54 CASINO CHIP AND TOKEN NEWS | October · November · December 2002

Legendary Casinos

Bal Tabarin

The La-Vada Lodge, a speakeasywith gambling, was built on the Northshore of Lake Tahoe at Crystal Bay in1927.When it received a gamblinglicense in 1931, the name waschanged to the Cal-Vada Lodge. JobyLewis purchased the Cal-Vada in1955, and he resold it the followingyear to a group that renamed it theBal-Tabarin, after the San Francisconight club. Lincoln Fitzgerald boughtthe Bal-Tabarin along with the TahoeBiltmore in 1959. Fitzgerald closedthe Bal one year later when he caughtemployees stealing.

by Dean Richmond and Jodi Sones

Nevada Lodge

Lincoln and Meta Fitzgeraldbought the Tahoe Biltmore in 1958,renaming it first the Nevada Club andthen finally the Nevada Lodge.Lincoln Fitzgerald died in 1981 andthe Lodge was sold in 1986. TheFitzgeralds were involved in Nevadagaming for 41 years.

Lake Tahoe

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George’s Gateway

George Cannon opened theGateway Club next to Harvey’sWagon Wheel in 1949. Cannonopened his Quonset-hut at theCalifornia-Nevada state linewhen Placer County out-lawed his slot machines athis Highway 50 location.In January of 1955, BillHarrah bought theGateway Club for $500,000.Harrah’s opened Harrah’s Lake Clubon the site on June 20, 1955. OneYear later Harrah’s sold the club toHarvey’s for $5 Million.

SparksShy Clown

Rod's Shy Clown Casino opened at865 S. Rock Blvd. in Sparks Nevadain 1974. In 1976, "Rod's" was droppedfrom the name and it continued as theShy Clown until 1981. It was closedfor a period of seven years and in1988 the property reopened asBaldini's Sports Casino.. �

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