Warren Nelson - University of Nevada, Reno

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x Warren Nelson same prudence that the intelligent reader exercises when consulting government records, newspaper accounts, diaries, and other sources of historical information. All statements made here constitute the remembrance or opinions of the individuals who were interviewed, and not the opinions of the UNOHP. In order to standardize the design of all UNOHP transcripts for the online database, most have been reformatted, a process that was completed in 2012. Th is document may therefore diff er in appearance and pagination from earlier printed versions. Rather than compile entirely new indexes for each volume, the UNOHP has made each transcript fully searchable electronically. If a previous version of this volume existed, its original index has been appended to this document for reference only. A link to the entire catalog can be found online at http://oralhistory.unr.edu/. For more information on the UNOHP or any of its publications, please contact the University of Nevada Oral History Program at Mail Stop 0324, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0324 or by calling 775/784-6932. Alicia Barber Director, UNOHP July 2012
Warren Nelson was born in Great Falls, Montana in 1913. He went to high school and one year of college in Helena, Montana. It was in Montana that he started his gambling career as a very young man, a career that has lasted over forty-fi ve years. He came to Reno at the request of a friend in 1936. He started a Keno game at the Palace Club that year; it was the fi rst to be operated by a white man in Reno. He was at the Palace Club until 1942 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Later he was part owner of the Waldorf Club for a time, worked at the Mapes for fi ve years, and went back to the Palace Club for another eight years. In the early 1960s he, along with some other men, bought the Club Cal-Neva in Reno. Th ese same men opened a new casino in May, 1978 called the Comstock. He also has minor interests in casinos in Las Vegas. He was also one of the fi rst presidents of the Gaming Industry Association. Over the more than forty years that he has been a part of gambling in Nevada and Reno in particular, he has known many varied individuals, Introduction famous and infamous, in the gambling business and other walks of life. Mr. Nelson was very enthusiastic about doing this oral history. He was very open about all facets and periods of his life, and what is contained in this volume is the original transcript with only minor changes. The taping sessions took place in his offi ce in the Club Cal-Neva in Reno from November, 1977 to March, 1978. His offi ce refl ects the nature of the man. It is small and unpretentious and contains what is important to him. Th ere are used Keno tickets that fi ll up half the room. Th ere are awards and certifi cates from civic and charitable organizations on the walls. He is still in touch with his gambling origins in Keno, and because of his success he can aff ord to give part of his time and of himself to others today. He truly is a man who has been in gambling from the old days to the age of computers. Th e Oral History Project of the University of Nevada, Reno, Library preserves the past and the present for future research by tape
Page 1: Description Warren Nelson: Gaming f
Page 5 and 6: Warren Nelson: Gaming from the Old
Page 7 and 8: Preface to the Digital Edition Intr
Page 9: Established in 1964, the University
Page 13 and 14: I was born in Great Falls, Montana,
Page 15 and 16: good basketball player. Although I
Page 17 and 18: When I left school, probably in Nov
Page 19: a good chance and they thought it w
Page 22 and 23: 10 Warren Nelson A short time later
Page 24 and 25: 12 Warren Nelson would sit down and
Page 26 and 27: 14 Warren Nelson Th at was a true s
Page 28 and 29: 16 Warren Nelson laughed at Harolds
Page 30 and 31: 18 Warren Nelson Th ere was still o
Page 32 and 33: 20 Warren Nelson imagine the conver
Page 34 and 35: 22 Warren Nelson way you should fi
Page 36 and 37: 24 Warren Nelson was a Jewish fello
Page 38 and 39: 26 Warren Nelson unbutton the coat,
Page 41 and 42: Pat and I were married in Las Vegas
Page 43 and 44: Th e money had to be spread very, v
Page 45 and 46: told me what he had done, and I wen
Page 47: of the Keno, I was very unhappy bec
Page 50 and 51: 38 Warren nelson business, never tr
Page 52 and 53: 40 Warren nelson I went back to see
Page 54 and 55: 42 Warren Nelson Th e limit we were
Page 56 and 57: 44 Warren Nelson him, but I think t
Page 58 and 59: 46 Warren Nelson hundred and sixtee
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48 Warren Nelson reputation and sig
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50 Warren Nelson reliable as anybod
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52 Warren Nelson Graham and McKay,
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54 Warren Nelson I believe it to be
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56 Warren Nelson a cashier and lear
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10 Civic Activities, Experiences wi
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Civic Activities, Experiences with
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70 Warren Nelson Chamber of Commerc
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72 Warren Nelson He said, “Now I
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74 Warren Nelson really make it wor
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Th e gaming industry in my opinion
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out well for us. When we did have u
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It was just a sort of over-kill to
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Original Index: For Reference Only
Page 99:
P Panelli, Bill, 22-23, 32, 41, 152
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Warren Nelson - University of Nevada, Reno

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