30 years ago - Casino closures in Persia

[ian]

It's interesting that two major historical events on the world stage and also in the casino business have their anniversaries in January and February, albeit 20 years apart.

On another thread we have the events in Cuba 50 years ago on 1st January, 1959.

Viva La Revolucion !
http://www.gamingfloor.biz/forum/showthread.php?t=3261

On 11th February, 2009 there's the 30th anniversary of the toppling of the Shah of Persia and the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran.

Both resulted in the closure of the countries casinos.

Do we have any forum members who worked in Iran pre-revolution ?
In 1980 I briefly worked at the Palm Beach and I know several of the staff then had recently returned from the country.

Your recollections of events, and how they changed your life would be of interest.


Ian

[Richgon]

Hi guys, I was in Iran at the time and worked at Karaj, Charloos and Ramsar. I was dealing private games to Princess Ashraf when the revolution happened. I was given 24 hours to leave and got on a plane to Holland where I worked until 2000. I will never forget the wonderful experience in Iran with great employers (MD and SD, the manager was PT). also in Ramsar under British ownership we had a fabulous time.

[steveyb]

I had forgotten about her, did you have to remind me... i dealt to her a couple of times then asked not to as i might get my head chopped off as a few times I was close to saying something to the cheating b......
She wanted a team of dealers from ramsar to deal to her at her villa outside of ramsar. management asked for volenteers and not a one could be found.
We had 48hrs to leave no probs, i was on the first plane out.

[ian]

For those who have not seen it the thread that SV is referring to is...

Viva La Revolucion !
http://gamingfloor.biz/forum/showthread.php?t=3261

Where I say that anyone who's spent any time in the casino industry will almost certainly have had their life indirectly affected by events 50 years ago in Cuba.



Also we have another thread for you history buffs (and I include myself among them )


Digitized LIFE photo archive - casino images
http://gamingfloor.biz/forum/showthread.php?t=3286

Using the keyword searches for Gambling or Casino you get a cornucopia of material from Cuba, George Raft, Marrakech, California Casino boats, London etc...

http://images.google.com/images?q=ga...=source%3Alife
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...+source%3Alife


The LIFE archive has to be the best quality collection of historical images freely available on the web at the moment.

Ian


PS. In the YouTube clip with Errol Flynn in Havana he mentions that George Raft wasn't at the Capri Casino when he visited. "Doing something in Hollywood with Marilyn Monroe".
Perhaps because he was filming scenes for Some Like it Hot ?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053291/

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV...450_SY376_.jpg

[steveyb]

Thanks SV for those clips, makes me feel really old... looking through some of them i came across a clip about NamakAbroud, I remember being bussed down there to help out during the season. A weekend with JC was always something to look forward to!
Kish island was the year before i arrived and i heard many a tale about the beauty of the place.
It was estimated that when the casino closed in Ramsar, there was circa 20 million $ left just in fixtures and fittings, wonder what happened to it all.
Strange that the Pair of shoes comes up again!!

[mcfly68]

Recently discovered on a beach in Oz, N.S. was found basking in the sun. He has now become a Beach Bum.

[steveyb]

I bet he is the classiest beach bum around.. I wonder if he is still handing people cash and telling them to get their haircut!!!

[mcfly68]

Originally Posted by skyvision

This morning you did give me a good laugh!

I take it on your word…..Were you in a position to speak with him?

If I had bumped into him I would have bought him a beer, sat him down and had a chat.
Would have been more than interesting.

I kinda agree with Steveyb…. living his beach bum life…. his back pocket with cash and his Villa right on the beach!

He was with me as I was typing!! He did have a giggle. I was showing him this thread as I'd mentioned it to him just last week. There was someone else with me with the initials R.d.L. who also worked in Ramsar. (stick to the initials please)

[ralphy]

Originally Posted by mcfly68

Recently discovered on a beach in Oz, N.S. was found basking in the sun. He has now become a Beach Bum.

Dont believe N.S. on beach in oz. Not his scene.Could believe somewhere near horses or race track.
I am new to this website.Discovered it yesterday.Have read some excellant stories about the old days in Ramsar.Iwas there from 1974-8,and stayed in Tehran for a few months after that. Great place to work and N.S very good to me.Out of casino business since 1985,and now work on stock market (daytime casino).Would love to join in any reunion if it isarranged. Have many fond memories, and stories to tell.

[steveyb]

so did you recognise ramsars male version of peggy mitchell? Both CCC-ramsar and myself want to know who you are. You are obviously shameless since you admit where you work!!!

[CCC-Ramsar]

Hey if anyone runs into NS on the beach pls convey my best! Ask him if he remembers the young asst. mgr. he found sleeping on the job and pulled him up by his nose :-) Mrs. GS saved my butt!

Found a legal doc on the web detailing his sale of properties in Czech. circa '98.

Hello to Ralphy!

SteveB: LOL! You posted a thumbnail??? Give us a break man, 30 years have taken a toll on the eyes! I took the picture and even I wouldn't recognise him :-)

[eddie Lynn]

Glad to see that we have not forgotten a time in our gaming lives when Iran, Africa and the Bahamas were probably the first three place expats went to work.
I worked in Isfahan with a great group of people from 76 to 78 when we all thought it was safe in the water.
Great experience working with some of the infamous people of this industry, Wally Ford, Mel Williamson, Roger Light, Scotty, Dave O'Brian The one and only Mike Bassett, The Arnold brothers owners of Crockfords at the time.
Many great people came through the casino.

While we all reflect back on those times 30 years ago, lets remember how young we probably all were at the time and how we should keep in touch with those still with us, and remember those who are now in the big casino gig in the sky.

Yes, Neil Glander, if possible we should have a great gig in the sky reunion for all who worked in London in the early 70s who spread their wings anf travelled the world of gaming.

I love this industry and respect all of you i have met and had the pleasure to work with.

Eddie Lynn

[Honest Al]

Skyvision,

Do I know you? I was at the Varian from January 78 - August 78. That's where I got my name, 'Honest Al' (staff bookmaker!).

[steveyb]

I worked in Ramsar for a couple of years before they went crazy, like the others it was one of the best jobs i have ever had. Perhaps being young free and single with a full head of hair is clouding my memory.

[Charlie Chester]

I have traveled a bit in my time and my inspirations and motivations came from hearing recounts of episodes in Gaming such as the one above. I love it.

I did hear of tip dropping being rife in Iran. On the count one night, one table that had no game all night had a stack of chips in the tip box which forced the tipping procedure to change.

[Patsy]

Hi Skyvision,
Really nice and truthful account of how things were back then. However (please don't take offence at this) things were a lot easier then. Money came in so easily you simply could not fail. 1/2 an hour on and 1/2 an hour off but only serve the customers that bought in for the bigger amounts; Why did you not do longer on the tables and open a few more to cater for all the players??? I remember when it was that easy, but that did not teach me to operate profitable and successful casinos, that came much later for me.
I hope you don't take offence at this, I just think it was all so much easier 30 years ago

[Honest Al]

Patsy,

I will answer your question intended for Skyvision: The Varian Casino was totally over-staffed for 5 days a week and we only had one day off very 14 days. We also worked one double shift per fortnight.

For 5 days a week we usually did 30 mins on and up to 2 hours off. Come the weekend, or their weekend, (Thursday/Friday) we did the reverse, 2 hours on/30 mins off.

[steveyb]

If varian was anything like ramsar and by the sounds of it, it was then there will be a few people out there willing to spend a pretty penny to buy the master copy of your DVD! When i think of the staff christmas performance of caberet and all those big butch welshmen in black stockings, how much would that be worth today!!

[CCC-Ramsar]

Hi Steveyb,

Were you at the club in '77 and '78? I was the asst. hotel manager with AP and TH.

[ian]

Neil Glander's site Casino Reunions has Bahamas, Playboy & South Africa perhaps there are enough for an Iran group ?

http://www.casinoreunions.com

Might be worth contacting him. More the merrier at the get togethers.


Pictures from January at the Price of Tek are now live.
I'm not really mad - just look it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8464884@N02
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8464884...7613298674560/


Ian

[steveyb]

Sounds good to me, lets see what can be done and how many of us are still alive!!
CCC-Ramsar did you get my mail?
let's show em how to party..

[CCC-Ramsar]

Steveyb - Thanks I just read it and will reply shortly. The reunion site sounds interesting. Mind you I was more on the "hotel" side of things.

Steve - got a chuckle reading your take on experiences in the Salon Prive :-)

[CCC-Ramsar]

Nice stuff SpeedyPete!

Loved seeing Dizin again. Remember coaxing my poor Jyan (Citroen 2CV) up there, which was a heck of an adventure. Those mountain roads were something else in winter! Our hotel manager got buried in an avalanche up there once. Poor guy was in his tiny brand new Renault Le Car :-(

[steveyb]

I second the motion! but please no knickers over your tights.....
ccc-ramsar how could you fall asleep in the office when if i remember rightly you could listen into the guest rooms via the intercom system, spent many a night with trevor eavesdropping.

[CCC-Ramsar]

Originally Posted by steveyb

I second the motion! but please no knickers over your tights.....
ccc-ramsar how could you fall asleep in the office when if i remember rightly you could listen into the guest rooms via the intercom system, spent many a night with trevor eavesdropping.

SteveyB - I didn't think anyone but Pereira, Cordeiro, Trevor and I knew about that :-) Nah - that one single solitary time I dozed off was when we were really short staffed and I had been on for 16 hours straight. I also had to monitor BBC for the status of things. That's how I woke up Tony P on the last day at 05:00 to tell him all Casino's were closed, and we walked over to NS's villa to tell him. Somehow he already knew and was already getting dressed. Sad, sad day.