 Photo from the Mark Englebretson Collection |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 4 |
) Audrey Welshans Grade 3 |
) Don Boyer Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Audrey Welshans Grade 2 |
) Jim Green Grade 2 |
) Jim Green Grade 2 |
) Jim Green Grade 2 |
) Michael Richter Grade 2 |
) Michael Richter Grade 2 |
) Michael Richter Grade 2 |
) Michael Richter Grade 2 |
) Jim Rauzy Grade 2 |
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In 1929 John Kell Houssels moved from California to Las Vegas. He paid $6000 dollars for a third interest in Smoke Shop, at 21-23 Fremont Street and renamed it the Las Vegas Club. When gambling was legalized in 1931 he and his partners J. F. Hordon and A.F. Gillmore were among the first to recieve a license for their club. They remodeled their club to accomodate slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, keno and poker. In 1949 The Las Vegas Club moved across the street to occupy a part of the Overland Hotel Building. They still occupy that location though it has under went many renovations and expansions. 21-23 Fremont Street 1931-1949: In 1930 the Las Vegas Club opened at 21-23 Fremont Street as a “smokeshop”. In 1931, when gambling was legalized they received one of the first Las Vegas gaming licenses. Joe Morgan and Mayme Stocker were among the first owners of the club, though there have been many different owners over the years. In 1940, the Las Vegas Club claimed to be the largest club in the world’s busiest little city. They offered roulette, 21, craps, racehorse keno, keno, faro bank, wheel of fortune, pan, poker, and direct wire to all major race tracks. In 1949 the Las Vegas Club moved across the street, to its present location. 18 Fremont Street 1949-present: Originally opened in 1931, the Las Vegas Club has undergone several ownership changes over the years. In 1949 they moved from their original location to occupy part of the Overland Hotel building. As time passed, the Las Vegas Club expanded to fill the entire building. In 1961 Jackie Gaughan and Mel Exber bought the Las Vegas Club and made some changes which included adding two hotel towers. They added a large collection of sports memorabilia, and other sports-theme items such as bleachers in the sports book and “spectator” murals on the walls. On a personal note, this is the first casino where I hit 2 royal flushes on the same day! And it was the day we got married! And they gave us a suite for the night…it was huge, had a Jacuzzi, and whatta’ view of the city! The comp policy has changed, because of new owners, but back then if you hit the top jackpot on any machine they gave you a “gold” comp that covered dinner for two at the Great Moments Room. It included drinks, appetizers, dinner and dessert. We used one of the comps, but I saved the other as a wedding day memento. |
First published in the Casino Chip and Token News Magazine, Volume 22, Number 4 in 2009. Casino Chip and Tokens News is the official publication of The Casino Chip and Gaming Token Collectors Club, Inc. Special Permission was granted to reprint this information. All rights are reserved by the CCGTCC. If interested in joining this fascinating collecting field and receiving the clubs award winning magazine, go to www.ccgtcc.com and select membership. |