A Peep at Some Texas Poker Players, 1930

JF Ptak Science Books    Post 2462

Here's an interesting (literally) little book¹ on Western poker players and poker in general published in the Great State in 1930.  What makes it very appealing to me is that it has colorful and rusty minute biographies (with drawings) of some of the noteworthy Western players, though it is particularly Texas-centric.(15 of 21 of the players are from that state). 

(The Library of Congress Copyright entries for 1930 lists "J.F. Dresing, Jr." ² in what may be the author's chair.)  

Contents of the pamphlet:

Introductory:

• "Rules for Winners (How to win more)" with advice such as “…Get in first blow on arriving home by advising wife of the pre-carious condition of the SICK FRIEND…”
• The pamphlet also offers "Rules for Losers (How to lose more)" such as “…attempt to “bluff” the winners frequently, and note result….” And “…draw for middle straights whenever the opportunity offers…” and “…never despair…”
• General Rules, such as “… when the cards are passed around, and the ‘pot not opened,’ do not neglect to mention, ‘honest dealer’”
• Rules for On-Lookers or Sweaters, such as “…request the cinch players to loosen up…” and “…talk all the time, criticize every man’s play…”

Wild Cards section:

• "Addresses to Make Up a Game table"
• “Experience log to track who owes what"

And then comes the 21 images of the great Texas poker players and their one-line identifications, which are entertaining and probably not very helpful:

Damon G. Gaiter, Dallas, Texas, “Who plays them wide open and makes the ‘going’ rough for the Leathered Vested FRATERNITY.”

B.A. Parrett, Owl-Den, Texas, “Who talks loose, but plays tight.”

Slid Dichardson, Athens, Texas, “The Bluff Ketcher, who calls every hand.”

Hack Jott, Milsap, Texas, “The player who abhors profanity, and strongly dislikes bad tempered critters.”

Colonel Lead Pipe Cinch, Claremore, Okla., “The man who never BLUFFS.”

Dr. Heb Talker, Lufkin, Texas, “About sunup after all night session at Slady Slokes, ‘and in the red’.”

(Lucky) Red Tobinson, Denison, Texas, “KNOWN AS the mysterious player who seldom loses.”

Con. B. Jollier, Saginaw, Texas, “The Hired Hand who always says: ‘Kill ‘em in the spring so they won’t bite you in the fall.’”

Easy Mark Smith, Pendleton, Oregon, “the man who was never known to win.”

Hack Hewberry, Chugwater, Wyo., “The player who kicks when a chip is taken out of the pot for the ‘kitty’”

Shorty Badluck, Wilcox, Arizona, “Certain cow hands of the outfit have never been known to win with him in the game.”

Dal Thuman, Tarrant County, Texas, “the man who stands pat on a pair of Deuces, maybe?”

Safety Speedy Hownsend, Birdville, Texas, “the player who invariably asks who dealt the cards.”

Hank Tillingin, Spur, Texas, “The player who was never known to lose”

Larry McCollough, Seymour, Texas, “The World’s Greatest Shotgun Player”

Socony Joe, “The toughest player in the outfit.”

Don Dones, Dalhart, Texas, “The cowpuncher who invariably passes blind, nicknamed the Sand-Bagger.”

Ted Handreth, Breckenridge, Texas, “The player who never wants to quit, but never squawks when losing.”

Rick Doyle, Midland, Texas, “The player who always deals WILD CARDS.”

Bill Pratten, Aledo, Texas, “A dangerous player without fear or judgment.”

Baldy Ross, Muleshoe, Texas, “Who originated the expression ‘when they show weakness give them Pe-ru-ney’”

Notes

1.  The book is 5x3 inches and 93pp, with 21 full-page portraits, and nearly every page printed on one side only. My copy is the copyright deposit copy (received by the Library of Congress on 30 December 1930), and came to me via a purchase of what was called "The Pamphlet Collection". 

2.   I can find nothing concerning Mr,. Dresing except for this entry in Manufacturer's Record, 1922.