During the week of the CC & GTCC convention, Douglas Saito, editor and publisher of Chip Chat, will conduct a tour of downtown Las Vegas.

If you want to know the gaming history of downtown casinos, learn what was where, who owned what, and when it was, then you’ll want to take this tour as if you were walking downtown Vegas in the 1930’s, ready to enter the Northern Club. Or maybe it’s the 1940’s, and you’re having a drink at the Kiva Bar. The 1950’s are right around the corner with the California Club and the Fremont. Then it’s on to the Nevada Club, the Lucky Club, and the Carousel of the 1960’s. And there’s always the Las Vegas Club, the Golden Gate, the Golden Nugget, the Horseshoe … those old clubs with history that can be told from floor to ceiling.

If time permits and “juice” applied, some old-time Vegans might be met along the way. To show you how gambling was in the 1950’s, to show you the sidewalks where Mrs. Binion always walked her poodle, where Jenny V’s was last seen, and where chips were buried, hidden, dumped, or displayed.

Only three tours will be offered. One before the CC & GTCC convention starts and two after it ends. Tour times and dates: First tour on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 10 a.m. Second tour on Sunday, June 20, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Third tour also on Sunday, June 20, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

Each tour will take as long as necessary for each casino-walker to pick Doug’s brain with questions like, “Where’s the bathroom in this place?”

You must be in good health, or at least ambulatory. No drunks need apply. Apparel required. Shoes are a necessity, especially if you can walk in them. Shorts and T-shirts for either sex, or if you prefer, shorts with a halter-top, pasties or Mansierres. Hats, sunglasses, cameras, notebooks, Bibles, condoms, all are acceptable accessories. Leave all cell phones on vibrate mode and keep them deep in your rear pockets. Keep handy a backpack in the event that Doug decides to hand out photo packets of old downtown places. Yes, Gunga-Din, bring a bottle of water.

There is a fee for this tour. One beer of Doug’s choice per person. Payable at the back bar of the Las Vegas Club. Tips for Douglas and to the oldest bartender in town will be much appreciated.

If you’re interested in signing up for this tour, E-mail Tyrus at TyrusRex.com, whose email is: Tyrus@TyrusRex.com. If overwhelmed by the number of sign-ups, then tour participants will be selected by luck of the draw. Your name will be written on the back of a Keno card, then deposited into a vestibule that’s been designated with the tour date of your choice. Winners will be selected at the May 18th meeting of Southern California chippers at Hollywood Park, hopefully yours will be one of eight names drawn for the tour of your choice.

Doug wishes to thank Harvey Fuller, Nevada’s most eminent casino historian, for dates and addresses of downtown clubs from 1931. With thanks to Phil Jensen, Nevada’s first serious chip collector, for remembering so vividly over thirty years downtown Vegas historical events and happenings. And thanks to native Las Vegan Carey Burke, one of the first promoters for collecting casino chips and who well remembers Las Vegas when the Strip was then known as Highway 91.

All tours are subject to cancellation without notice. If you purchased a beer for Doug in advance, no refunds will be given.