Reno–Nevada

California Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Extortion Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Washoe County Commission (NV) Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Harrah's (Reno, NV) It Really Happened John Ascuaga Nugget Motor Lodge / Dick Graves' Nugget / John Ascuaga's Nugget (Sparks, NV) Reno--Nevada Sparks--Nevada United States

Pay Up Or Blow Up — Reno/Sparks

1970-1971 In the summer of 1970, a package and suitcase found in a Sparks Nugget motor lodge room in Nevada with a note affixed saying to please deliver the items to Nugget owner John Ascuaga’s…

Advertisements Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club Fronts / Workers / Bookmakers / Dealers Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Las Vegas Strip / S. Las Vegas Boulevard Las Vegas--Nevada Reno--Nevada

Men Please Do Not Apply

1937-1970 Card dealing was a male-dominated profession in Nevada’s casinos until 1937, when Harolds Club, in Reno, put the first woman at a 21 table to deal. Co-owner Harold Smith previously had been hiring women,…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Bombings Did You Know? Harrah's (Reno, NV) Quick Facts Reno--Nevada

Quick Fact - Gutsy Granny

1972 A 71-year-old, wheelchair-bound, California grandmother, Susan Ellyn Reid, who had a long rap sheet and various aliases, entered Harrahs Club in Reno, Nevada in July carrying a box. She gave casino personnel a typed…

Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations: NV Anti-Lottery Law Games / Races: Lotteries/Sweepstakes It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Opportunity Club (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada

The Chain Letter Of The Law

1935 Although it was a Ponzi scheme, its lure of big money was too strong for many Renoites to resist. One chain letter business, the Opportunity Club, popped up overnight as part of the nationwide…

Did You Know? Gambling Games / Races: Chuck-a-luck Games / Races: Fantan Games / Races: Faro Games / Races: Poker Games / Races: Red-and-black Games / Races: Rondo Games / Races: Rouge-et-noir Quick Facts Reno--Nevada

Quick Fact - Gambling Feast

1887 A newspaper blurb touting the availability of gambling in Reno, Nevada titled, A Feast for the Gamblers, read: “Those who delight in gambling sports can be accommodated in Reno … no less than thirty-one…

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Suicide Divorce / Annulment Gambling Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack It Really Happened John Steinbeck Newell Benningfield Reno--Nevada West Indies Club (Reno, NV)

Mrs. John Steinbeck's Tale of Woe

1948-1950 Tragedy struck when the wife of famed American novelist, John Steinbeck, was in Reno, Nevada for a quickie divorce from him after 5½ years of marriage. In 1948, while establishing residency in The Biggest…

Casino: Financings: Reno Arch Club Primadonna (Reno, NV) Colony Club (Reno, NV) Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Horseshoe Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Nevada Club (Las Vegas, NV) Poor Pete's (Reno, NV) Reno--Nevada

Out With The Passé

1926-present By 1963, major casino owners in Reno, Nevada thought the downtown fixture was outdated and ugly compared to their modern buildings on Virginia Street. They even offered to pay for it and its maintenance…

Bluebell Girls Dunes (Las Vegas, NV) El Rancho Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) Entertainment Golden Hotel (Reno, NV) Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Gaming Commission It Really Happened Las Vegas Strip / S. Las Vegas Boulevard Law Enforcement / Judicial System: NV Attorney General Roger Foley Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Grant Sawyer Reno--Nevada Riverside Hotel (Reno, NV) Stardust (Las Vegas, NV)

Bare Bosom Brouhaha

1958-1961 The debut of topless showgirls in Las Vegas roused disapproval — not surprising given it occurred early in the Leave it to Beaver era. The Stardust was the first to abandon bras and tops,…

Belle Livingstone Belle Livingstone George Wingfield It Really Happened James "Jim/Cinch" C. McKay Nathan "Nick" Abelman Prohibition Reno--Nevada The Cowshed (Reno, NV) William "Bill/Curly" J. Graham

Livingstone Taunts Mob With Cowshed

1931 Belle Livingstone wasn’t the typical Nevada gambling club owner. She’d acted on the stage and screen in the 1890s. She’d mingled with royalty and wealth in Europe and the United States. During Prohibition, she’d…

Dennis Day Entertainment It Really Happened Myrton "Mert" C. Wertheimer Publicity Stunts / Promotions / Advertisements Reno--Nevada Riverside Hotel (Reno, NV)

Now, That's A Publicity Stunt

1951 The Irish tenor, Dennis Day, was about to begin a singing engagement at the downtown Riverside hotel-casino in Reno, Nevada in the summer of 1951. Day is known for his appearances on the Jack…

Games / Races: Panguingue Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Lawsuit Nevada Club (Las Vegas, NV) Reno--Nevada

Upsy-Daisy: Negligence Or Greed?

1953-1954 When customer Mrs. Curt Whitney entered the Nevada Club at 3 a.m. on a Sunday in May 1953, her shoe allegedly got caught in a hole in the floor, and she fell. More than…

Did You Know? Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada

Quick Fact - Harolds Warning

Harolds Club, a casino that debuted in Reno, Nevada in 1935, displayed signs on its property that read: “No one can win all the time. Harolds Club advises you to risk only what you can…

Casino, Gambling Saloon, Card Club, Slot Route Owners / Operators / Licensees / Gamblers Colombo Hotel (Reno, NV) Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Shooting It Really Happened Reno--Nevada

Bad Blood Between Casino Dealers

1935 Police discovered John S. Parks, a 67 year old, carrying a loaded Colt 45 automatic on a downtown Reno, Nevada street around midnight on a July Monday. With blood streaming from his nose and…

Cosmo Club (Reno, NV) Ethnic Groups: African Americans Ethnic Groups: Asians Gambling Gambling Laws / Regulations: NV Civil Rights Act Harlem Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Las Vegas--Nevada Moulin Rouge (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada New China Club (Reno, NV) Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Grant Sawyer Reno--Nevada