I received an email the other day, someone asked my impression of Joe Conforte, who was the brothel king of Nevada.
My early recollections of Joe go back to 1956 and the few times I saw him in those days. I first saw his bodyguard, a rather large, black haired guy, whose name I unfortunately forget. I may not have ever known his name, all the dealers at the Nevada Club referred to his as the "cry baby." I guess, when he lost, tears came to his eyes, he hated to lose.
I think around this time, Joe was just getting started with his Triangle Ranch. I think he arrived in Reno in 1955. I had a good friend that was a cab driver, the main means of transportaton to the Ranch, and he was always rewarded financially when he took a fare to the Ranch. Joe was always well known for "taking care of people."
Years later, I remember working at the Primm, and seeing Joe and his driver pull up in front of the club in a gorgeous cordovan colored Lincoln convertable, escorting a few girls into the club, and in general, letting the public know that "Joe Conforte is in the house."
Camel haired top coat, big cigar, and he was always ready for a handshake. Ernie kept special cigars behind the bar for Joe, and an expensive bottle of something for him, not sure what it was.
I don't think he wagered heavily, the times I dealt to him, he won. He was a backline player and knew when to get in, and when to get out. He was a good player and an even better "toker. "
I think it was in 1959 that he spent some time in jail in Carson City. Rumor had it that he was put on a "work party" in Virginia City shortly after he signed in, and while there, stayed at the Blair House in a suite of rooms. The Blair House was very old, so I am sure the accommodations were not that great, but still not bad for a work party.
Later on while in prison, he bankrolled some of the games that went on in prison. Yes, at that time, there was a casino in the prison. Gambling is legal in Nevada, so there was nothing wrong with a casino in prison. I guess in prison, Joe still wore his red Alpaca sweater, alligator shoes with the tassels, white on white shirts, Sansi-belt slacks. True Magazine did a story on him in prison, there he is at a crap table, big cigar, rolling the dice. I have heard that his prison number was stenciled on the back of the red alpaca sweater.
It was always a joke in the casinos, that prisoners while in prison, could learn a trade, becoming a dealer, in the prison casino. Prisoner rehab. The only flaw, you can't work in a casino in Nevada if you have been convicted and have a record.
On an occasion or two I have been in a group of people, talking with Joe, at the Nugget in Sparks, while they were converting little bills to larger bills for him. I always enjoyed those brief conversations. Joe was a very intelligent man and knew how to "play" the system. He was an "icon" whether you liked him or not. He was a big part of Nevada history.
If you think about it, Joe ran a more honest business than the casinos. With Joe, you paid for a service, and received it. In a casino, you never stood a chance of winning, so who was the more honest?
The Olympics are heading his way, millions of people, billions of dollars, and Joe right in the middle. I think Mustang in Spanish is Mustang ..... he won't even need new calling cards, just change the address. I hope his health holds out so he can get back into "action" again.
