Mapes Archives

Casino History Casino: Openings Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Gambling Did You Know? Gambling History Games / Races Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Mapes (Reno, NV) Nevada Quick Facts Reno--Nevada United States

Quick Fact - Gambling at Both Ends

1947 When the luxurious 12-story Mapes hotel opened in Reno, Nevada on Saturday, December 27, 1947, it boasted two casinos. One was on the river side of the main level, the other in the southwest…

Casino History Casino: Openings Casino: Shutdowns Gambling Gambling History Gambling License Games / Races Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History Harold S. Smith, Sr. Harolds Club (Reno, NV) Harolds Trapshooting Club (Spanish Springs, NV) It Really Happened Jabberwock Gun Club (Spanish Springs, NV) Nevada Raymond "Pappy" I. Smith Raymond A. Smith Spanish Springs--Nevada United States

Double The Pleasure, Double The Fun

1949-1979 Harolds wasn’t the only Northern Nevada club with gambling that the Smiths owned for decades. In 1950, the renowned gambling family purchased Jabberwock Gun Club, located on the Pyramid Lake Highway in what today…

Architects Architects: Thomas E. Hull Artists / Designers Artists / Designers: Tom Douglas Barn Club (Reno, NV) Bonanza Club (Reno, NV) Casino History Casino: Openings Chesterfield Syndicate (Detroit, MI) Desert Inn (Las Vegas, NV) El Rancho Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) Frank "The Prime Minister" Costello Gambling Gambling History Games / Races: 21 / Blackjack Games / Races: Big Six Games / Races: Craps Games / Races: Roulette Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities Gaming History International Casino (Havana, Cuba) Louis "Lou" Wertheimer Mapes (Reno, NV) Mobsters / Gangsters / Syndicate Members (Alleged) / Organizations Moe Dalitz Monte Carlo (Las Vegas, NV) Nevada Reno--Nevada Riverside Hotel (Reno, NV) Tropicana (Havana, Cuba) United States Wilbur Clark

Mobbed Up Casino Opens in The Biggest Little City

1944 The debut of the Bonanza Club* on October 3, 1944 in Reno, Nevada, was doubly significant. Formerly the Barn Club, the new casino was regarded as one of, if not, the finest in the…

Bay Meadows Racetrack (San Mateo, CA) California Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling Gambling History Gambling: Spree Gaming History It Really Happened Mapes (Reno, NV) Military Nevada New Orleans--Louisiana Reno--Nevada San Francisco--California United States

Man and Money Gone

1951 Chief Warrant Officer Marcus Gordon Oliver, paymaster at the U.S. Naval Station Treasure Island, complained of feeling ill and left work early on Friday, April 13. The following Monday and Tuesday, he didn’t show…

Casino History Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Drugs / Narcotics: Sales Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Drugs / Narcotics: Trafficking Drugs / Narcotics Ernest "Ole" C. Olson Eugene "Rosy" Bastida Gambling History Gambling License Gaming History Governing / Regulatory Bodies: Nevada Tax Commission It Really Happened Lake Tahoe--Nevada Law Enforcement / Judicial System: Douglas County Sheriff's Office--Nevada Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary (Leavenworth, KS) Nevada Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV) Salvatore "Tar Baby" Orester Terrano Ships Ships: USS Chaumont Stateline--Nevada Twin States (Stateline, NV) United States Waxey Gordon / Irving Wexler

Conviction Schmiction, Here's a Gambling License

1930s-1952 Salvatore “Tar Baby” Orester Terrano is one of numerous criminals whom Nevada gambling regulators approved to own a casino in the state. In May 1947, the tax commission granted the Northern Californian, then 43,…

Casino History Charles Mapes Events: Daylight Saving Time Gambling History Gambling: Revenue Gaming History Harolds Club (Reno, NV) It Really Happened Mapes (Reno, NV) Nevada Politicians / Politics: NV Governor Vail Pittman Raymond "Pappy" I. Smith United States

Gamblers Oppose Daylight Saving Time

1949 Casino owners balked when the question of going on daylight saving time (DST) arose in Nevada in 1949. Gamblers’ Outcries Charles Mapes, owner of the Mapes hotel-casino in Reno, made a few arguments: •…

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…