The pre war gambling ships off the west coast of the USA

[coppinpr]

Today I happened on a photo taken on one of the pre-war gambling ships that organised crime set up off the west coast of the USA between 1929 and 1941. What got my interest was the caption on the photo " 8 tons of Bell machines which run down one wall of a room half the size of a football pitch" . I estimate that's about 115 machines, that's a lot of very noisy machines in one room!! The ship, most likely the "REX" was moored 3 miles off Santa Monica and was known as "the place for good food, gambling and girls". These ships were a thorn in the side of the US mainland who constantly tried to put them out of business,a favourite tactic was to block the water taxis that ferried out the punters and often patrons were trapped on board for days (what a pity).

The ships were usually old floating cannery ships converted because they had large empty interiors. The Rex was out of business by late 1940 but the parent company, Lux still exists with casinos and hotels

[john t peterson]

We Yanks have a puritanical streak that rears its ugly head every so often, prohibition being an excellent example. Where there is an appetite, there will be a supplier. That explains why we will always have access, legal or otherwise, to booze, broads and gambling, regardless of attempts to stamp them out. The smarter route is to tax them and tell the religious zealots to confine their attention to the morals of their members.

J Peterson
American heretic

[moonriver]

Where is the Westboro Baptist Church when you need them...?

[clubconsoles]

[coppinpr]

What a great video. I want one of those live mouse in the hole roulette tables !!

[pennymachines]

I thought that was cruel.

[coppinpr]

I thought that was cruel.

So did I, I dont really want one but it would look nice next to my Bryans Ant viewer nice