was a gambler with California roots who previously had owned the Paradise Club in Las Vegas in the late 30's. Together they remodeled the dining room and announced its re-opening in an ad in the Las Vegas Review Journal of June 7, 1947. The prices were right…Hickory Barbecued Spare Ribs or Fried Jumbo Shrimp for $1.25. Charcoal Broiled Blue Ribbon Steaks and "All Kinds of Choice Sandwiches at Popular Prices."

In spite of all their efforts, they were unable to make a go of it and the Stork Club closed in 1950. Speed returned to San Francisco, very broke, and got a job tending bar at the Fairmount Hotel. Before too long he was back in business at the Old Waldorf, a working man's bar at 84th Street. He had a new and improved partner whose name was Ernie. Ernie died but Speed kept working until he retired at age 69. The Waldorf was torn down several years ago, as San Francisco "redeveloped."

A friend of the Davis family wrote an article which appeared in the Sonoma Index Tribune in August 19, 1976 in celebration of Speed's 80th birthday. In it he said that his friend Speed was still dancing at age 80. Speed David died on January 17, 1993 at the ripe old age of 96.

Chips from the Stork Club haven't been seen in over 50 years. Pat found them while cleaning out "the store room." She is excited and eager to see the Stork Club, and her Dad, take their place in Nevada and Las Vegas gaming history.

Three different denominations of Stork Club chips chips exist: $5, $25 and $100. T.R. King & Co. absolutely and positively authenticated scans of the Stork Club chips. It was confirmed by e-mail that the chips "were purchased by Harvey Bynum, Las Vegas, NV, 1947." They are large crown mold and the condition of most of them is remarkable. Most have full hotstamps and square edges.

I originally had nine of each chip available. There are approximately an additional 15-20 of each in existence. I have been assured that these will be available also once the initial chips are sold.

Pricing of these nine sets of the three Stork Club chips is $975 + $10 postage and insurance, $985 total. Individual pricing on individual chips is also available.

To reserve your Stork Club chips, please reply to this e-mail or call Chips off the Old Block at 1-888-CHIPS-97 (1-888-244-7797). Earliest orders will receive chips in the best condition. Needless to say, if you are a Nevada obsolete collector, don't miss this chance to add a very rare and historical set of 1940's Las Vegas chips to your collection.

Note: Scans of the Stork Club chips can be seen be chicking on the link below.

Terry Lazarus
Chips Off the Old Block