"In the 1920's, while Raymond I. Smith was scratching out a living in amusement parks and at county fairs, John Harrah was conducting a very successful law practice in Venice, California, and serving a term as mayor of the city."

"The 1929 Wall Street crash first affected John Harrah's law practice, then led to the loss of the houses and almost all of the business structures he had invested in during the good years."

"Because he'd mortgaged everything, John Hrrah soon lost all except one of the buildings in which he had an interest. Finally he was left with just the lease on one building on the Venice Pier, which featured a not-quite-legal game based loosely on bingo."

"Bill Harrah was studying mechanical engineering at U.C.L.A. when the depression began.....in 1930 he was caught cheating on a chemistry exam, and had to leave the university........His father...suggested that Bill...come back to Venice and run the Circle Game for him. Bill Harrah agreed..."

"John Harrah, with his legal background, would object loudly when the Venice police came to close down the Circle Game.... 'This is no bingo game!' John Harrah shouted. 'This is no way a bingo game! We don't use baseballs; we use marbles. We don't use bingo cards; we use playing cards. Bla bla bla bla....'"

Source: A Short History of Reno by Barbara and Myrick Land, University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada. copyright 1995