Just picked this little gem up yesterday!
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| Pre-1957 El Rey Club Matchbook |
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| Poker matches w/Royal Flush |
However it wasn't until just before winning this auction that I realized the "new" matchbook was actually an earlier version with different artwork on the spine and the back cover (No idea if these were poker matches as well).
It is my belief that this matchbook was issued before 1957. The evidence I cite is within the artwork itself.
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| 1957 El Rey Resort Hotel Matchbook |
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| 1957 El Rey Resort Hotel Matchbook & Spine |
It is truly amazing to find anything that survived the years. It is also a greater pleasure to discover variations on the precious few artifacts remaining. I'm hopeful that more great new artifacts will pop up once the book has been released. STAY TUNED!
The research & collecting of photos and memorabilia from the El Rey Club never stops! Please contact me at 702-465-5604 or email me at andy@andymartello.com if you have stories or memorabilia to share.
My grandmother, Erma Gibson, worked at the El Rey when I was VERY young. I'm 52 now but will always remember our many trips to Searchlight to see her. She more than likely worked at the "newer" location, but have no way to find that out. While my parents were at the bar they gave me penny's to play a slot machine to keep me out of their hair (wouldn't be able to get away with that these days!). When I saw the episode on Rick's sign rehab, I broke down & cried; ton's of memories came back to me. At any rate, FYI a few years back I stopped in the Nugget casino in town & recognized/remembered a few items they have there which they got from the El Rey (I asked them because I knew these things looked familiar to me). The cashier there even remembered my grandma from the El Rey. She was full of facts & info, but I'm sure you've already talked to her by now. Good luck & thanks for the great memories your story stirred up!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment, jenojean.
DeleteIt means the world to me that you saw the show and that it brought about some memories.
You'd be surprised who will and won't speak to me about this book project. It seems that some times people are all about sharing and other times people don't trust anyone. But I try to learn as much as I can.
Would have loved to be able to speak with your grandmother. Sounds like she may have had some stories or maybe some memorabilia. If you have either, feel free to contact me directly. I'd love to speak with you.
Andy
702-465-5604
andy@andymartello.com
Thanks so much for your comment, jenojean.
ReplyDeleteIt means the world to me that you saw the show and that it brought about some memories.
You'd be surprised who will and won't speak to me about this book project. It seems that some times people are all about sharing and other times people don't trust anyone. But I try to learn as much as I can.
Would have loved to be able to speak with your grandmother. Sounds like she may have had some stories or maybe some memorabilia. If you have either, feel free to contact me directly. I'd love to speak with you.
Andy
702-465-5604
andy@andymartello.com