Gambler's Book Shop / GBC Press
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gambler's Book Club / GBC Press is located in the Huntridge area of Las Vegas (nearer to the downtown casinos than the Strip) the company has for over 40 years operated a rare sort of business: A bookstore & small press dedicated to gambling. Along with original books on various forms of gambling, the company engaged in reprinting of "classic" works related to gambling that had long passed out of copyright furthering Founder John Luckman's vision of Gambler's Book Club as a place of learning for gamblers:
In 1964, Gambler's Book Club was born. Luckman envisioned not just a bookstore, but a library of gambling and a forum for gamblers to gather and visit, argue, gossip, lie, and - most of all - learn from each other.[1]
Among the works resuscitated:
- "Stud Poker Blue Book", originally published in 1934
- "Racing Maxims of Pittsburgh Phil", based on the only interview of the famous horseplayer, George E. Smith[2]
- The 1928 "Handbook on Percentages", republished in 1976 by GBC with the "...firm belief...that the library of any gamblephile[sic] is incomplete without this classic work."[3]
- The 1906 "Stealing Machine" by Eugene Villiod, the French detective[4]
Among other notable works published: the first book on the now popular poker variant Texas hold'em, Hold'em Poker by David Sklansky. Although the role of publishing in the company has sharply declined with the passing of John Luckman in 1987, printing and other services are still offered to authors leading to an amount of book titles available exclusively through the store.
The company registered Gambler's Book Shop as alternate name in 1988[5] to clarify this brick and mortar didn’t require a membership card and to underscore its retail business.
GBC also had two quarterly magazines, Casino and Sports and Systems and Methods. Luckman hired Howard B. Schwartz in 1979[6] as editor of these publications. Howard Schwartz, who was born in Brooklyn and earned degrees from the University of Montana, Kansas State and the University of Northern Colorado, has a teaching and newspaper background, and became the owner of the store after the death of Edna Luckman(co-founder, and wife of John Luckman). The bookstore, now led by Schwartz, continues to be honored by designations and awards[7][8].
The store has been selling online since for 11 years[9], and frequently updates its web site[10] with new products. The store also has a Podcast, an rss feed, and a monthly email newsletter.
Contents |
[edit] Notes
[edit] Magazine Articles
In addition to appearances in and references by newspapers Gambler's Book Shop has been the subject of numerous magazine articles. In one high-profile instance in the August 1967 issue of Playboy Magazine, Maurice Zolotow wrote a ⅔-page piece titled High Rollers, for which he interviewed and referenced (then marketing director) Howard Schwartz regarding the lifestyle of serious gamblers. Schwartz lightly joked about the number "commas" in the bankroll, or gambling budget, of a highroller. Other notable articles:
- GQ Magazine, August 1992
- Entrepreneur Magazine, February 1984
- Nevada Magazine, November/December 1996
- Sport magazine, March 1987
- Publishers Weekly May 11, 1990
- Book Magazine, July/August 2001
- Nation's Business, November 1991
[edit] References
- ^ Hopkins, A.D.. The First 100: Portraits of the Men and Women Who Shaped Las Vegas. ISBN 9780929712673.
- ^ The Legend of Pittsburgh Phil. www.oddjack.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Shampaign, Charles. Handbook on Percentages.
- ^ Timeline 1901-1910. ratmmjess.tripod.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Nevada Secretary of State: Entity Details
- ^ First 100 Persons Who Shaped Southern Nevada. 1st100.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
- ^ Best Bookstore. Best Bookstore. reviewjournal.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ Winner of Best Bookstore in the Staff poll. Winner of Best Bookstore in the Staff poll. reviewjournal.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
- ^ whois.ws cache
- ^ web.archive.org
[edit] External links
Official site: www.gamblersbook.com
