ONE WHITE chip from the famous "500 Club" -- the leading
Atlantic City, NJ, nightclub/gambling club in the 1940's-60's. Mob and politically-connected.
Venue for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (their first engagement), Frank Sinatra,
Sophie Tucker, Joe E. Lewis, et. al.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CHIP: Every illegal or Atlantic City
chip collector will want a chip from this famous club, which was started
in 1918, had it's heyday in the 1940's-60's, and was destroyed by fire in
1973. There is no doubt about the authenticity of this chip -- were only
all illegal club chips so well documented! It was located at 6 South Missouri
Ave., Atlantic City NJ, per "The Gaming Table." The index card records of
the Mason Co (who made the hub mold chips) shows about 8500 of these chips
ordered (in white, orange and brown -- all three pictured in the last photo
on this page) and sent to 4 South Missouri Ave, Atlantic City NJ, three
shipments of chips: 1934 thru 1937. The index cards (see scan, above) show
the “500 C” logo hot-stamp imprint, the same as on the chips! Only I seem
to have these for sale. The orange and brown chips are in quite short supply.
I have a goodly number of white ones, and one is offered in this auction.
INFO ABOUT THIS FAMOUS CLUB: Click
here to read a lengthy article by Archie Black about the 500 Club and
these chips. Here is what one leading chip collector said about these
chips and the Club: "“WOW! Great find Robert! The 500 Club was one of Atlantic
City's most famous night clubs .... well before legalized gaming came to
town. It was frequented by the most influential people and featured top headliner
entertainers for years.. The place was owned by Skinny D'Amato.... one of
the most powerful politicians in Atlantic County. It was not a big secret
that gambling was going on there. The secret has been... up till now... what
did the chips look like that were in use there? “ ... .... ..... Below
are pictures from the club of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra; Skinny D'Amato,
Jimmy Durante and Donald O'Connor; and D'Amato and Sammy Davis Jr. .....
....... In August 2008, I received this email from a guy who found me using
an internet search: "Robert, I really enjoyed your message. What
a great place it was. I don't know if you know, but Skinny worked at Cal
Neva Lodge for a while, and there are some great books on him.
Thanks Jerry L.... ...... ."
Here are some other tidbits about the Club:
- *Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis first teamed up at the 500 Club.
- *Frank Sinatra appeared there over a six year period 5
times. Also: Jimmy Durante, Donald O’Connor, Sophie Tucker, Patti Page,
Joe E. Lewis, et. al.
- *Paul "Skinny" D'Amato ... never had any problem running
prositiution and gambling in the 500 Club which he fronted for a succession
of Mafia bosses. The 500 was a hangout for Mafiosi and politicians. That
is where many of the deals were cut while Skinny acted as genial impresario.
- *The club was destroyed by fire 6-10-73; It opened 1918.
The mob contolled it.
- *In the 1940's-60’s it was the leading nightclub in Atlantic
City. The showroom seated 1000, and the backroom was a plush casino.
CONDITION: acceptable. The clay is in very fine shape
(no nicks, burns, warps, etc.) The hot-stamped imprint has "bleed" to some
extent on the white chip, but the chip still looks good, as the picture
testifies to.
SHIPPING: $3.00 postage-insurance (U.S. domestic) paid
by the buyer.
PAYMENT METHODS: the usual online internet funds transfer
methods are accepted, as well as checks and money orders. I will respond
to all inquiries and requests. NYS residents, add local NY sales
tax.
I HAVE BEEN AN AVID POKER CHIP COLLECTOR
FOR MANY YEARS. CHECK MY AUCTIONS REGULARLY.
Click
here to see a list/link to my other current eBay auctions, mostly gambling-related.
Click here to
see my eBay "ABOUT ME" page to learn more about poker chip collecting.........and
about me and what I collect! Questions, comments and chatting welcomed.
I have a hoard of chips for sale, so tell me what you would like to see
on eBay. Robert.
