possible casino sight in the 1950s

trash n cash

trash n cash

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Oct 14, 2007
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Algonquin IL
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possible casino sight in the 1950's

Researching a sight that had a Italian restaurant and a gondola that took you down the river to a casino. I think it's now the sight of Allison woods forest preserve at the intersection near Milwaukee and River Rd. The Name of the place might have been Via Venito? I guess it was running in the 50's now all forest preserve. Very early in the research.
 

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Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Some of my research is found in some mafia history of Chicago as told by some coworkers. I do not know of this place. This is the first I've heard of it.
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

You might be on to something, but a lot of that area was flooded recently, with all of those rains. Seems every time I detect an area prone to frequent flooding, I get nothing but trash that was carried by the water. Sounds like it's got potential though. Good luck!

Joe
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

I had a lengthly paragraph typed but decided I was saying something I probably shouldn't.But in your research,I would not look for the word 'casino'.
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Sounds likea stretch, since the "river" is barely big enough to turn a canoe around at so many points and a gondola is less manageable in a small, comparatively faster and more confined area. But hey, good luck!

Love those old aerial views of Milwaukee avenue from the '30's. Here's one from the intersection of Milwaukee and River.

Have you ever researched the Jesuit site in Lake in the Hills? Some yard work about 15-20 years ago revealed a very old well with rosaries, onion bottles and other items dating to the late 17th, early 18th century. These indicated Jesuits may have settled there during the French period in Illinois. Might make for a good treasure hunt if more could be learned.
 

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Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

I've never lived more than a stone's throw from Milwaukee Avenue. I also take Milwaukee Ave to work every day, they're doing some construction on Milwaukee Ave from Lawrence, past Wilson Park, to about Montrose. When they began tearing the street up (to install new pipes, it seems), they had to tear out the old streetcar tracks-then they dug down deeper and tore out the remains of the old wooden planks, namesakes of the old, original "Milwaukee Plank Road". I wanted to pull over and watch, but alas, I didn't want to be late for work. Now, most of the real work is done, but they still have to work on the northbound lanes, I think. I still wonder what may have been lurking between those old planks-stuff considered trash then, valuable today, and not necessarily monetary value. Possibly old coins, large cents...who knows.

Joe
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Wow, nice observation Twistidd! It's like you can get the fever about it. It can be more than just the hobby with our machines. Next thing you know your out there with a shovel digging 6 ft. down becoming an archaeologist. I was there, like that a few years ago. Me my friend on atv's. in Utah looking for the lost pieces of the wagon parties who went west for gold and never made it. Parts of wagon trains lay in the sun abandoned, as they consumed themselves and were lost in the great salt desert.
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Lowbatts that's a good one to look into since it's in my back yard so to speak. All I can do is do the research pan it out if it's good or not and share with everyone else. I have a book to read on the Chicago mafia and ask some Goodfellas that ran the numbers on Grand ave. west of the city limits in the 50's. who I bump into at breakfast on occasion. That's all I have so far. It was explained to me that you had dinner at the club then if you were in the know. You got to take a ride on a gondola which was probably just a skiff down the river to a shack out back to do some gaming. I'm looking for out of the ordinary stuff. It keeps me going through the winter. Mike
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Sounds like a possibility, but might be stretched a little like Lowbatts said. Still it's fun trying to put 2 and 2 together to see if there's any truth to the story.

Next time you see your paisans, ask them if they ever knew guys like Chizzy, Cats and High Pockets. These were
some wiseguys I knew very well growing up.

Mike
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Mike, sounds like some cats in my family. I've got family with the stuffed and mounted pheasant, clear plastic sofa cushion protectors, and the wooden clock on the wall in the shape of Sicily, lol.

Speaking of all this Dego talk, here's a joke I hope you're all hearing for the first time:

Why do some people believe Jesus was Italian?

Well, he was a carpenter, lived at home w/ his mother until he was 33, and thought he was the son of God.

Alright folks, I'll be here all night! wah wah waaahhhh....

Joe (Pesci)
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Thats pretty good Twistidd, NOW GO GET YOUR SHINE BOX!
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

:icon_pirat:
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Hey Joe,
Whattsa matta for you? You be more respectful or shuttuppa you face. Got a couple DP's in the house here.
Yeah, Princesses.

But seriously, Already brought Kermit out west here to play for a day and we saw the results. Hospitalization before hospitality, that's our motto. When you gonna take a turn on the wheel and head out for a spell?
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

whatsa matta u, college for Italians.
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Just for the record guys I'm not Italian, I'm German/Swedish. ::) Anybody going to the camp on the weekend? I promise to be there early so I can get with you early birds who might be there.
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Trash,

I probably won't be there this weekend, unless a)Kermit can't make it out with me to another spot I found, or b)that spot I found is a bust. I promised I'd hit that place with Kermit.

If I do show up at the camp, I might not give a notice in advance. We should exchange numbers.

Joe
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

Possible, but not sure yet. The number exchange sounds like a good idea so everyones on the same page or in case something comes up at the last minute.
Mike
 

Re: possible casino sight in the 1950's

I have seen pics of this placewith a couple of people in a small gondola,I did not read about the casino (looking for the pics).
There were boat rides along the river at forest park also,(pics at the forest pk. library.)
I'll post the pics if I find them, BillT.
 

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