TIMELINE

Feb. 23, 1935: Harold's Club opens on

North Virginia Street next to Commercial Row. It had a single eight-foot

penny roulette wheel that hung from the ceiling and two slot machines _

one nickel slot and one dime slot.

May 1938:Harold's Club introduces mouse roulette in which a mouse

picks the winning number. The promotional effort was short lived.

1941: Harold's Club General Manager Raymond I. "Pappy" Smith starts

his "Harold's Club, Reno, or Bust" billboard campaign. Accelerated after

World War II, it eventually spreads to 46 states with a peak of 2,315

billboards.

1955:The largest casino in Nevada during the 1940s, Harold's Club

expands to seven floors in 1955 and employs 1,000 people.

1962:Harold's Club sells its land and facilities for $16 million with a

25-year leaseback.

May 24, 1967:Raymond I. "Pappy" Smith dies at age 80.

June 1970:Howard Hughes buys Harold's Club and drops the apos trophe

from the name.

February 1979:Harolds Club opens a $20 million expansion.

1985:Harold Smith Sr. dies.

1988:The Fitzgeralds Group buys Harolds Club.

1995:Emerald Gaming buys Harolds Club from The Fitzgeralds Group.

March 31, 1995:Harolds Club closes with the plans to reopen as Harolds

Club Down Under.

March 31, 1997:Harolds Club reopens for four hours with special Nevada

Gaming Control Board per mission so it doesn't lose its gaming license.

1999: Harrah's buys Harolds Club.