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The Dells in Morton Grove, Illinois was featured in "Illegal Of The Day" Illinois 14 posted on May 28, 2011.
Here is what I said about the Dells in that post.
"The following articles document murder, bribery, denial of bribery, mayhem, etc going back 20 years. I think we have seen all of this many times in other “Illegal Of The Day” posts. Why do I remember Illinois as having more than their share of this type of history?"
The Dells had more than their share of violent history.
Here is the link to Illinois 14 that has many newspaper articles in it if you want to refresh your memory.
Earlier this year one of my regular trading partners sent me the TND hub mold. Big surprise, it turned out to be a new to me, The Dells chip. TD on the chip was easy, but what did the N mean?
This post will document the The Dells and the advertising for it from 1918 through the fire that destroyed it on October 9th 1934.
The Dells - (The New Dells)
Dempster Rd
Chicago, IL
5/12/31 – 1000 red, 2000 white
The Dells was in a suburb of Chicago called Morton Grove.
The Dells was run by Sam Hare.
He also had chips delivered in 1931 with The Dells on them.
TND
Enter our "Friend of the Hobby."
I was curious about the initials on the chip. I think there’s a good chance they stand for The New Dells.
My note: IMO, no doubt they stand for The New Dells. Read on.
The Dells was around from the 1910’s until 1934. For most of its life it was closed during the winter months and would re-open in May.
My note: Sounds a lot like the Lake Tahoe casino's.
Here’s some ads for The Dells:
1918--
1922—The place comes under new management when the sister of Mrs. Fred Pein shoots and kills her business partner Felix Rachbauer (both mentioned in the above ad). Mrs. Fred Pein, name was Pearle Mae Pein, had become part owner of The Dells when her husband, during a celebration of the end of World War I, having been given a glass of whiskey, raised it, made the toast “here’s to peace forever,” drank it down and dropped dead. A buddy who drank with him also dropped dead. In a tragic accident, the friend who gave them the drink had pulled out an old whiskey bottle which many years before had been emptied and refilled with undiluted insect poison.
My note: Geeeeeezzzz! I don't think I can go for that story! 
1924--
1925—Sam Hare takes over the management, the place is overhauled and is advertised as “The New Dells”
1928—three years later and still using the name “The New Dells”; also begin broadcasting their entertainment over the radio.
1929--
May 1931—the TND and THE DELLS hubs are delivered on May 12th and May 15th; the place opens for the season on May 20th; still using the name “The New Dells” and still broadcasting nightly over the radio.
June 1931--
July 1931--
August 1931--
September 1931—at the end of the 1931 season, the word “New” is removed from the advertisements and is not used again as a headline in ads.
here’s a snip from a Chicago dining guide from 1931:
My note: 900 dancers at one time. This was a big club.
May 1933—open the 1933 season with a big name
June 1933—ad mentions “the New Dells Bar”
October 1933—Guy Lombardo comes back near the 1933 season’s end.
The Dells tried to operate in 1934 but was closed down by law enforcement when it tried to run. 900 people had paid for reservations to attend opening night May 29th 1934 but were turned away by police who blocked the entrance on orders of the State Attorney’s office. A month later on June 29th The Dells re-opened for a few days but was closed down again by the State Attorney’s office (police raided the place while in operation—they allowed the 300 guests to finish their meals before kicking them out). The State Attorney’s office claimed that The Dells was “a hangout for gangsters.” The Dells would not re-open again.
My note: Really nice that the cops allowed the diners to finish their meals.
On October 9th 1934 four men with sawed-off shotguns arrived at The Dells, doused the place with gasoline and set it on fire.
pic of fire:
interior after the fire:
exterior after the fire:
pic of the front entrance from the 1920’s:
matchbook:
postcard:
The history of The Dells equals or even surpasses other carpet joints like Beverly Hills in Northern Kentucky and The Arrowhead Inn in Branch Hill, Ohio. The Arrowhead 1930's was the model for future carpet joints but it looks like The Dells was the model for the Arrowhead. The local crime families ran some classy places but they were brutal when necessary. Many of these places featured in "Illegal Of The Day" posts were burned to the ground including The Dells, Beverly Hills, The Sphinx’ in Hollywood, California, and The Lookout House in Northern Kentucky.
The history of the "Era of The Illegals" is a never ending story.
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