Photo from the Mark Englebretson Collection
Benny Binion on Opening Night of The Westerner, May 6, 1950
Photo from the Rick Olsen Collection
| Westerner Club |
| 21-23 Fremont Street |
| 1950 - 1960 |
Photo from the Mark Englebretson Collection |
Benny Binion on Opening Night of The Westerner, May 6, 1950 Photo from the Rick Olsen Collection |
) Frank Lonteen Grade 3 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Bill Miller Grade 2 |
) Bill Miller Grade 2 |
) Paul Gregory Grade 2 |
) Bill Miller Grade 2 |
) Eric Mensch Grade 2 |
) Eric Mensch Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
) Mark Englebretson Grade 2 |
| In 1950 Texan Benny Binyon opened The Westerner at the location previously occupied by the Las Vegas Club. Wait a minute…”Binyon”? I thought Benny B’s name was Binion? Well, it was! Though he never attended school, no one could say that Benny Binion was dumb, his education came from the streets. He knew that he needed a license to operate a casino in Las Vegas. He also knew that applying for a license meant there’d be a background check. He also knew that he had a murder conviction in his background (2 year suspended sentence, the victim had a very bad reputation). Benny “Binyon” didn’t have a record. In 1951 Benny sold The Westerner to Emilio Giorgetti, who retained ownership until 1954. Benny moved across the street and down a block to open his famous Horseshoe Casino. |
| First published in the Casino Chip and Token News Magazine, Volume 19, Fall 2006 issue. 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. |