The story I heard was that he had two card clubs in Gardena, California, and had a finance company in between the two. Also heard he got his start from nothing but an idea and some guts.
He got to Gardena with nothing. He contacted an influential citizen, politician, and told him he was starting a private club, and gave two such individuals free membership. Then he showed those names to others who would like to be association with them, and got paying members that way. No cash, all checks. Then he went to the bank with those checks, with plans for his new club and they loaned him the money to build it, and that was how he got his start.
He hired me on sight, with an assist from Mr. Alan Roberts, casino manager. After I worked for him for a while, and with the help of my Shift Manager, Mr. Don Eammelli, I got aa suit job and sat box, and then a little time on the "floor."
He was very good to me. He would come in every morning about the same time. He had a nice Cadillac, would drive from home to a parking lot in town, and an employee would drive him to the front of the Primm, he would get out and walk in the front of the club. Dave, the bartender, would get a phone call from the parking lot and have an Old Fashioned ready for him at the end of the bar. He took a sip but I don't think he ever finished it. He would ask us how well we did on the table. If we had a good night he might have a drink waiting for us when we got off. One real good night, didn't make it home for a few days.
He walked in one morning and decided he wanted the bar on the other side of the room, took them a few days and nights, major renovation, but they got it done. He and his wife adopted a child or two. I remember him carrying in a boy perhaps two years old, all dressed up, proud as could be of his son. He was wearing little Alligator shoes .... his young wife was an expert trapshooter and, I think, perhaps an attorney. Story goes that she came to Reno for a divorce, got it, worked at Harolds Club, asked around who the most eligible bachelor in Reno happened to be, went to work at the Primm as a 21 dealer and ended up marrying Ernie. She was a lovely, gracious woman. I have briefly talked with her when she would bring the children in to see Dad.
The Primm was a great job, gave me many opportunities, Ernie was a true gentleman .... all who were successful in the casino industry were of the same ilk ..............
