Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998 | 11:02 a.m.
While much of old Las Vegas is slowly being destroyed to pave the way for new megaresorts, at least one important part of its history is being preserved.
The Gamblers Book Shop, which has operated locally for 34 years, will open a permanent, free display of historic photographs at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Subjects of the photos are the people who made Las Vegas what it is today -- the gamblers, gambling-book authors, casino founders and executives, sports and race book directors, junketeers and many others.
"It's easy to be dazzled by the big hotels and casinos, but it was the people who came here to earn their fortunes who gave this city its life and its purpose," Peter Ruchman, general manager of the Gamblers Book Shop at 630 S. 11th St., said.
"You won't find a single photo of a casino building in the more than 100 that will be on display. Instead you will see photos of interesting and significant people just being themselves -- laughing and enjoying what Las Vegas has to offer."
As a resident of Las Vegas for 30 years, Ruchman said it disgusts him every time he sees a big deal being made about the leveling of an old, historic casino.
"We don't preserve our history -- we implode it," he said. "We forget our past. I've never been to a casino implosion and never will go to one. I loved gambling in the Aladdin, Hacienda and other places. I did not want to see them blown up."
By the same token, casinos -- with the exception of Binion's Horseshoe, which has a poker hall of fame -- have done little to preserve the memories of the people who enabled them and the industry to grow by leaps and bounds.
"Gamblers used to be some families' dirty little secret; however today gambling is everywhere, and it is accepted," Ruchman said.
"Now, there is a much greater interest in people of the past who made gambling what it is today. But people today don't know what they looked like. They are mythical. Here you will get to see photos of those people."
The largest contributor to the exhibit is photographer, gambling analyst and sports gaming radio talk show host Larry Grossman, who has documented the major players extensively over the past decade.
"Visually, these people are intriguing, especially the poker players," said Grossman, whose radio show "You Can Bet on It," can be heard at 4 p.m. daily on KBAD 920-AM. "They have such expression in their eyes -- such intensity.
"When you get right down to it, the people are the lifeblood of the gaming industry and the soul of gambling is the gamblers. And I truly respect the people I photograph."
A lot of Grossman's photos were taken at the World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe, which he has covered as a radio reporter and magazine columnist for the past decade.
In addition to Grossman's work will be historic photographic treasures. Among them:
-- A photo taken on the night in 1959 that John Scarne introduced baccarat to Las Vegas at the old Sands. The rare photograph features Scarne observing the first players ever to play a hand of the high-stakes game.
-- The only known photo of Lawrence Revere, who revolutionized blackjack with his book "Playing Blackjack as a Business."
-- A photo of Ed Thorp, whose 1963 book "Beat the Dealer" is the No. 1 best-selling gambling book in history with more than 5 million copies sold.
-- A photo taken in the wee hours of the morning when, after a marathon session, Tom McEvoy captured the 1983 World Series of Poker title.
-- A rare photo of Southern gambler J.R. "Junior" Moore, who was the subject of the acclaimed gambling book "The Crossroader."
-- Three photos of three-time world poker champion Stu Ungar, who died last month at age 45.
Also exhibited will be dynamic photos of late poker Hall-of-Famer Johnny Moss, late blackjack legend Kenny Uston, retired oddsmaker Bob Martin, retired sports-book operator Sonny Reizner, late junket king "Big Julie" Weinstein, late entertainer Frank Sinatra, late casino owner Benny Binion and many others.
Ruchman got the idea for the exhibit while attending the World Series of Poker and seeing the wall of past world champions and the Hall of Fame at the Horseshoe.
"I thought how difficult would it be to start an exhibit of some of Las Vegas' most colorful characters?" he said. "There truly was no other place in Las Vegas that honored gamblers and other important figures in the industry."
The Gamblers Book Shop display will be a constantly changing exhibit with new photos being rotated in to keep it fresh and exciting, Ruchman said.
Wednesday's four-hour opening ceremony also will pay tribute to the late John Luckman, as well as his widow, Edna Luckman, and to Howard Schwartz.
John Luckman co-founded the Gambler's Book Shop in 1964 with Edna, who has run the business since John died in 1987. Schwartz is the longtime overseer of the Luckmans' business and a respected analyst.
A special tribute will be paid to Peter Griffin, the gambling author who died Oct. 18. His works include "The Theory of Blackjack," "Extra Stuff" and "Gambling Ramblings." His widow, Lydia Griffin, is expected to be in attendance, as will many other authors, gamblers and the subjects of the photos in the show.
Grossman's radio show will be broadcast live from the exhibit site at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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