entertainment – Gambling-History.com https://gambling-history.com History of Gambling in the U.S. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:24:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://gambling-history.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-Kings-Castle-Chip-32x32.png entertainment – Gambling-History.com https://gambling-history.com 32 32 Quick Fact – Casino Trendsetter https://gambling-history.com/quick-fact-casino-trendsetter/ https://gambling-history.com/quick-fact-casino-trendsetter/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2019 15:01:35 +0000 https://gambling-history.com/?p=1859

1941

Nevada casinos are known for their big-name entertainment, and it all started in the city of Elko.

In spring 1941, Newton Crumley, the owner of the Commercial Hotel and its Monte Carlo Casino, engaged Ted Lewis, bandleader / singer / entertainer / popular radio star, to perform there for a week for $12,000 (about $196,000 today). Other stars who followed included Sophie Tucker, Lawrence Welk, Chico Marx, The Andrews Sisters and Paul Whiteman.

Photo from The New York Public Library Digital Collections, Billy Rose Theatre Division: Ted Lewis Act

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