Date Uploaded: December 14, 2023
Permanent Link: http://wnhpc.com/details/fb10226924830439073
Contributor: William Brinsmead on Facebook
Source: Facebook: William Brinsmead
Source URL: https://www.facebook.com/groups/345496490863/permalink/10162047861915864/
Source Caption: The old China club in Reno !
I remember it was a big issue for our family on Dad's side,
They caught a bunch of shit when they sold the then Palm Saloon to a CHINESE guy, Bill Fong soon after ww2. Back then no bank would carry a mortgage for a POC ???? So the family carried the loan for 30 years. He was actually a wounded war hero ???? WW2 fighting the Japanese in China with the US Army. He then changed the name to Bill Fong's New China Club, Quite controversial at the time! I believe it was the first casino that
welcomed non-whites.I often ate there in the 60s.
I had SUCH a crush on his 'unfortunately' straight son in J High and HS ????We built slot cars in a tiny machine shop his uncle had in the basement. ( shop was also because of racism) he had to repair and make many of his parts, as the slot machine companies didn't want to deal with a 'non white'.
The almighty buck beats racism!
He was soon making big $$$ soon after ww2 because the other clubs
( casinos) wouldn't admit non whites. This was now late 50s one day Bill Harrah and friends were walking by the noontime packed club, almost immediately the racist ( no colored) signs on Harrahs club disappeared soon to be followed by the other clubs.
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