Coin Slot
Issue: 1979 November 057 - Page 7
Coin Slot Magazine - #057 - 1979 - November [International Arcade Museum]
4) compromise for $7,500 a claim by the Cali
In April of 1946 Cornero raised money from
fornia Railroad Commission for operating a pub
some "investors" and purchased a decommissioned
lic conveyance without a license (this potenti
Navy ship, the 4,200 ton ARROSTOOK.
ally could have cost him a half million dollars).
386-foot
steel
vessel,
a
former
Atlantic
This
coast
steamer, was built in 1907 as the BUNKER HILL.
5) produce all books and papers of the REX for
scrutiny by State income tax officials.
In World War I it served as a mine layer, and in
World
War II
as a Navy cargo and stores ship.
During the wars it was renamed the AROOSTOOK.
6) abandon an appeal.
Tony renamed her the S.S. LUX, short for lusury,
and had it towed from Seattle to Long Beach for
Cornero also dropped his suit charging Warren's
conversion into a gambling ship.
raiders with piracy and suing for damages.
The superstructure and masts were sheared off
Deputy
Attorney
General Warren Olney put
Oscar Jahnsen in charge of the detail to destory
and the entire ship overhauled.
No expense was
spared to make the LUX up to its name and sur
the gambling paraphernalia aboard the REX. Arm
pass the REX in plushness.
ed with axes, hammers and crowbars, they boarded
costly leather, mirrors, and brass anchor and wheel
the REX and smashed to pieces 120 slot machines,
decorations was installed.
20 dice tables, 20 roulette wheels, 25 blackjack
out for poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, slot ma
tables, and all the bingo lottery, horseracing and
chines, and other games.
miscellaneous gambling items.
new toilets were added.
To Jahnsen it was
A 100 foot bar with
Large rooms were laid
One hundred and fifty
The exterior of the ship
one of the most satisfying experiences of his long
was painted white, with the name LUX in large
career in law enforcement.
letters on the side, and equipped with neon lights.
The
Federal
Government
had
assessed
taxes
Lumber, plumbing fixtures, and building ma
against Cornero of over $100,000 back in his rum-
terial
running days, and they were still unpaid, with over
Tony's cargo ships.
ten years nonpayment penalties added on.
The
were
bought in from
Mexico on one of
All these scarce postwar com
modities, piled up on the Long Beach dock, so*
Government libeled the REX for the amount due,
angered Senator William F. Knowland that he in
and when the money wasn't paid they sold the
troduced into Congress a bill to outlaw gambling
ship to satisfy the claim.
ships.
The new owners con
verted the REX back into a power ship; it even
Tony believed that this effort to stop him*
stemmed from his big-time colleaques in Las Vegas
tually was sunk in the Indian Ocean while serving
who were fearful of the competition.
as a carrier for the Allies in World War II.
eventually died in committee.
Warren's campaign against the gambling ships
was a complete victory.
up all hope.
The bill
Cornero invested over a million dollars in the
But Cornero hadn't given
LUX, in spite of statements by law enforcement
He was determined to someday once
officials that its operation would not be allowed.
again resume his high seas gambling.
During the preparation of the LUX, Tony never
came
out
and
said
it
will
be a gambling ship.
Whenever asked he grinned and said "Everybody
THE LUX
presumes so."
After losing the REX, Cornero dropped out of
the public eye and became involved in a shipping
Cornero incorporated this new enterprise in
company which operated under U.S., Panamanian
Nevada as the Seven Seas Trading & Steamship Co.
and Brazilian flags and hauled cargoes of bananas,
Its principal place of business was given as 312
om Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, Cornero's resi
c
South
.
m
:
u
m he worked
scene, so he went to Las Vegas o
dence.
He obtained a license from the federal
use He government
fr where
m
d
as a casino manager during
the war e-
years.
for the ship to operate in coastwise
e
ad and actress trade (despite the fact that the LUX had no engines
oa a d former
l
c
married Barbara Land,
model
r
n
a
.
w
who was his
during the REX days.
for propulsion).
Do girlfriend
ww
w
/
/
:
Homesick for southern
California, he returned in
p
t
t
h
1946 with a plan to re-establish an offshore float
Among his precautions, Tony made arrange
lumber
and beef.
But he missed the gambling
ing casino.
© The International Arcade Museum
ments with a
Long Beach bail bond agency for
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
4) compromise for $7,500 a claim by the Cali
In April of 1946 Cornero raised money from
fornia Railroad Commission for operating a pub
some "investors" and purchased a decommissioned
lic conveyance without a license (this potenti
Navy ship, the 4,200 ton ARROSTOOK.
ally could have cost him a half million dollars).
386-foot
steel
vessel,
a
former
Atlantic
This
coast
steamer, was built in 1907 as the BUNKER HILL.
5) produce all books and papers of the REX for
scrutiny by State income tax officials.
In World War I it served as a mine layer, and in
World
War II
as a Navy cargo and stores ship.
During the wars it was renamed the AROOSTOOK.
6) abandon an appeal.
Tony renamed her the S.S. LUX, short for lusury,
and had it towed from Seattle to Long Beach for
Cornero also dropped his suit charging Warren's
conversion into a gambling ship.
raiders with piracy and suing for damages.
The superstructure and masts were sheared off
Deputy
Attorney
General Warren Olney put
Oscar Jahnsen in charge of the detail to destory
and the entire ship overhauled.
No expense was
spared to make the LUX up to its name and sur
the gambling paraphernalia aboard the REX. Arm
pass the REX in plushness.
ed with axes, hammers and crowbars, they boarded
costly leather, mirrors, and brass anchor and wheel
the REX and smashed to pieces 120 slot machines,
decorations was installed.
20 dice tables, 20 roulette wheels, 25 blackjack
out for poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, slot ma
tables, and all the bingo lottery, horseracing and
chines, and other games.
miscellaneous gambling items.
new toilets were added.
To Jahnsen it was
A 100 foot bar with
Large rooms were laid
One hundred and fifty
The exterior of the ship
one of the most satisfying experiences of his long
was painted white, with the name LUX in large
career in law enforcement.
letters on the side, and equipped with neon lights.
The
Federal
Government
had
assessed
taxes
Lumber, plumbing fixtures, and building ma
against Cornero of over $100,000 back in his rum-
terial
running days, and they were still unpaid, with over
Tony's cargo ships.
ten years nonpayment penalties added on.
The
were
bought in from
Mexico on one of
All these scarce postwar com
modities, piled up on the Long Beach dock, so*
Government libeled the REX for the amount due,
angered Senator William F. Knowland that he in
and when the money wasn't paid they sold the
troduced into Congress a bill to outlaw gambling
ship to satisfy the claim.
ships.
The new owners con
verted the REX back into a power ship; it even
Tony believed that this effort to stop him*
stemmed from his big-time colleaques in Las Vegas
tually was sunk in the Indian Ocean while serving
who were fearful of the competition.
as a carrier for the Allies in World War II.
eventually died in committee.
Warren's campaign against the gambling ships
was a complete victory.
up all hope.
The bill
Cornero invested over a million dollars in the
But Cornero hadn't given
LUX, in spite of statements by law enforcement
He was determined to someday once
officials that its operation would not be allowed.
again resume his high seas gambling.
During the preparation of the LUX, Tony never
came
out
and
said
it
will
be a gambling ship.
Whenever asked he grinned and said "Everybody
THE LUX
presumes so."
After losing the REX, Cornero dropped out of
the public eye and became involved in a shipping
Cornero incorporated this new enterprise in
company which operated under U.S., Panamanian
Nevada as the Seven Seas Trading & Steamship Co.
and Brazilian flags and hauled cargoes of bananas,
Its principal place of business was given as 312
om Elm Drive, Beverly Hills, Cornero's resi
c
South
.
m
:
u
m he worked
scene, so he went to Las Vegas o
dence.
He obtained a license from the federal
use He government
fr where
m
d
as a casino manager during
the war e-
years.
for the ship to operate in coastwise
e
ad and actress trade (despite the fact that the LUX had no engines
oa a d former
l
c
married Barbara Land,
model
r
n
a
.
w
who was his
during the REX days.
for propulsion).
Do girlfriend
ww
w
/
/
:
Homesick for southern
California, he returned in
p
t
t
h
1946 with a plan to re-establish an offshore float
Among his precautions, Tony made arrange
lumber
and beef.
But he missed the gambling
ing casino.
© The International Arcade Museum
ments with a
Long Beach bail bond agency for
http://www.arcade-museum.com/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).