Continuing some stories about the early Vegas days.

Around the mid 60s at The Sands. When Sinatra was in, we are packed every night. In those days you would not have much business in the afternoon. The big rush is always after each show lets out. 8pm show and midnight show.

I'm in the 21 pit. Very slow. Frank calls from the Sands steam room in the Health Club, next to the pool. He wants to play some 21. We would do this with him every once in awhile. The Pit desk in situated in the middle of the 21 pit with the tables going up and down the sides.

I tell Frank - "Fine."

I tell the dealer at the table nearest to the desk: "Deal the cards, Mr S. is going to play."

Dealer, deals out a hand. I tell Frank "You got 14, dealer has 5 (or whatever) up" Frank would tell me what he wants to do. Hit, stand, split, doubledown or whatever. He plays real good Blackjack. I tell the dealer and we play like this for awhile. Frank likes to do things like this and it's has never been done for anyone else.

Let me tell you about the time my friend, Sammy, tried to get it on.

It's a few months later and Sammy is in, starring at night in the Copa Room. One afternoon he calls me from the Sands steam room. He wants to play 21. I hesitate about it. I see Carl Cohen and call him over. He likes Sammy, like I do, but Carl says we can't do it. Carl is talking to me, not Sammy. I tell Sammy "Not now." He is persistent. Carl sees me trying to turn Sammy down. Carl says "Tell him fine." I tell Sammy "Alright we'll do it."

Carl whispers to me - "I don't want this continuing - whack him out."

So I tell Sammy "Let's get started - Alright, you got 17, dealer has 4 showing." Sammy says "stand" - I give the result: "Dealer had 14 - 6 - 20" Sammy bets $50 again. I tell Sammy "You got 11 - dealer has 6 - want to double down?" Sammy does, so now betting $100. I give Sammy his totals and what the dealer gets and Sammy loses again.

This goes on for awhile. Sammy is down about $600.

Oh, one thing. There are no cards being dealt! I'm just taking Sammy off.

After awhile Sammy's down around $1,100. He quits and will come by later and settle up.

Around 6pm, he does stop by and being the great guy he is, he is ready to pay what ever he owes.

I tell Sammy, "Carl said to tell you, you don't owe anything, Sammy, he doesn't want anyone but Frank doing this." Sammy says "It was fun, Eddie, next time I will win." I grab him real close and whisper to him "Sammy, no more, you are not going to win, I promise it." He smiles, he is getting it. He starts laughing. We're friends and he knows he should listen to me. I rib him "Sammy, you know how good you dance - I deal even better 21." He laughs out loud and heads off to get ready for the first show.

I hated turning Sammy down, He was truly a wonderful guy and of course one of the "heavyweights" at the Sands.