W.C.C. (Western Casino Collectibles) 1989-1997
We started in 1989 and had club chips made in 1990,
& a prototype for 1991 This combination led Armin to start up W.C.C. (Western Casino Collectibles) with C.T. Rodgers so they could publish a club magazine every month and appeal to the 'locals'. It was not long after that when they had over 340 members. W.C.C. met mostly at a local hotel, Airtel, in Van Nuys by the airport. CT & Armin put on a show at the Airtel around 1990 W.C.C. ran from 2 members to the largest meeting Armin recalls of 22 members. The largest turn out was due mostly to our club secretary, Estelle Hartman. She did a fabulous job for the club, which explains the largest turnout of 22 members at one time. We met at the Airtel hotel in Van Nuys. I know I was involved in 1995, however the meetings had been going on for a few years before that, I believe. In June - August 1996 we moved to the Plaza de Oro in Encino for about four months. Then on Sept 17, 1996 we moved to our new home at Hollywood Park casino due to the graciousness of General Manager (and chapter member Tom Bowling) and owner Leo Chu.
So. Cal. Chapter of CC>CC 1997-2004
At this time we had been in contact with national to become a satellite chapter, and hence the Southern California Chapter of the CC>CC. April 1997 we became an official chapter of the CCGTCC when we wrote by-laws. Gene Grossblatt was very active in our W.C.C. and acted as treasurer. Armin was voted in as the first President of our Southern California Chapter of the CC>CC. Meetings had been moved to Hollywood Park Casino in 1996.
Southern California Casino Collectors Club 2004-
The Southern California Casino Collectors Club evolved from the So. Cal. CC>CC Chapter when the chapter format was discontinued by the CC>CC in 2004. Meetings continued at Hollywood Park Casino.
While many of our members collect casino items from the major casino locations:
Las Vegas & Nevada; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Mississippi & the Gulf Coast;
Some like to focus on the local Southern California area. Collecting in the Southern California Casino Collectors Club area of 10 counties can involve 21 currently open Indian Tribal Casinos, with more planned & under construction, 19 obsolete or name changed Indian locations; between 25 & 30 current operating CA Card Rooms, 400+ obsolete or name changed card rooms. Combined these give local collectors a rich collecting field to explore, within easy driving distance.
