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Tag: Gambling

  • September 2nd in Seal Beach History

    On this date in 1959, the Seal Beach Police, acting on a tip from Long Beach Police,  shut down a $4,000 bookie joint at 1605 ½ Seal Way. John L. Allen, 48, and Wilbur J. Hughes, 56, were arrested.

    Allen, who resided at the address, collapsed due to “acute shock brought on by extreme nervousness,” according to the Long Beach Independent, and was taken to the Orange County General Hospital.

    Hughes, a Long Beach resident, somehow managed to weather the ordeal without requiring hospital care.

    – Michael Dobkins

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  • August 15th in Seal Beach History

    On this date in 1949, the Seal Beach City Council passed what was described by the Los Angeles Times as “an ironclad anti-gambling ordinance.” 

    There was already a city ordinance against gambling on the books, but the new ordinance was designed to close loopholes in the previous ordinance. This followed a failed city initiative to allow poker rooms in Seal Beach that was voted down by Seal Beach voters in July 1949. 

    The city council meeting was packed with a charged crowd as Mayor Frank Shufelt, councilmen F. O. Brostrom, Albert R. Leonard, Emil F. Jacobsen, and Oliver L. Bowers voted unanimously to adopt the new ordinance. Richard Steyling, chairman of the Seal Beach Civic Improvement Association, the organization sponsoring the ordinance, told the Long Beach Independent that the new ordinance would ban virtually every type of game of chance from Seal Beach.

    Well, that settles that.

    Aug_15_1949_gambling_ban_headline

    Of course, nothing was settled. The battle between gambling interests and anti-gambling forces would continue in Seal Beach well into the next decade.

    – Michael Dobkins

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  • January 13th in Seal Beach History

    On this date in 1936, Seal Beach Police raided the Walker Cafe where a gambling den had been set up in a back room. Robert Sandon of the district attorney’s office gained access to the back room posing as a gambler and left a door unlatched for Police Chief Lee Howard and Officer Ervin Glenn.

    Fred C. Smith of 19 Neptune Place, J. W. Sneed, 1231 E. Broadway, Long Beach, various dealers, five alleged players, Hayes Pierpont, W. G. Scruggs, W. B. Scruggs, Vari Janes, and C. E. Nolan, who gave their address as the Seal Hotel, were rounded up. A crap table, dice, chips, and cards were also seized.

    Bail was set at $250 for the dealers and $100 for the players. All posted property bonds for their release, aided by Mrs. Mildred Blankenship, owner of the Seal Hotel.

    – Michael Dobkins

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