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1240 |
GALVESTON ILLEGAL CASINO GAMBLING POKER CHIP
This is a $25.00 chip, with radial diamond (Jack Todd) mold and hot-stamped lettering, from the Studio Lounge of the Turf Athletic Club. The chip is a dark purple color and in MINT condition. The Turf Athletic Club Studio Lounge was located on the fourth floor of the Turf Grill Building, 2214 Market Street on Galveston Island. The Studio Lounge offered craps and blackjack and liquor by the drink, all illegal and all run openly during the gambling days of the Maceo Syndicate. The public was well aware of the illegal gambling activities as well as the local police force and court system. Gigilo Maceo sponsored ladies' society fashion shows in the Studio Lounge every other Friday afternoon during the late 1940s. |
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1242 |
GALVESTON $1 GRAY TAC, BALINESE ROOM
This $1.00 light gray (or tan) chip is from the Turf Athletic Club Balinese Room. It has the radial diamond (Jack Todd) mold with hot-stamped lettering. It is in excellent condition. The Balinese Room was a gambling casino located on a pier that extended into the Gulf on Galveston Island. Run by the Maceos and Fertittas, the Balinese was a luxurious night club with first class entertainment by big band orchestras. The long breezeway out to the main rooms made the Balinese nearly "raid-proof," and was known as "Ranger Run" because even the fastest Texas Ranger could not get to the gaming tables before they were converted to pool and bridge tables during a raid. |
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1244 |
DICKINSON SOCIAL CLUB, TAN $1.00 CHIP
Tan $1.00 chip from the Dickinson Social Club. It has $1.00 on one side and "EE" on the other side. The squares-in-circle mold with hot-stamped lettering is charactistic of many of the illegal Galveston clubs of the 1940s and 1950s. It is in very good condition. The "EE" stands for the Emmite brothers, Sam and Carlos, who operated the Dickinson Social Club. It was also known as the D and S. The gambling club was located on Farm to Market Road 417 in Dickinson, Texas, a part of Galveston County on the "mainland." Partners in the club were Vic and Anthony Fertitta and the Salvato brothers, Joe, Pete and Mike. |
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1245 |
GALVESTON DICKINSON SOCIAL CLUB, YELLOW CHIP
This yellow or gold $1.00 chip is from the Dickinson Social Club. It has $1.00 on one side and "EE" on the other side. The squares-in-circle mold with hot-stamped lettering is charactistic of many of the illegal Galveston clubs of the 1940s and 1950s. It is in very good condition but does show use. The "EE" stands for the Emmite brothers, Sam and Carlos, who operated the Dickinson Social Club. It was also known as the D and S. The gambling club was located on Farm to Market Road 417 in Dickinson, Texas, a part of Galveston County on the "mainland." Partners in the club were Vic and Anthony Fertitta and the Salvato brothers, Joe, Pete and Mike. |
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598 |
$25 EDGEWATER CHIP, TEXAS
This is an important chip for your collection because there are not many $25 Edgewater's available. The other important Edgewater Club chip is the $100. This is a Jack Todd made chip (made in Kansas City) with the circle of diamonds. The chip was made in 1940 - 1954. It is a light terra cotta color and has the denomination on one side in gold letters and Edgewater Lounge on the other side. The Edgewater Lounge was owned by Anthony Fritta and was located at the entrance to Clear Lake from the Houston ship channel through Kemah. The chip measures 1-9/16 inches in diameter and is 1/8 inch thick. It is in excellent condition and has excellent color. This and the $100 Edgewater (which is black) are a must for any good Texas collection. |
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610 |
BALINESE ROOM $100 (GRAY) GAMBLING CHIP
This crest and seal chip is from the illegal casino called the Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas. The chip is in excellent condition. It measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter. This chip ranks in the top 10 of Galveston chips and is a must for any Texas collection. The infamous Balinese Room was perhaps the most exotic of all 1940-1950s casinos on the Gulf Coast. Galveston Island's "B-Room" was the jewel in the crown of the Maceo syndicate's illegal gambling empire. Like the Sui Jen before her, the B-room sat on a pier at 21st and Seawall Blvd. in the Gulf of Mexico. These quality, superbly-crafted crest and seal chips from our collection are featured on the front cover of Gaming Times magazine, November issue. They were present on the gaming tables of the casino when such famous headliners such as Sophie Tucker, Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris, Gene Autry, Joe E. Lewis, and Jack Benny played the B-Room. The length of the long breezeway that led to the club out on the pier was known as "Ranger Run." During a raid, the buzzer sounded in the gaming room out above the gulf waves, and chips, cards, dice, and slot machines were stowed away in a walk-in safe in less than two minutes before the fastest running Rangers could reach the gaming room. Often the band struck up the University of Texas alma mater, "The Eyes of Texas," and patriotic Texas casino guests rose to their feet in the restaurant while Rangers attempted to force their way through the crowd. According to one former Maceo employee, the B-Room was raided on 64 consecutive nights without a single bust. |
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611 |
CREST & SEAL BALINESE ROOM, RED $100
This crest and seal chip is from the illegal casino the Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas. The chip is in excellent condition. It measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter. This chip ranks in the top 10 of Galveston chips and is a must for any Texas collection. The infamous Balinese Room was perhaps the most exotic of all 1940-1950s casinos on the Gulf Coast. Galveston Island's "B-Room" was the jewel in the crown of the Maceo syndicate's illegal gambling empire. Like the Sui Jen before her, the B-room sat on a pier at 21st and Seawall Blvd. in the Gulf of Mexico. These quality, superbly-crafted crest and seal chips from our collection are featured on the front cover of Gaming Times magazine, November issue. They were present on the gaming tables of the casino when such famous headliners such as Sophie Tucker, Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris, Gene Autry, Joe E. Lewis, and Jack Benny played the B-Room. The length of the long breezeway that led to the club out on the pier was known as "Ranger Run." During a raid, the buzzer sounded in the gaming room out above the gulf waves, and chips, cards, dice, and slot machines were stowed away in a walk-in safe in less than two minutes before the fastest running Rangers could reach the gaming room. Often the band struck up the University of Texas alma mater, "The Eyes of Texas," and patriotic Texas casino guests rose to their feet in the restaurant while Rangers attempted to force their way through the crowd. According to one former Maceo employee, the B-Room was raided on 64 consecutive nights without a single bust. |
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612 |
GALVESTON HOLLYWOOD DINNER CLUB CHIP
This beautiful crest and seal chip is from the Hollywood Dinner Club in Galveston, Texas. It is an exceptional find and ranks easily in the Top 10 of Galveston chips. It is in excellent condition and a must for any Texas collection. The chip measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter and has the ribbed edge. The most exclusive speakeasy in the country at the time, the Hollywood Dinner Club was one of the first in the country to have air conditioning (called refrigerated air in the early days). The Maceo brothers and Jakie Friedman opened the Hollywood Dinner Club in 1926 at Stewart Road and 61st St. on Galveston Island. The first big band radio broadcasts originated there, featuring Guy Lombardo, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, and Spike Jones. This high-quality crest and seal $100 chip passed on the green felt of illegal craps and blackjack tables, bet by rich tourists and even richer oil and cattlemen from Dallas and Houston. This is one of many Galveston illegal chips from our collection showcased on the front cover of the November issue of Gaming Times magazine. When Prohibition ended in 1933 and drinking was legalized, the illegal gambling at the HDC continued as strong as ever until 1939 when the Texas Rangers padlocked the doors. The Maceos continued to use the HDC as a warehouse for illegal gaming paraphernalia for their newer Turf Athletic Club (TAC) gaming empire. The HDC was raided one last time in 1957 during the Texas Rangers' "mother of all raids." |
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613 |
TEXAS CREST AND SEAL GAMBLING CHIP, SUI JEN
In our opinion, this chip ranks in the Top Two of Galveston chips. Not only is it highly collectible, but it should bring the most money. This crest and seal chip is in excellent condition and is a must for any Texas collection. The chip measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter and has a smooth edge. This red dragon $100 crest and seal chip is one of the major keys to Galveston chip collecting, and is one of the many Galveston illegal chips from our collection featured on the front cover of the November issue of Gaming Times magazine. When the prohibition amendment was passed into law in 1920, the Maceo brothers, Rose and Sam, started "rum running" from offshore ships and soon had enough money to open a restaurant and speakeasy club on a pier at 21st and Seawall Blvd. called the Chop Suey, later renamed the Grotto. Closed in 1929 for illegal gambling violations, and then damaged by a storm, it was remodeled as the Sui Jen opening in 1932. (Sui Jen is pronounced Swee, as in "sweet" and wren, like the bird.). While the meaning of the name long has been debated, according to Trinity University Professor Dr. Meng Yeh, the Chinese translation stands for a Confuscius saying, "Follow Benevolence." Ironically, English kings used the word benevolence to describe mandatory land taxes. After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Maceos closed the Sui Jen's Tokio Ballroom, removing the oriental decor and remodeled the club as the infamous Balinese Room. |
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614 |
$500 BALINESE ROOM CREST AND SEAL CHIP
This is a $500 denomination crest and seal chip from the Balinese Room, an illegal casino in Galveston, Texas, in the 1940s - 1950s. The chip is in excellent condition and measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. This chip ranks in the top 10 of Galveston chips and is a must for any Texas collection. The infamous Balinese Room was perhaps the most exotic of all 1940-1950s casinos on the Gulf Coast. Galveston Island's "B-Room" was the jewel in the crown of the Maceo syndicate's illegal gambling empire. Like the Sui Jen before her, the B-room sat on a pier at 21st and Seawall Blvd. in the Gulf of Mexico. These quality, superbly-crafted crest and seal chips from our collection are featured on the front cover of Gaming Times magazine, November issue. They were present on the gaming tables of the casino when such famous headliners such as Sophie Tucker, Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Phil Harris, Gene Autry, Joe E. Lewis, and Jack Benny played the B-Room. The length of the long breezeway that led to the club out on the pier was known as "Ranger Run." During a raid, the buzzer sounded in the gaming room out above the gulf waves, and chips, cards, dice, and slot machines were stowed away in a walk-in safe in less than two minutes before the fastest running Rangers could reach the gaming room. Often the band struck up the University of Texas alma mater, "The Eyes of Texas," and patriotic Texas casino guests rose to their feet in the restaurant while Rangers attempted to force their way through the crowd. According to one former Maceo employee, the B-Room was raided on 64 consecutive nights without a single bust. |
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TX4003 |
BLACK $25 WESTERN ROOM CHIP, TAC, GALVESTON
This black $25 chip is from the Western Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. Sam and Rose Maceo ran the Western Room on the third floor of the Turf Grill Building in downtown Galveston during the 1940s and 1950s. Illegal gambling was openly conducted with very little interference from law enforcement officials that were paid-off. The Western Room was the gambling home away from home for wealthy oil and cattle men from Houston, Dallas, and surrounding Texas cities. It was not unusual for a well-heeled cowboy to drop $10,000 on one roll of the dice at the craps table. The chip was made in the Mason mold with gold, hot-stamped lettering in the center. It is in excellent condition. |
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TX2001 |
ORANGE TAC BALINESE ROOM CHIP,GALVESTON
This $5.00 orange chip is from the Turf Athletic Club Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas. The hearts and squares mold is a rare Jones mold that was only used on a few of the chips for the illegal casinos in Galveston. The hot-stamped lettering is charactistic of the chips for these clubs of the 1940s and 1950s. This chip is in excellent condition. The Balinese Room was a gambling casino located on a pier that extended into the Gulf on Galveston Island. Run by the Maceos and Fertittas, the Balinese was a luxurious night club with first class entertainment by big band orchestras. The long breezeway out to the main rooms made the Balinese nearly "raid-proof," and was known as "Ranger Run" because even the fastest Texas Ranger could not get to the gaming tables before they were converted to pool and bridge tables during a raid. |
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TX4001 |
$1 TAC WESTERN ROOM CHIP, GALVESTON
This $1 chip is from the Western Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. Sam and Rose Maceo ran the Western Room on the third floor of the Turf Grill Building in downtown Galveston during the 1940s and 1950s. Illegal gambling was openly conducted with very little interference from law enforcement officials that were paid-off. The Western Room was the gambling home away from home for wealthy oil and cattle men from Houston, Dallas, and surrounding Texas cities. It was not unusual for a well-heeled cowboy to drop $10,000 on one roll of the dice at the craps table. The chip was made in the reverse T mold (distributed by Taylor & Co., Chicago) with four green inserts and hot-stamped lettering in the center. It is in excellent condition. |
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TX2527 |
TURF ATHLETIC CLUB, GALVESTON, BLUE $25 CHIP
This is a $25.00 chip, with squares in circle mold and hot-stamped lettering, from the Balinese Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. The chip is blue and in very good condition. The Balinese Room was a gambling casino located on a pier that extended into the Gulf on Galveston, Island. Run by the Maceos and Fertittas, the Balinese was a luxurious night club with first class entertainment by bid band orchestras. The long breezeway out to the main rooms made the Balinese nearly "raid-proof", and was known as "Ranger Run" because even the fastest Texas Ranger could not get to the gaming tables before they were converted to pool and bridge tables during a raid. We have a large collection of chips from the illegal casinos of Galveston - some of which we are selling on Ebay. Contact us about any particular chips you may be missing from your collection. |
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GA3002 |
RARE BLACK EDGEWATER CHIP, GALVESTON TX
This is an important chip for your collection. There are very few $100 Edgewater's available. I believe I am the only person who has had this $100 chip for sale. This is a Jack Todd made chip (made in Kansas City) with the circle of diamonds. The chip was made in 1940 - 1954. It is black with gold lettering. It has the denomination on one side and Edgewater Lounge on the other side. The Edgewater Lounge was owned by Anthony Fritta and was located at the entrance to Clear Lake from the Houston ship channel through Kemah. The chip measures 1-9/16 inches in diameter and is 1/8 inch thick. It is in excellent condition and has excellent color. This and the $40 Edgewater are a must for any good Texas collection. |
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TX4016 |
GALVESTON, TX ILLEGAL CASINO, WESTERN ROOM
This 25 cent chip is from the Western Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. The chip was made in the radian diamond mold with hot-stamped lettering. It is in very good condition. Sam and Rose Maceo ran the Western Room on the third floor of the Turf Grill Building in downtown Galveston during the 1940s and 1950s. Illegal gambling was openly conducted with very little interference from law enforcement officials that were paid-off. The Western Room was the gambling home away from home for wealthy oil and cattle men from Houston, Dallas, and surrounding Texas cities. It was not unusual for a well-heeled cowboy to drop $10,000 on one roll of the dice at the craps table. |
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TX4002 |
TAN $1 TAC WESTERN ROOM CHIP, GALVESTON
This $1 chip is from the Western Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. Sam and Rose Maceo ran the Western Room on the third floor of the Turf Grill Building in downtown Galveston during the 1940s and 1950s. Illegal gambling was openly conducted with very little interference from law enforcement officials that were paid-off. The Western Room was the gambling home away from home for wealthy oil and cattle men from Houston, Dallas, and surrounding Texas cities. It was not unusual for a well-heeled cowboy to drop $10,000 on one roll of the dice at the craps table. Mason mold. The chip is in excellent condition. |
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TX3528 |
BLACK TAC-BR $25 CHIP
This is a black, $25.00 chip, with small Greek key mold and hot-stamped lettering, from the Balinese Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. The chip is in very good condition. The Balinese Room was a gambling casino located on a pier that extended into the Gulf on Galveston, Island. Run by the Maceos and Fertittas, the Balinese was a luxurious night club with first class entertainment by bid band orchestras. The long breezeway out to the main rooms made the Balinese nearly "raid-proof", and was known as "Ranger Run" because even the fastest Texas Ranger could not get to the gaming tables before they were converted to pool and bridge tables during a raid. We have a large collection of chips from the illegal casinos of Galveston - some of which we are selling on Ebay. Contact us about any particular chips you may be missing from your collection. |
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TX2529 |
BEIGE TAC-BR $1 CHIP
this beige, $25.00 chip, with radial diamond (Jack Todd) mold and hot-stamped lettering, is from the Balinese Room of the Turf Athletic Club in Galveston, Texas. The chip is in excellent, near-mint condition. The Balinese Room was a gambling casino located on a pier that extended into the Gulf on Galveston, Island. Run by the Maceos and Fertittas, the Balinese was a luxurious night club with first class entertainment by bid band orchestras. The long breezeway out to the main rooms made the Balinese nearly "raid-proof";, and was known as "Ranger Run" because even the fastest Texas Ranger could not get to the gaming tables before they were converted to pool and bridge tables during a raid. We have a large collection of chips from the illegal casinos of Galveston - some of which we are selling on Ebay. Contact us about any particular chips you may be missing from your collection. |
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646 |
VICTORIAN PAPIER MACHE SPECTACLE CASE
This is a wonderful Victorian papier mache, oblong-shaped spectacle/eyeglass case. It is 6-1/2 inches x 1-1/2 inches. It has a hinged opening (on back)for removing and inserting the eyeglasses. It has an ornate abalone design inlaid around the edge of the case. There is some enamel worn off the back (which I think is visible in the picture) and around the edge on the front and some crazing. The abalone inlay is in excellent condition. This is a great item for collectors. |
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