Episode 19: Ace of Spades

Show notes for Episode 19:

“The Opposite of a Peace Sign” by James McManus, an excerpt from his book Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker (2009).

I start the show with an excerpt from one of the later chapters in the new history of poker by James McManus (Positively Fifth Street). The chapter originally appeared as a column in the June 10, 2008 issue of Card Player magazine.

This passage comes amid a discussion by McManus of some of the associations made over the years with the ace of spades. In particular, this excerpt focuses on how the card was “played” (so to speak) during the Vietnam Conflict.

“Ace of Spades” by Motörhead (1980)

Could not possibly have an episode with this title and not pay homage to Lemmy and his mates, could we? The lyrics:

If you want to gamble, I tell you I’m your man.
You win some, lose some -- it’s all the same to me.
The pleasure is to play, it makes no difference what you say.
I don’t share your greed, the only card I need is
The ace of spades, the ace of spades.

Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil,
Going with the flow -- it’s all a game to me.
Seven or eleven, snake eyes watching you.
Double up or quit, double stakes or splits,
The ace of spades, the ace of spades.

You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools,
But that’s the way I like it baby,
I don’t wanna live forever.
And don’t forget the joker!

Pushing up the ante, I know you’ve got to see me,
Read ’em and weep -- the dead man’s hand again.
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die.
The only thing you see, you know it’s gonna be
The ace of spades, the ace of spades.

“Fatal Ace of Spades,” Nick Harris Detective, July 15, 1938

There is not a lot of information out there regarding this show. Here is the cast as best as I can make out from their listing at the end of the episode:

The episode starred Betty Carmine, Olive Thomas, Jack Coster, Thomas Melba, Eddie Bryan, Malcolm Belairs, Robert Moore, Aldine Brennamen, and George Conkling. Eric Laurens was the announcer, with Nicholas B. Harris appearing as well. The script was written by Ralph Brookhart, and the show was directed and produced by Carolyn Carol.

Anyone with more info about Nick Harris Detective, please feel free to send it along. Also, anyone with suggestions or ideas for future shows, do either leave those here in a comment or contact me via email at shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.

In other news, I mentioned at the end of this episode plans to have the show syndicated over on a new internet streaming station called the Poker Radio Network, currently set to launch in early December. More to come on that.

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