I’ve posted information about these chips before, but not since I’ve done some more work on them and come across a couple more theories. Here are the facts I’ve accumulated and the possible theories as to their original use:

- According to the Mason Co. records, these chips were delivered to the Bell Cigar Store in Omaha, Nebraska in 1953.
- The owner of the Bell Cigar Store from as early as the 1930’s until 1963 was Fred “Snorts” Weyerman a well-known local gambler.
- Lots of illegal gaming was going on in Omaha in the 1950’s
- The Bell Cigar Store was the site of numerous raids for illegal gambling and bookmaking during its existence, and often chips were confiscated.
- There was a C&C Bar located in Omaha during the mid-1950’s. It doesn’t appear that the bar was ever raided for gambling. It’s owners seem to have kept their noses clean too.
- The company listed on the Western Union records as the local arm of the wire service that delivered race and sports results to Omaha bookmakers (presumably including the Bell Cigar Store) was C&C Publishing, owned by Frank and Weldon Calamia.
- There was a poolhall a few blocks from the Bell Cigar Store called C&C Recreation, which was the site of some bookmaking raids. Fred Weyerman (owner of the Bell Cigar Store) was good friends with the owners of C&C Recreation.
- One of the persons arrested in the raids on the C&C Recreation was also Fred Weyerman’s bookkeeper.

Here are my theories, not ranked in any particular order:

- THEORY #1 – The C&C chips were ordered by the Bell Cigar Store as a home set for somebody.
- THEORY #2 – They were ordered by the Bell Cigar Store for the owners of the C&C Bar, who used them for home games or otherwise avoided visits from the “Morals Squad” as they were called by the Omaha Police Department in those days.

- THEORY #3 – The chips were used for backroom games at the Bell Cigar Store, where chips were often being confiscated in raids. What “C&C” stood for is unknown in this theory.

- THEORY #4 – The chips were ordered by the Bell Cigar Store for Frank Calamia, owner of C&C Publishing, who provided wire results for the Bell’s bookmaking operation.

- THEORY #5 – They were ordered for Fred Weyerman’s friend, who owned C&C Recreation, which shared at least one common employee.

I’ve written a story describing my research that includes more details about the players and locations involved. It’s scheduled to be published in the next issue of the Casino Chip & Token News.