Reno Company Handcrafts Animated Slot Machines

Casino History, Elko--Nevada, Gambling History, Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Character Manufacturing Co., Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Frank Polk, Games / Races: Games Creators / Manufacturers: Sundance Cravat, Games / Races: Slot Machines / Fruities: Animated, Gaming History, Golden Hotel (Reno, NV), It Really Happened, Las Vegas Club (Las Vegas, NV), Las Vegas--Nevada, Mapes (Reno, NV), Nevada, Nevada Club (Reno, NV), Reno--Nevada, Stockmen's Hotel (Elko, NV), The Mint (Las Vegas, NV), United StatesLeave a comment

1950-1956 A novel, animated gambling device began to appear in Nevada casinos in 1950. It debuted in the lobby of Reno’s Mapes hotel-casino in the fall and “got a big play from visiting Shriners,” reported the Nevada State Journal (Nov. 12, 1950). They were one-armed bandits, or life-sized outlaws whose torso was a slot machine…

Casino Criminal Loses Control

Crimes / Violence / Punishments: Robbery / Theft / Embezzling, Elko--Nevada, It Really Happened, Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV), Stockmen's Hotel (Elko, NV)Leave a comment

1954 Late on a Saturday night in 1954, during the peak of business, an unemployed, 27-year-old railroad hand entered the Stockmen’s Hotel in Elko, Nevada where townspeople, miners, ranchers and tourists congregated to socialize, drink and gamble. Silvus Armandus approached the casino cashier’s cage and demanded: “Hand over your money and don’t make a sound.” The…