NOT JUST POKER

 Fact or Fiction?

In her daily comings-and-goings, Tilly was a fastidious dresser. Socially, she was more flamboyant in her attire. Even when walking her yappy, Mini-Pin (Miniature Pinscher), whose name I believe was Minnie (maybe Mini)–maybe Millie, or something like that. Tilly would strut through John Jay Park as though she was about to leave for lunch with the “girls” at the Oak Room. Tilly wore “yellows” a lot of the time. I remember one outfit especially–a light-yellow suit with black and white piping bordering the collar and pockets. She wore this suit with a silk-like white blouse with huge white ruffles that flowed through the suit collar and lapels. In the winter she would parade around in her Persian lamb coat and matching Cossack-like hat. She never transacted “business” (taking wagers or paying-off winners or collecting payments from losers) on her dog walks. Literally, she did not like to shit where she eats, living about eight blocks away from John Jay Park. She lived at the corner of East End Avenue and 89^th Street, opposite Gracie Mansion.

Coincidentally, I lived in the same building. Tilly’s 8^th floor, corner-apartment had a view that over-looked Gracie Mansion, the East River, and Manhattan points north. Ironically, I don’t remember on what floor I lived. I know it was not on the same floor as Tilly. I must have lived on a few floors or more below her, because I first met her in the elevator, as she was going down and I was getting-on. Did my one-bedroom apartment over-look the East River too? I know I did not live in a corner apartment. I am just not sure of the view from my bedroom or living room.

I do remember furnishing my apartment with great care, especially the living room. Oriental-style, floor-to-ceiling sliding-panel screens served as curtains. The opaque screens allowed sunlight to reflect throughout the room. In one corner there was a free-standing bar. In another corner there was an over-sized mattress completely encased in fluffy, yet silky-smooth vicuna. On a wall behind the couch was a huge oil painting, painted by a friend of a friend. This huge oil was of heavy white blotches with swathes of pink and was often referred to as my pink vomit painting. The bedroom was huge enough to accommodate two double-beds. Oh yes, the bathroom! I almost forgot about that room. I wall-papered the entire bathroom with pages and pages of A. E. Housman’s poetry.

The building in which we both lived had many amenities–no gym, in those days–including an on-premises Chinese restaurant and bar. Tilly took full advantage of the restaurant. She would call there at least twice a week and have meals delivered upstairs. If her meals were not delivered from there, then they would arrive from a nearby deli. If she was entertaining, she had more elaborate dinners delivered by cab from restaurants like Pen and Pencil and Lindy’s. Tilly made no pretenses. She disliked cooking and hated after-preparation clean-ups. I enjoyed the Chinese restaurant as well. Not only was it convenient, but the food was more than adequate. Best, was having a bar right in the building. I could leave the car in the building’s garage, not worrying if I stumbled out of the bar.

Tilly did not frequent bars. Now and then, on special occasions, she would have a glass of Champagne. She needed to have her wits about her at all times. Skirting the law and being on top of her game were full-time jobs. There were no OTB’s back then. Off-track-betting came to New York in 1971. Up until that time, if you wanted to bet on a horse, you had to travel to Belmont, or Aqueduct, or Mammoth. If you really needed the action, you might be so desperate as to go at night to Yonkers or Roosevelt for harness racing. (We all thought the trotters were fixed. If we went to the trotters it was usually because someone suggested that he had some inside info on one of the races.) In new York City, if you said you were going to the races, certainly, nobody assumed you were going to watch “auto racing.”

Tilly did not take $2 action. To place a bet on the ponies through Tilly, you had to wager a minimum of $20 on either Win, Place, or Show or a minimum of $30 Across-the-Board. If you wanted Daily-Double, or Quinella, or Trifecta action, you would not call Tilly. She did not want to waste her phone time and tie-up her phones with small-time gamblers. She specialized in sports betting.

No ESPN then! If you wanted to watch a game, you usually went to the game or listened on the radio. TV games were getting viewer-ship, but most broadcasts were just of local games. Going back a little bit, I remember listening to New York Giants baseball games on the radio when away games were recreated via ticker-tape to the local announcers who would simulate the games. The game of baseball was so different then. Local stars were guys like Ernie Lombardi who was a catcher for the Giants. Indeed, he was a power hitter. It was seeing him run the bases, though, that was the show. He could smash a ball into far left field at the Polo Grounds and be thrown-out at first base. It was said that he was the slowest man to ever play baseball well.

Since my loveable Giants and detestable Dodgers deserted New York in 1957 and 1958, most of the baseball betting was on the Yankees. The true money-players waited to bet on any team with a streak of five or more wins. The Mets did not play their first season until 1962. I remember their first season, oh so well. I had two season tickets at third base just behind the railing. It was like being part of every infield play (better put, mis-play) at the Polo Grounds. This Mets team set the record for losses with a season record of 40 and 112, finishing over 60 games out of first place. The season was more than exciting though, especially watching the phumphering of the third baseman Felix Mantilla or his occasional back-ups, Don Zimmer or Charlie Neal.

Local football betting was strictly on the NFL’s Giants. The Dodgers did not arrive until 1960. As for basketball, the Nets did not play in the NBA until 1976. Sports betting on college basketball brought lots of action. The success of CCNY, Manhattan College, St. Johns, and LIU lured fans and bettors. The 32-college scandal of 1951 left many scars, but did not hinder college-hoops betting in later years. To get the whole scoop on these scandals, check-out http://espn.go.com/classic/s/basketball_scandals_explosion.html.

The Knicks, the Rangers, and the popularity of boxing combined with all the other teams and sports made for great betting fodder. Tilly was a very busy lady. Action was hard to come by. If you wanted an action Poker game, you had to seek out some clandestine card rooms, most a little sleazy. Poker games flourished after-hours in office buildings and in the backrooms of many stores. Home Poker games abounded. Atlantic City did not become a legalized gambling Mecca until 1976, but Tilly knew where all the action was.

To be continued……………