Harolds Club Reno Casino History "The Friendliest Club"

Welcome back! This time we talk about the Harolds Club which was located in Reno from 1935 until 1995. It was at one point Nevada's largest casino and is a very important piece to Reno and Nevada casino history. Pioneered by Pappy Smith and family they were able to grow quickly and become the place to be. Many may know the term "Harolds Club or Bust" and this is where it came from. Watch to learn more! Thank you!
Links:
Kling, Dwayne, and NetLibrary, Inc. The Rise of the Biggest Little City : an Encyclopedic History of Reno Gaming, 1931-1981. University of Nevada Press, 2000.
chipguide.themo...
Socials:
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[@user-zt9pg5ls6n]

Thank you for that video. I met Raymond and I Pappy Smith back in the 50s when I was a teenager and there were hearings going on in Reno about the proposed rooting for the new freeway and where was to go and I like Raymond Pappy Smith were concerned about the ridiculous third Street route so I wrote to Mr. SmithAnd he answered my letter and invited me to come down to meet him. I did this, and this was followed by a luncheon at the seventh floor restaurant in his high-rise tower. He was a very nice gentleman, and I was very happy to meet him, and we were both very pleased that the third Street route was not selected and the one that I was in favor was the one that was selected and that was the seventh Street route.

[@mashedorbaked7694]

Thank's Oscar for your Passion of this little city & opening old memories 1974-present.

[@LegendaryForces]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@jameshogg5275]

Amazing history, great video

[@LegendaryForces]

Thanks James!!

[@richardpaulkillian8747]

On Labor Day of 1959 Lincoln Fitzgerald hired me as a slot mechanic. Daily, after work a number wo us would go just a few feet out of the Nevada club to the bar just indide Harold's Club for Bushmills & Sevens. Still repairing slots now, two week short 65 years.

[@user-zt9pg5ls6n]

I was a teenager when living in Reno in the 50s and early 60s and was there when they were congressional hearings about the new freeway route to be built through Reno. The owner of Harold's club, Raymond, I Pappy Smith, was concerned about the third Street route which would haveJeopardize his parking garage and I was concerned about the crazy route also so I wrote a letter to him and he responded by inviting me to his office to discuss the situation. Shortly after that, he invited me to his restaurant in the high-rise portion of the club for lunch, which I accepted. He really seemed like a very nice person, and that was certainly a day that I will long remember. And by the way, the route that I thought was best was the seventh Street route and that was the route that was actually an eventually selected.

[@westencharles5684]

Good work Oscar! Keep them coming...

[@LegendaryForces]

Thank you Westen!

[@wadeconney6507]

Nice! I loved the gun collection. I wonder what happened to it. It’s great to see the history of the Reno casino’s. I spent my summer vacations in grade school in Reno. As a kid I loved the lights and such. My uncle taught me how to handicap and bet jai ali. He made the bets though.. haha. Harolds and cal neva where my favorite cheap breakfast. Harrars sport casino for cheap steak and gravy

[@richardvicek8043]

WWE Hall of Fame professional wrestler Dick the Bruiser worked at Harold’s Club on the security team while a member of the university of Nevada football team.

[@LegendaryForces]

Wow that's some awesome information, never knew that before. Thanks for sharing!

[@ryminvesting6554]

Great video.

[@LegendaryForces]

Thank you!

[@billpurcell741]

fantastic

[@LegendaryForces]

Thanks Bill!

[@johnbenedictorchids5207]

Good job... 👍

[@LegendaryForces]

Thank you John!

[@genevieve1963]

I worked nights here while I was going to nursing school.

[@HooDatDonDar]

I heard there was a silver dollar bar. Thousands of silver dollars sealed in acrylic plastic made up the bar counter. Have you any pictures? And who got them?

[@shotoybentoy2119]

1935, HAROLD'S club 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🇺🇸

[@ryanfresh8521]

I just received the $1,000 Harolds club chip denomination today from eBay

[@LegendaryForces]

VERY NICE!

[@ryanfresh8521]

Also. Find out about Dells Club. An illegal casino from Illinois. It’s a green plain mold chip just like the chesterfield ones. I also bought a nevada club $25 blue and brown pie mold today.

[@LegendaryForces]

@@ryanfresh8521 Alright, I'll have to check that one out! Many you are just getting chips left and right haha!

[@user-yb6wl8qe8f]

I must have done something wrong cause my comment disappeared right after I put it up.

[@gregmcmurray5525]

You're not entirely correct on Herald's Club One you're not talking about the expansion in 1979. When you closed forward Harold's club. You're also not talking about when they came to see the crazy ads. Or the Tom mixed gun collection? What about the antiques and antique dolls and the nickelode? On, you've never mentioned some of the things that Harold's club was famous for all over the world, the most fabulous gaining company in the world. For advertising, you didn't talk about any of that you didn't talk about what happened. True, we didn't ever talk about all the antiques for storage and hour to use. You didn't talk about the remaining pieces of Herald's club, it still exists today. What about the pony express lodge? What about the bank building? It became planned to Hollywood and hair at Harris. What about the parking garage? Harold's club? The hotel tower, the single Harold's club tower, or the dual towers on 2 separate streets. What about the tower

[@hoggravyandchitlins]

I remember when Harold's Club or Bust license plate frames were common.