30 Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 3

A BriefGambling History

By Ed Hertel #R-2402

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The resort town of Saratoga

Springs, New York, has a long

and extraordinary history.

From its humble beginnings

as a destination for wealthy

gentlemen to its days as a

refuge for organized crime, this

once sleepy town matured into

a haven for illegal gambling.

Its twisted history, and all the

players, is still being uncovered.

Part OneThe Setting

SaratogaSpringsbecamefamousintheearly1800swhennaturalspringsgushedforthcrystalclearmineral-richwater.Thenativeshadbeenusingthecarbonatedwaterformedicinalandrefreshmentpurposesforhundredsofyears,butitwouldtaketheEuropeansettlerstoturnitintoacommercialcommodityandservice.

ThousandsofpeopleflockedtoSaratogaSpringseachsummertopartakeintheevergrowingindustryofspas.

Thereportsofmiraclehealingbroughtthehopefulandcuriousineverincreasingnumbers.

Thisinfluxoftourismmoneycausedthedevelopmentofnewindustriestoentertainthecrowds.Nolongerwasthecommunitysupportingthemselves,theywerenowprovidingservicestothousandsofvacationingpatrons.Aswithmostareaswithaswellingoftourists,businessesstartedcateringtotheireveryneed–bothlegalandnot.Onesuchtradethatfoundanenthusiasticaudiencewasgambling.

MostofthegamblinginSaratogaduringtheearly1820swasconfinedtogentlemenenjoyingtheturnofthecardsinthefineestablishmentsliketheUnitedStatesHotel.Oncethewomenretiredtotheirrooms,themenwouldtakeupagameinoneofthemeetingroomssetasideforsuchlatenightrecreation.Thegameswerenormallyunorganizedandthehousehadnotakeintheaction.

Duringthelate1830s,anewformofgamblingemergedinSaratoga.Thedayofthehouseofferingspace,butnocutoftheproceeds,wasquicklydisappearing.Areabowlingalleysandbilliardhallsstartedinstallingchuck-a-luckgamesandfarotablesfortheirpatrons.Thesportingatmosphereoftheseplacesmadethemaperfectfitforgambling,andprofitsfromthesesidegamesgrew.In1842,amannamedBenScribneropenedthefirsthouseinSaratogawiththeexclusivepurposeofofferinggambling.LocatednexttotheUnitedStatesHotelforeasyaccesstovisitingpatrons,Scribner’splacewaspopular,butsmallwithamodestatmosphere.Itdidnotlastlongasthewealthytourists,whowereusedtotheextravaganceofplaceslikeMonteCarlo,demandedmore.

Part TwoThe Club House

TheopeningoftheClubHousein1869wouldchangethefutureofthetownofSaratogaSpringsandtransformtheindustryofgamblingandentertainmentinthisoncesleepytown.ThetimewasrightforanambitiousandintelligentgamblertobringSaratogatothenextlevel-andthatmanwasJohnMorrissey.

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The John Morrissey years Bornin1831inIrelandanduprootedtoAmericaattheageofthree,JohnMorrisseywasdestinedtohavealiferevolvedaroundgambling.Thissonofagamecockbreederlearnedearlythatsurvivalonthestreetswasgainedfromatoughexterior,intelligenceandmoney.

Morrisseyneverhadmuchtimeforschool,andinsteadreliedonhistimeworkinginbarsandgamblinghousesforhiseducation.Bytheageof22,JohnMorrisseyhadtraveledtoCaliforniainsearchofgold,openedafewfarohouses,andeventooktimeouttobecomethe1853AmericanBoxingChampion.

Morrissey’sretirementandwanderingseventuallyledhimbackintothegamblingbusiness.WiththehelpofhispartnerMattDanser,aprofessionalgambler,heopenedhisfirstNewYorkCitycasino.ThisplacewaslocatedonthecornerofBroadwayandGreatJonesStreetandwasaninstantsuccess.Businesswassogoodthatitdidnottakehimlongtoopenasecondplaceat12AnnStreet.Inthenextcoupleofyears,Morrisseywouldamassgreatwealthandquicklyexpandedhiscasinostoincludethreemorepopulargamblinghouses.

AfterconqueringNewYorkCity,MorrisseyturnedhisattentiontotheresorttownofSaratogaSprings.Hebroughtwithhimtheknowledgeandexpertiseofarealgamblingmanagerandturnedthetownonitsear.

Hisfirstventurewasasmall,butinstantlysuccessfulgamblinghouseonMatildaStreet(nowWoodlawnAvenue).Morrissey’sshowmanshipandelegancefar

outweighedthedirtypoolhallsandbackalleybars.Thishoweverwasjustthebeginning.

Believingthatgamblingwasaneveningsport,JohnMorrisseysetouttobuildadaytimeactivitytodrawinthecrowds.HeintroducedhorseracingtoSaratogawiththeconstructionoftheHorseHaventrackin1862whichwouldbequicklyreplacedbyalargertrackacrossthestreetthenextyear.ItsconstructionwassopreciseandenduringthatitremainsastheoldesttrackinAmericastillinusetoday.

Morrissey’svisionofgamblinggrandeurwouldbeachievedin1867whenconstructionbeganonhisfamousgamblinghouse.Originallyslatedas“theCasino”,thenamewaschangedtotheClubHousebyopeningday.Noexpensewassparedinitsconstruction.Chandeliers,statues,brassandbeautifullycraftedwooddecoratedthe

opulentbuilding.Aftertwoyearsofconstructionatacostof$190,000,theClubHousewasreadyforbusiness.

Whenthedoorsopened,patronsweregreetedbyemployeesinwhitecoatswhooffereddrinksandinstructionsonwheretogo.Thegroundfloorwasopentothepublicandofferedfaroandroulette.Thesecondfloorwasmuchmorediscriminatingandwasonlyaccessibletopokerplayersandhighrollers.

AlthoughtheClubHousewasimmenselypopularwiththepublic,therewerethoseforbiddenfromgambling.Thefirstwasthelocalpublic.TryingtostayinfavorwiththeSaratogacitizens,JohnMorrisseymadeitapointnottotakemoneyfromthelocals.Heofferedthemjobsandgave

John Morrissey’s “The Club House”

Casino Chip and Token news | Volume 22 Number 3 33

heavilytothelocalcharitiesandbusinesses,butwassternlyagainsttakingtheirbets.

Alsodeniedgamblingrightswerewomen.Morrisseythoughtgamblingwasagentleman’ssportandhadastrictruleofnotlettingwomenintothecasinoareas.Hetookthisrulesoseriouslythatwhenrumorswerecirculatingthatwomenweregamblinginhisclub,hewroteaneditorialintheSaratogiannewspaperin1871stating“Noladyhasevergambled,norwillevergambleinmyhouse.”Helateraddedthattheladieswerewelcometocomeinto“lookatthehouseandthefurniture.”

Thecasinodrewinallsortsofgamblers.ThosewhowerereportedtohavevisitedtheclubincludeAmericanpresidentsChesterA.ArthurandRutherfordB.Hayes,aswellasCivilWargeneralsGrant,ShermanandSheridan.TycoonswiththenamesVanderbiltandRockefellerwereenthusiasticallywelcomedfrequentpatrons.TheClubHousequicklybecamethemeetingplaceforthesocialandeconomicelite.

Despiteallthepraisefromthevacationingpatrons,therewasstillanairofdiscontentwhichseemstoalwaysrevolvearoundactivitiessuchasgambling.Oneofthefirstthreatstothelocalgamblinghousescamein1886whenAnthonyComstock,leaderofagroupcalledtheNewYorkSocietyfortheSuppressionofVice,startedgatheringevidenceagainsttheSaratogacasinos.Hisreportincludedtwentyplaceswheregamblingparaphernaliawasfound.Asashowofgoodfaith,theclubsandbarsclosedtheirgamingactivitiesforthedurationofComstock’sstay.Assoonashelefthowever,thecasinosreopenedwiththeaddedbusinessgeneratedfromthepublicity.

Othertemporaryshut-downsoccurredduringMorrissey’sreign;onein1895instigatedbyanotheractivistgroup,andtheotherin1903bythepolicecommissioner.Theseattemptsaccomplishedlittlemorethantodrivethegamestemporarilyundergroundandnoneweresuccessfulforanylengthoftime.SaratogaSpringswasreceivingallthefreeadvertisingitwantedfromsuchpapersastheNewYorkWorldwhichnamedSaratoga“OurWickedestResort”and“TheMonteCarloofAmerica.”

Inthefaceofallthisturmoil,theClubHousewascontinuallypopularandmadeJohnMorrisseyawealthy

man,butincreasinglybored.Growingtiredofthecasinobusiness,hefinallysoldthetitletotheClubHouseandtheracetrackandleftSaratogaforever.

Reed and Spencer interim: WhenJohnMorrisseysoldhisinterestintheClubHouseandtheracetrack,twopartnersnamedReedandSpencertookthedeal.

ReedandSpencerdidlittletorespectthegrandclassoftheClubHouse.Aperiodofdeclineensuedastheyfedoffthepublic,givinglittlebacktothehouseanditsupkeep.ReedgrewwearyofthesmalltownandsoldhisinteresttoSpencerwhothenownedtheclubandtrackoutright.

DuringSpencer’sreignastheSaratogagamblingking,theauthoritiesincreasedtheirpressureonhimtoclosedown.Ononeoccasion,thelocalpoliticalsceneorderedhimtoshutdownthegamblingintheClubHouse.Spencerflexedbackbythreateningtoclosedowntheracetrackinretaliation.Understandingtheramificationsontourismofsuchaction,theauthoritiesbackedoffandlethimcontinueunabated.

Duringthe1890s,SpencerliquidatedhisinterestsinSaratoga.Neverfeelingcomfortableinthetown,hequietlytookhisprofitsandleft.HesoldtheracetracktoaNewJerseytrackownerandtheClubHousetothefamousgamblerRichardCanfield.

The Richard Canfield years: Likehispredecessor,RichardCanfieldwouldbringbacktheclassandelegancetoSaratoga’sClubHouse.BornJune17,1855,inNewBedford,Massachusetts,Canfielddidnottakelongbeforehetoowasoutintherealworld,learningthetradeofgambling.

Attheageof18,hetookajobinalocalpokerroomtobuildupenoughmoneytomovetoNewYorkCity.There,heworkedat818BroadwayStreet(oneofMorrissey’sclubs)underthetutelageofFerdinandAbellandLucianoAbbleby,bothownersofvariousgamblingclubsinBrooklynandNewport,Kentucky.

In1888,CanfieldandhispartnerDavidDuffwereabletoopentheirownplacecalledMadisonSquareClubatNo23WestTwenty-sixthStreet.Thefirstflooroftheclubofferedfaroandroulettewithpokerdealtonthesecond.

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Thethirdandfourthfloorshadlivingquartersforhimandemployees.

HisgamblingempiregrewwhenheboughttheNautilusClubinNewport,Kentucky,fromhisformeremployerAbellin1897.Ayearlater,heexpandedfurtherwiththeNo5EForty-fourthStreetClubinNewYorkCitywhichheimmediatelyrenamedtheSaratogaClub.

ItwasduringatriptoMonacothatRichardCanfieldfinallyunderstoodthepotentialofhighclassgambling.TheeleganceofthecasinosandthedemureoftheclientelemadehimrealizejusthowpedestriantheAmericangamblingscenewasincomparison.Hereturnedtothestatesandstartedlookingforanewbaseofoperations.In1902,hisattentionwasdrawntoSaratogaSpringswhereheboughtthedeterioratingClubHouse(andlatertheracetrack).Hequicklystartedremodelingandbringingtheclubnotonlytoitsformerglory,butsurpassingit.

Hespentover$1milliononrenovatingtheClubHouseanditssurroundinggrounds.AnItaliangardenwasconstructedcompletewithelaboratefountainsandbeautifullandscaping.Insidetheclub,anartgallerywithpricelesspaintingswasgivenawing,withthecenterpieceaportraitofCanfieldpaintedbyJamesMcNeillWhistler(oftheWhistler’sMotherfame).Thekitchenwasremodeledandfamouschefswerebroughtintorunit.TheClubHouse’spatronswouldbeservedtheverybest,eventhoughitmeantlosingaround$70,000aseasononfood.Toaccompanytherestaurant,thewinecellarwasstockedwithrarevintagesatacostof$40,000.TheClubHousewouldbeCanfield’scrowningachievement.

Whenthecasinoopened,thetouristsflockedtoitlikethegoodolddays.ThesamerulesappliedconcerninglocalsnotgamblinganditwasstrictlyclosedonSundays.Heprovidedarichexperiencetohispatronsandonlyallowedcredittogamblerswhocouldaffordtolosemorethantheirwalletswouldcarry.

Itwasestimatedthataround$2,000,000waswageredeachdaywithintheClubHousewalls.Extraordinaryamountswerebetasthewealthiestofpatronstriedtheirluckandtookintheopulenceoftheirsurroundings.Thetablelimitswerehigh,wellexceedingtheallowableamountsinMonteCarlo.

StoriesoflegendarygamblingaboundfromtheClubHouseunderCanfield’sownership.Oneoftheclub’swealthiestpatronswasJohnW.“Bet-a-Million”Gates,aChicagobusinessmanwhoamassedafortunedealinginbarbedwire.Itwasreportedin1902thatGateslost$400,000inonedayatthetrack.Inordertomakesomeback,heturnedtothefarotablesattheClubHouseandproceededtowinback$150,000.Helefthappyonlynettingalossofaquarterofamilliondollars.

TheVanderbiltswerealsofrequentpatrons.CorneliusVanderbiltsufferedanepilepticseizurewhileplayingcards.Whenhereturnedtoconsciousness,heshooedawayanyhelpandimmediatelyreturnedtohisgame.WilliamVanderbilt,Cornelius’son,onenightwhilewaitingonhisladyfriendtoarrive,lost$130,000intenminutesattheClubHouse’stables.

Anythingwasbetasinonegame,agamblerwageredaRembrandtpaintingagainst$100,000.Largesumsofmoneyflowedbackandfortheveryday.RichardCanfieldwasableandwillingtomakethetruegambler’sdreamscometrue.Helovedwhathewasdoing,andwasbecomingrichfromit.

Theconstantflowofmoneyattractedthebestandworstinpeople.Topreventanypotentialproblems,CanfieldhiredamannamedPatrickMcDonaldtomanagetheClubHouse.Withhimcamesixprivateinvestigatorstohelpprotecttheclubfromcrooksandcheats.Thesemenwerebothvisibleandundercoveractingasbothadeterrentandpoliceforce.

Despiteallthemerrimentandfun,theattitudeinSaratogawasstartingtochange.TheauthoritieswereincreasinglegalpressureonCanfieldandtheothersmallgamblingdensintown.Inanefforttoapplypressureindirectly,policeraidedhisSaratogaClubinNewYorkCity.TheshockcausedhimtoclosethedoorstotheClubHouse,despiteprotestsfromhispatrons.

Tiredoftheconstantthreatsofraidsandhassles,RichardCanfieldsoldtheClubHousein1907tothecityofSaratogaSprings.Theclubwouldnolongerallowgamblingwithinitswallsasthecityconverteditintoamuseum.

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WithCanfield’sdepartureandthepermanentclosingoftheClubHouse,agreatchapterinSaratogagamblingpassedintohistory.

Part ThreeLake Houses and the Mob

AftertheClubHousecloseditsdoorstogamblingforthelasttime,atransformationtookoverthegamblingsceneinSaratogaSprings.Theconceptofserviceoverprofitbecamelostinthefranticcompetitionwhicharoseasdozensofplacesopenedtheirdoorstobetting.

Asthe1920scameroaringin,alooseattitudetowardthevicesinAmericatookhold.BacklashfromtheProhibitionexperimentwasstartingtogivepopularitytotheillegalspeakeasieswhichsprangupeverywhere.Saratogawasnoexception.

EvenwithouttheClubHouse,theracetrackcontinuedtooperate,drawinginthegamblers.Itwasnotlongbeforetheslackineveningentertainmentwouldbepickedupbythelocals.AfewoftheresorthousesonLakeSaratogaweretransformedintorestaurantswithgamblingdensinthebackandhistoricalbuildingsintownwereguttedtomakeroomforrouletteandpokertables.

In1921,oneofthemostnotoriousofgamblersdecidedtomakeSaratogahisnextventure.ArnoldRothstein,afterhavingvisitedSaratogaSpringsin1904,wassmittenbyitsbeautyandpotential.Agamblerbytrade,hisclaim-to-famewouldcomein1919asbeingthemastermindbehindfixingthe“BlackSox”WorldSeries.Aknowncheaterinsportsbetting,Rothsteinwasstillabletorunafairgameinhisnewclub–whichhecalledtheBrook.

Whenthedoorsopenedforbusinessin1921,theBrookstartedoutasaclassyestablishment.Eveningdresswasrequiredandonlythesociallyregisteredcouldenter.Forthosehighrollerswhowishedit,limousineswereprovided.Thissocialrequirementandtreatmentwerenottolasthowever.Asthecrowdsbecamemorecasual,sodidtheBrook.Althoughthestandardswerelowered,itwasstillimportanttoshowsomestyleinordertogetpasttheoff-dutypoliceofficerswhoactedasscreenersatthedoor.

Thegamblinginsidetheclubwaslegendary.Onestorygoesthatfamousgambler“Subway”SamRosoffwasup$400,000afteraveryluckystreak.Afraidthathemightcashin,Rothsteinmadeacalltoafriendaskinghimtobring$300,000totheclub.Bythetimethemoneyarrived,Rosoffhadnotonlylostthe$400,000,buthewasactuallydown$100,000andfallingfast.

PokerhadsomebigactionintheBrook.NicktheGreekandRothsteinwenthead-to-headonenightwhereonepot

reached$605,000.Althoughthetotalamountofthenight’stakeisnotrecorded,Rothsteinisreportedtohavewonamonumentalsum.

AthirdstoryhappenedonenightwhenCharlesStoneham,owneroftheNewYorkGiants,lost$70,000onroulette.Thismaynotseemimpressiveatfirst,butitshouldbeunderstoodthatthegamewasconductedoverthephone!

ArnoldRothsteinwasabletoevadeprosecutioninSaratoga,buthisreputation

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andenemieswerefarreaching.Hisfastlifeofcheatingandhighstakeswouldexpeditehisend.In1928,duringacardgameinNewYorkCity’sParkCentralHotel,Rothsteinwasshotandkilled.TheBrookwouldsufferfromhislossandquicklydeclineintoobscurity.

Alongwiththechangeinowners,therulesofSaratogagamblingalsochanged.Nolongerwerelocalsprohibitedfromgambling,andinsomeplaceswereactuallyencouragedtodoso.Theolddaysofthehostwearingatuxedoandsmilewerealsogone,replacedbylocalgamblersandoutsidehustlers.

TwomennamedJohnKingandhissonGeraldweretwoofthefirstofthenewbreedtocomeintoSaratoga.TheyboughtaresortcalledNewman’sLakeHouseonLakeLonelyandsetaboutrenovatingitfromitshumbleoriginsofaquietget-awaytoagambler’sdestination.Thefrontofthehousewastransformedintoarestaurantwithadiningroomcapableofsitting500patronsandthebackwasguttedtomakeroomforanillegalcasino.PatsyGrennianofSchenectady,NewYork,operatedthecasinowhichconsistedofsevenroulettetables,oneWheelofFortune,twocrapstablesandabirdcage.

ThesuccessfulmodelusedinNewman’sLakeHousewouldberepeatedinanotherLakeLonelyresortcalledRiley’sLake

House.AformerbootleggernamedLouisJ.“Doc”Faroneusedthefoundationofarecentlyburnthouseandrebuiltitinalavishandextravagantway.Enteringtheclub,patronsweregreetedbyalargedolphinfountainandbeautifullycraftedfurniture.Duringthesummermonths,thefamousDelmontino’srestaurantchefspreparedtheirculinaryspecialtiesfortheguestsunderalargerotundadiningroom.Whiletheydined,theywouldbeentertainedbythebiggestnamesinHollywoodwhowereflownin.Liketheothersuccessfulclubsinthearea,thefoodandentertainmentwereafronttotherealbusinessofgambling.

AmannamedPeterSullivanfromTroy,NewYork,wasbroughtintorunthegameswhichincludedroulette,craps,cardgamesandChuck-a-Luck.

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Intheearly1930s,

anotherfamousname,andasomewhat

morenotoriousone,

cameontothescene.Charles“Lucky”Luciano,renownedmobboss,cameintoSaratogaSpringsandcommandedoverthegamblingattheChicagoClub.OperatedbytwomennamedGusDeneatteoandMartin“Matty”Burns,theChicagoClubattractedsomeofthebiggestgamblersandgangstersofthetime.Bigbetter“Subway”SamRosoffwasoneoftheclub’sleadingpatrons.UnlikemostofthecasinosinSaratoga,theChicagoClubhadadualpurposeofbothacardroomandahorsebettingparlor.Asfarastableaction,theclubonlyofferedonecrapstableandoneroulettewheel.Mostofthespacewastakenbytheturfbettingparlor.Threemenworkedbehindcagestakingbetsandreportingresults.ThebusinesswassobigandimportantthatLuckyhimselfpresidedoverthebettinginAugust.

AgoodfriendofLuciano,MeyerLanskywouldalsojointhecastofclubowners.LanskywastheJewishmobsterwhowasnostrangertogambling,owningclubsfromNew

YorkCitytoFloridatoCuba.Hewasafinancialgeniusandhadalltherightconnectionstogetbusinessdone.HeturnedhisfocustoSaratoga.

In1932,LanskytransformedalittleplacecalledtheLidoVenicefromarestauranttothefinelytunedillegalcasinocalledthePipingRockClub.ToruntheclubduringtheAugustgamblingseason,FrankCostello,operatorofthefamousCopacabanainManhattan,waspartneredwithJoeAdonis,operatorofsomeofNewJersey’smost

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successfulclubs.ThecasinowaslargeforSaratogastandards.Althoughofficialnumbersofgamingdevicesdiffersslightly,thePipingRockatonetimehad12roulettewheels,threecrapstables,onecardtableandabirdcage.Whilethepatronswerenotgambling,theywere

beingentertainedbysomeofthebiggestactsofthetime,suchasSophieTucker,aclubfavorite.Noexpensewassparedinbookingtheentertainersaswasdemonstratedin1948whenacrackdownclosed

theclubtemporarily,butLanskycontinuedpayingtheentertainers

their$25,000aweek.

MeyerLanskydidnotfocusallhisattentiononthePipingRock.HeisreportedtoalsohaveapieceofthegamblingactionintheArrowheadInn.Thegameswerelocatedonthefirstfloor,alongwitharestaurantandbar.Thelargeballroomhadplentyofspaceforentertainersandbands,andtheArrowheadmadesuretheybroughtinthebest.BignameslikePaulWhiteman,BingCrosbyandJimmyDuranteperiodicallyentertainedthepatronsattheArrowhead.

Knowingthatrunningasuccessfulcasinotookexperience,menwithvariousareasofexpertisewerebroughtin.ConnectedindividualslikeJ.A.“O.K.”Coakleyand“Lefty”Clark,alongwithJoeAdonisandCharlesMannywereputincharge.Itwastheirjobtomakesure

thegamesransmoothly.AraidrevealedtheextentofthegamblingparaphernaliaattheArrowhead.Atlastcount,therewerefiveroulettetables,fivecardtables,twocrapstables,twobirdcagesandaWheelofFortune.

OtherclubsoperatedinSaratoga,mostunderthecontrolofsomeless-than-decentcitizens.TheMeadowbrookstartsitsgamblingcareerin1936whenDocFarone,alreadyastakeholderintwoSaratogacasinos-Smith’sInterlockenandRiley’sLakeHouse -tookovercontroloftheclubandconverteditintoacasino.Havingnointentionofworkingthecasinohimself,hebroughtinJamesSirotolookafterthegambling.UnderSiro’swatchfuleye,thecasinoprospered.

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Thenewbreedsofcasinoownersweresavvy,aswellascautiousbusinessmenwhogrewtheindustryofgamblinginSaratogaSpringstoitsfrenziedheights.Butnoteventhemostwellrunoperationcouldstanduptoconstantpubliccondemnation.Raidswerecommonbyboththecountyandthestateastheyjockeyedovereachotherinaquasi-contestofwhocouldconfiscatemoregamblingparaphernalia.

Thispressurewasminimizedsomewhatbykeepinganevergrowingportionofthecitylawontheirpayrollwhichatonepointamountedtoalittleover$8,000aweekperclub.Thisexpensewasdeemednecessary,althoughnotalwaysfoolproof.Insomecases,incorruptiblelawenforcementofficialsfoundtheirwaythroughthedoors.

Inthe1940s,ThomasDewey,thengovernorofNewYork,wasgearingupforhispresidentialbid.Knowingthatwidespreadillegalgamblinginhisownstatewouldhurthistough-on-crimecredibility,heorderedenhancedpressureontheclubs,drivingthegamblingunderground.

Theattitudesofthelocalswerechangingaswell.Whereoncethecasinosonlyofferedlocalsjobs,theywereincreasinglybeingmadeavailableforgambling–evencateringtothem.Thecitizenswhoonceturnedablindeyetothecorruptionwerenowaskingtheirpoliceandrepresentativestocleanupthetown.

ItwasduringthistimethatthebusinessofillegalgamblingwasbroughtintofocusduetotheeffortsofSenatorEstesKefauverandhiscommitteeonorganizedcrime.Clubownerswerebroughtintotestifyandeventuallyarrestedandfoundguiltyofvariouscrimes.MeyerLanskywouldspend24daysintheBalstone

SpaCountyjail(hisonlytimeeverbehindbars)forhisinvolvementinthegamblingassociatedwiththePipingRock.DocFaronewasfoundguiltyinconnectionwithillegalgamblingforhisMeadowbrookinvolvement,aswellastheKingswiththeirNewman’sLakeHouselink.

Thissharpfocusoncrackingdownonthebusinessofillegalgamblingwasthefinalblowformostoftheclubs.TheheatfromthepolicealongwiththemassexodusofemployeesandpatronstoLasVegascausedtheclubstoclosedownforgoodintheearly1950s.

Theshellsofoncevibrantactionstoodhollowforyears,untilonebyone,theclubsweresystematicallyerasedfromexistence.Thebuilding’sunattendedemptinessleftthemvulnerabletotheelements–especiallyfire.In1934,firedestroyedtheBrook,followedbythePipingRockin1954,theMeadowbrookin1959,theArrowheadin1969andNewman’sLakeHousein1971.

Foronebriefnight,Riley’sLakeHousewouldberevivedforacharityfunction.Thedilapidatedstructurewhichfordecadeshousedonlyraccoonswasrenovatedanddecoratedjustlikeithadbeeninitsprime.Horsedrawncarriageswereprovidedandcharitypatronsdonnednostalgicclothestomaketheimagecomplete.Itwasasuccessforbothcharityandpatrons.Unfortunately,thiswouldbethelasttimethelakehousewouldbeused.Eventually,theunattendedRiley’sLakeHousefellundertheforceofabulldozerandwassystematicallyrazedtotheground.

Today,ofallthemajorgamblingclubs,onlytheClubHousestillstands.ThepresentdaymuseumremainsareminderoftheglorywhichonceradiatedfromthesmalltownofSaratoga.