Gene,

Great post! I'm hot on the trail of Randy Rigdon, son of the owner of Rigdon's (and maybe White's Club Room), but to date, not able to connect.

Wheeling in the 1950's/60's brings back my youth. I grew up in Washington, Pa. about 30 miles north of Wheeling and we often made trips during our high school days...legal drinking age was 18, "illegal" hooker and gambling age...whatever we could get away with.

Pirate Cafe and Billy's two separate joints, next to each other in the Wheeling "bottoms". Both were owned by Bill Lias, who ran or controlled most of the town joints.

Barbut dice is a Greek game where shooter putes up a stake, player to his right covers all or whatever piece he wants. Others can bet in order on either the shooter or the fader. Both players shoot. Either wins on 3-3, 5-5, 6-6 ot 5-5. Lose if they thorow 1-1, 2-2, 4-4 or 1-2. All other combos worthless. The house takes a cut on the pot.

A high school teammate of mine became a Barbut stick man at Billy's..."Sqump" Walsh. He never could understand why any of us went to college (or even finished high school in his case). Great car, sharp clothes, tons of broads...then it all went south in the late 1950's when Wheeling shut down most of the open gambling.

Great times...then I moved to Cincinnati and discovered Newport, Kentucky. Where did all the time go?

Jim