Wheel of Fortune - Softcover

Morrison, Archie; Pieri, Joe

Softcover

ISBN 10: 184183064X ISBN 13: 9781841830643

Publisher: Mercat Press, 2004

Synopsis

Many talented Scots found an exit route from the slums of Glasgow through football, boxing or show business. Archie Morrison discovered another way--through his skills as a croupier. Starting in the Stakis casinos in Scotland, he was soon headhunted for the Nassau Grand in the Bahamas, and eventually was lured to the gambling mecca of Las Vegas. Here, in Caesar's Palace and the Flamingo, he dealt the cards, rolled the dice and spun the wheel for Dean Martin, Sinatra and Lee Marvin, and for legendary professional gamblers like Amarillo Slim and Fast Eddie Seremba. Amid the hustle and glamour, Archie is always aware of his Scottish roots tugging at him. In a bittersweet ending he gives up his work in the casinos and finds a new life caring for the sick and elderly in his home city of Glasgow.

About this title

About the Author

Joe Pieri is the author of several successful books including Tales of the Savoy, Isle of the Displaces and The Big Men. 

From the Inside Flap

Many talented Scots found an exit route from the slums of Glasgow through football, boxing or show business. Archie Morrison discovered another way - through his skills as a croupier. Starting in the Stakis casinos in Scotland, he was soon headhunted for the Nassau Grand in the Bahamas, and was eventually lured to the gambling mecca of Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas! The playground of the Hollywood Stars and the American Mafia! Or so I thought. All the films I had seen about the place, such as Ocean's Eleven and Viva Las Vegas, came to mind, and although I was no longer the naïve Maryhill boy who went open-mouthed to the cinema to watch Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson in movies about gangsters and gambling, the idea of spending some time in legendary Las Vegas and being paid handsomely for doing so was irresistible."

In Caesar's Palace and the Sands, Archie dealt the cards, rolled the dice and spun the wheel for Dean Martin, Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, and struck up friendships with legendary professional gamblers like Amarillo Slim and Fast Eddie Seremba. He presided at one memorable baccarat session when Kerry Packer walked away with winnings of $600,000:

"He gave me a nod of the head, shook my hand and pushed $6,000 of chips across the table to me. 'A tip for the dealer.' "

But amid the hustle and glamour, Archie is always aware of his Scottish roots tugging at him. In a bittersweet ending he gives up his work in the casinos and finds a new life caring for the sick and elderly in his home city of Glasgow.

More than just a memoir, Wheel of Fortune also provides a unique insider's account of the tricks of the croupier's trade, stories of some of the most outlandish gambling scams ever attempted, and potted biographies of notorious players from the past such as Nick 'the Greek' Dandalos, Sheriff Bat Masterson and 'Calamity' Jane Burke.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mercat Press
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 184183064X
• ISBN 13: 9781841830643
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160