Gardena Poker Clubs: A High-stakes History

by Max Votolato

Overview

Even in the midst of the Great Depression, gamblers flocked to Gardena. Colorful individuals like Ernie Primm fought for the legalization of commercial draw poker and established six iconic card clubs that thrived for generations. Russ Miller worked his way from Edgemont Club bouncer to owner of the Normandie Club. A criminal group called the Ver-Crans Corporation controlled the Horseshoe Club before being run out of town, selling its interest to Bow Herbert. Rival factions in the city waged war in the courts and the street over the coveted seventh card club license. And Larry Flynt bid his way to owning the Eldorado Club, which he rebuilt as the Hustler Casino. Author Max Votolato reveals the high-stakes stories behind Gardena's famous poker rooms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439660959
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	06/19/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Max Votolato, born and raised in London, has worked in the Los Angeles film industry for fifteen years, including posts at Paramount, MGM, KingSports and the Fox television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. His 2015 documentary film, Freeway City, introduced the history of Gardena's card clubs, the starting point for this story.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Gardena of Eden: Origins and the Legalization of Poker 9

2 Boomtown 26

3 Wild Card 55

4 Public Relations 86

5 Poker Capital of the World 102

6 Death of the Card Clubs 116

7 Hustler 139

Epilogue 151

Sources 153

Index 157

About the Author 160

Editorial Reviews

"There are two kinds of books I love the most; biographies and history books. Gardena Poker Clubs: A High-stakes History by Max Votolato ticks both boxes for me, as it is both a biography and a history book. It isn't your old high school history book though. It has gambling, gangsters, robbers, bombings, gunfights, shady politicians, dirty lawyers, celebrities, you name it… all the fun stuff!" Card Player Lifestyle




"Gardena, sometimes known as the "City of Opportunity," has a dense and storied history involving poker clubs. Max Votolato, author and filmmaker (producer of the Gardena documentary "The Freeway City"), made it his mission to return to Gardena and delve into its history with his newly-published book "Gardena Poker Clubs: A High-Stakes History."...

His historical book, released in June, examines the original poker clubs and how the ambience attracted tourists, allowing these businesses to become one of if not the greatest economic contribution to the city.

The book makes it clear the game of poker was a controversial hobby that often led to ardent debates and even violent confrontations between citizens.

During his interview, Votolato showed deep passion for not only his project, but of the entire city of Gardena to the extent of abandoning his business mindset." Gardena Valley News


"Today, there are more poker games in greater Los Angeles than anywhere else in the world. Gardena remains a part of it, but no longer the main part.
If you wish to know more about the history of poker clubs in Gardena, this is definitely the book for you." Las Vegas Advisor


"After reading Votolato's book you'll have a new appreciation for Gardena. People like Ernie Primm and Russ Miller who fought for legal poker, often ended up in handcuffs before they were successful. Without their stick-to-itiveness, the California poker scene would be much different today.

This is the newest book on the list, published in 2017. It's a really fascinating read for anyone interested in poker, or the California gambling scene." US Poker

From the Publisher