The Hard-Boiled Poker Radio Show

Episode 16: Burns and Allen

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:16:47 PDT

Show notes for Episode 16:

Most of this episode is taken up with the main feature. By the way, it appears whatever problems I was having before with iTunes have been resolved, so the episodes should all be appearing over there as before. Enjoy!

“The Poker Game,” The Burns and Allen Show (originally aired March 7, 1944)

Starring George Burns, Gracie Allen, and Jimmy Cash. Guest star Alan Ladd. Music by Felix Mills and His Orchestra. Announcer: Bill Goodwin.

Here is a website with about 40 more episodes of The Burns and Allen Show. And here is the Wikipedia entry on the comedic couple.

An Update

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:46:18 PDT

Hard-Boiled Poker Radio Show listeners! I wanted to send along a brief update here before I leave for Las Vegas (tomorrow!), where I’ll be helping PokerNews cover the World Series of Poker for the second straight summer.

First, I wanted to let you know that I have recorded Episode 16 and plan to post it here in the next week or so, after I am settled in LV. Probably won’t be able to do another show until I return home in July, but I may try to gather some additional content while at the WSOP to include in future HBPRS episodes.

Second, I have been using Feedburner for distributing the podcast, and have encountered a minor snafu here lately. Earlier this year, Feedburner merged with Google, and so those of us with Feedburner accounts were asked to allow them to move our accounts over, then get Google accounts so we could access our Feedburner stuff. I already had a Google account, of course, so that wasn’t such a problem. However, it appears that the merger might have affected how things work with iTunes.

I’m noticing that since I went ahead and moved over to Google, the recent episodes of the show are not appearing in iTunes (i.e., the last five shows, or all of those posted in 2009). I haven’t checked the other places where you can subscribe to the show, and so don’t know if there are any problems happening in those places, too. Rooting around on the ’net reveals that I’m not the only one experiencing this sort of difficulty with iTunes since the merger, and that it appears to be some difficulty that Feedburner/Google is probably going to have to resolve.

The show has a new RSS feed -- http://feeds2.feedburner.com/hardboiledpokerradioshow -- although the old feed is still working, too (apparently). There’s just some issue with iTunes at the moment as far as getting iTunes to recognize the new feed (?).

Like I say, I hope the momentary trouble gets worked out. (If it doesn’t, I may have to explore moving the podcast over to some other location than Feedburner.) If anybody has any techy advice for helping me resolve my Feedburner-Google-iTunes dilemma, feel free to send it along to shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.

But right now, I need to go pack. Thanks for listening everyone, and I’ll be posting that Episode 16 here soon!

Episode 15: The Lacework Kid

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:55:30 PDT

Show notes for Episode 15:

“Deal” by the Grateful Dead

Starting off with a song this time. Although I fail to mention it on the show, I want here to give a tip of the fedora to our buddy Dr. Pauly, who actually had something to do with this one turning up here.

Here are the Dead performing the song at the Boston Garden on May 7, 1977. The tune appears in numerous places throughout the Dead’s vast discography, the first time (I believe) on the 1981 double-LP Dead Set. Here are the lyrics:

Since it costs a lot to win, and even more to lose,
You and me bound to spend some time wonderin’ what to choose.
Goes to show, you don’t ever know,
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don’t you let that deal go down, no, no.

I been gamblin’ hereabouts for ten good solid years,
If I told you all that went down it would burn off both of your ears.
Goes to show you don’t ever know
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round,
Don’t you let that deal go down, no, no.

Since you poured the wine for me and tightened up my shoes,
I hate to leave you sittin’ there, composin’ lonesome blues.
Goes to show you don’t ever know
Watch each card you play and play it slow,
Wait until that deal come round, don’t you let that deal go down, no, no.
Wait until that deal come round, don’t you let that deal go down,
Wait until that deal come round, don’t you let that deal go down,
Don’t you let that deal go down, don’t you let that deal go down.

Big Deal (1990) by Anthony Holden

I read an excerpt from British writer Anthony Holden’s excellent nonfiction narrative recounting his year-long attempt to become a professional poker player. In the excerpt, Holden offers some thoughts about that old “poker is like life” analogy that I’ve been known to complain about from time to time on my blog. I think Holden does a nice job with the idea here, though, as he memorably outlines some of the reasons why poker fascinates us so.

One of a Kind: The Rise and Fall of Stuey “the Kid” Ungar (2006) by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson

One more short excerpt, this time from the biography of three-time World Series of Poker champ Stu Ungar. This one I read mainly as a way of saying a few things about the game of gin, the game played in the feature presentation that follows.

“The Lacework Kid,” The Damon Runyon Theater (originally aired September 25, 1949)

Directed by Richard Sandville. Adapted from a Damon Runyon short story by Russell Hughes.

Here is a website with all 52 of the episodes of The Damon Runyon Theater that aired during 1949. And here is the Wikipedia entry on Damon Runyon. Another fedora tip to Aces88ss for the suggestion!

Episode 14: The Hot Hundred Grand Caper

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:54:26 PDT

Show notes for Episode 14:

Raymond Chandler & Poker

The show begins with a brief explanation of an quote about poker often attributed to the great hard-boiled novelist, Raymond Chandler. The line comes from his 1953 novel The Long Goodbye, although often the exact words uttered by the narrator-protagonist, the detective Philip Marlowe, get transformed somewhat.

I refer to a couple of posts over on Hard-Boiled Poker in the segment. The post “Raymond Chandler Said a Lot of Things” explains with a little more detail how Chandler has been misquoted. Another post, “Raymond Chandler & Poker,” collects a few references to poker from Chandler’s fiction and letters.

“The Hot Hundred Grand Caper,” The Adventures of Sam Spade (originally aired September 19, 1948)

Starring Howard Duff (as Sam Spade, pictured). Also starring Lurene Tuttle and Sadie Thompson. Written by Bob Tollman and Gil Doud. Produced and directed by William Spier.

Here is a detailed article about the radio series, written by Martin Grams. The article is an excerpt from Grams’ book The Radio Adventures of Sam Spade. And here’s a link to an archive with over 50 episodes of the show.

Episode 13: The Life of Riley

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:51:52 PDT

Show notes for Episode 13:

“Everything is Wild” by James Thurber

James Thurber’s hilarious poker-themed short story, first published in the New Yorker in 1932. Vera Valmore helps out with the voices in this one.

The story can be found in several places, including in a Thurber collection titled Middle Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze. It also appears in John Stravinsky’s 2004 compilation of poker writings titled Read ’Em and Weep: A Bedside Poker Companion.

“The Gambling Lesson,” The Life of Riley (originally aired April 27, 1946)

Starring William Bendix (as Chester A. Riley). Also starring Paula Winslow, Scotty Beckett, John Brown, Todd Hausner, and Jerry Hausner. Produced by Irving Brecher. Directed by Don Bernard.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for The Life of Riley radio & television shows.

Episode 12: Gunsmoke, The Gambler

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:51:02 PDT

Show notes for Episode 12:

Excerpts from Total Poker by David Spanier (1977)

Published before many of the other, “classic” examples of poker journalism such as Al Alvarez’ The Biggest Game in Town (discussed back in Episode 1), Anthony Holden’s Big Deal, and James McManus’ Positively Fifth Street, David Spanier’s 1977 collection of essays titled Total Poker smartly covers a wide range of poker-related topics.

On today’s show, I read from a couple of different chapters in Spanier’s book. First I read excerpts from a chapter titled “Morals” in which Spanier examines differences between amateur and professional poker players. I conclude with a paragraph from his chapter about poker in the movies in which Spanier makes a connection between poker and old Westerns.

If you’re interested, click here to read my full review of Spanier’s Total Poker, which I wrote for my blog, Hard-Boiled Poker, back in the summer of 2007.

“The Gambler,” Gunsmoke (originally aired October 7, 1956)

Starring William Conrad (Matt Dillon), Parley Baer (Chester), Howard McNear (Doc Adams), Georgia Ellis (Kitty). Also starring Lawrence Dobkin and Ralph Moody. Produced and directed by Norman Macdonnell. Written by John Dunkel. Music composed and conducted by Rex Koury.

Here is the Wikipedia page that covers both the radio and television versions of Gunsmoke. And here is a site where you can download and listen to more episodes of the show.

Episode 11: Poker Chip Draw

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:49:05 PDT

Show notes for Episode 11:

“Five Card Stud” by Lorne Greene, from his 1965 album Lorne Greene's American West. The song was written by Wally Gold and David Hill. Here are the lyrics:

I remember it well, it was a hot rainy night
When that stranger rode into town
And tied up his horse at the Rainbow Cafe
and bought everybody a round.

“Hey bartender, break open a new deck of cards,
Let’s have some good, honest fun -- ha!
Now, a sociable game for a dollar or two,
That never hurt anyone.

Now, put your money right down on the table, boys,
The name of the game... five card stud.
Deal slow and easy from the top, son,
The name of the game... five card stud.”

That poker game lasted all through the night,
It lasted all through the next day.
But one by one, they had to drop out.
When they had no more money to play.

That night there was only the stranger
And a cowboy -- a young friend of mine --
They shuffled the cards and the crowd sensed the end
As they put all their chips on the line.

“Now, put your money right down on the table, boys,
The name of the game... five card stud.
Deal slow and easy from the top, son,
The name of the game... five card stud.”

After four cards were dealt to the young cowboy’s hand --
Two kings, everybody could see --
But the stranger’s hand, looking better than his,
Showed an ace, and an ace, and a three.

The last card was dealt to the young cowboy’s hand,
And when he turned up a third king,
Why that stranger just smiled and threw in his cards
And he left without saying a thing.

Well after he’d gone, they turned over his cards,
And surprise showed on everyone’s face.
Oh, they’ll never know why he got up to go
When his card in the hole was an ace!

Now in poker all the rules say that aces beat kings,
So in truth, the stranger had won.
But out of the crowd, just the two of us knew
That the stranger was playing his son.

“Now, put your money right down on the table, boys,
The name of the game... five card stud.
Five card stud, five card stud, five card stud....”

“Poker Chip Draw,” The Cisco Kid (originally aired February 19, 1957)

Starring Jack Mather (as the Cisco Kid) and Harry Lang (as Poncho).

Here is a website where you can find about 200 of the over 600 episodes of The Cisco Kid. And click here if you would like to read O. Henry's 1907 short story, “The Caballero’s Way,” in which the character of the Cisco Kid -- very different than the hero depicted in the movies, radio shows, and on television -- was introduced.

Finally, here is that old episode of the TV show The Cisco Kid I mentioned on the show, titled “Buried Treasure.” Incidentally, this episode originally aired on February 19, 1952, exactly five years (to the day) before the radio show featured on the this podcast was first broadcast.

Coming Soon

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:36:40 PST

Sorry for the gap between shows, folks. Been a busy month for yr humble gumshoe, and so I haven’t had the time to get Episode 11 together just yet. Not to worry. The Hard-Boiled Poker Radio Show will be back on the air soon!

Meanwhile, I wanted to thank all of you who have listened to any (or all) of the first ten shows -- and for all the terrific feedback thus far. And to let everyone know that new shows are on the way in 2009!

In fact, one idea I am currently contemplating is to try to put out episodes a little more frequently (say, once every two weeks). In order to pull that off, I might have to scale back the shows just a touch, perhaps only having a single introductory segment prior to the main feature for each one. Whatever I manage to do, I definitely would like to be able to have shows come out more often.

As I mentioned at the close of the the last episode, anyone with ideas or suggestions for the show is invited to pass them along, either here in a comment or via email to shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.

Have a great New Year’s, all. And stay tuned!

Episode 10: Come, Fill My Cup

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:22:29 PDT

Show notes for Episode 10:

Most of this episode is taken up with the feature presentation, another old radio show featuring poker. The show begins on a train, which reminds me of a card trick I once learned while riding on a train. The first segment finds me performing the trick for you, dear listener, as a lead-in to the show...

“Come, Fill My Cup,” CBS Radio Mystery Theater (originally aired June 27, 1977)

Hosted by E.G. Marshall. Written by Sam Dann. Starring Larry Haines, Russell Horton, Earl Hammond, and William Griffis.

Here is the Wikipedia entry on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater which provides a good overview of the series (which ran from 1974 to 1982). Here is an incredibly thorough guide to all 1,399 episodes. And here is a site that is one of several around the web with other episodes.

Episode 9: The Case of the Poker Murders

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:22:18 PDT

Show notes for Episode 9:

“Stud Poker,” Calling All Detectives (originally aired September 2, 1948)

Another mystery from the casebook of Jerry Browning, Private Detective. Starring Paul Barnes (who voices all of the parts).

As I mention on the show, Calling All Detectives originally started out as an “interactive” program, with Barnes calling listeners to see if they could solve the mystery. I have (sort of) recreated the idea here, stopping the show with a couple of minutes remaining to give you a chance to try to solve the case. (Good luck.)

And speaking of luck, click here to learn more about the dice game of “Chuck-A-Luck” that is played in the show.

“The Case of the Poker Murders,” Nick Carter, Master Detective (originally aired May 21, 1946)

Starring Lon Clark (Nick Carter), Charlotte Manson (Patsy Bowen), and Ed Latimer (Sgt. Mathison). Script by Max Early. Music by George Wright. Produced and directed by Jock MacGregor.

Here is the Wikipedia page describing the radio show. And here is a fairly detailed website that gives a historical overview of the Nick Carter character.

Episode 8: Aces and Eights

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:22:06 PDT

Show notes for Episode 8:

“Tales from the Tables” by Bob Woolley
(a.k.a. Rakewell, the Poker Grump)

The “Poker Grump” offers sketches of three characters he has encountered at the tables in the Vegas card rooms as well as while playing on the virtual felt.

For more of Bob’s tales from the tables, check out his blog. In particular, take a look at this recent post in which Bob recounts a number of characters he encountered during an evening at the Hard Rock.

“Silver Dollars” by Billy Collins (1977)

After a bit of background regarding Wild Bill Hickok -- gleaned in part from Des Wilson’s book Ghosts at the Table (2008) & James McManus’ CardPlayer article titled “Aces and Eights” (8/21/2007 issue) -- I read a poem by Billy Collins that humorously revisits the story of Hickok’s demise.

Collins’ poem originally appeared in his first collection of poems, titled Pokerface. It is also anthologized in John Stravinsky’s Read ’Em and Weep (2004).

“Aces and Eights,” Frontier Gentleman (originally aired April 20, 1958)

Written, produced, and directed by Antony Ellis. Starring John Dehner, John McIntyre, Jeanette Nolan, Jack Moyles, Larry Dobkin, Stacy Harris, and Vic Perrin.

Here's the Wikipedia entry on the show, and here is a link to an archive of what I believe is all 41 episodes of the show.

Episode 7: Fibber McGee and Molly

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:21:53 PDT

Show notes for Episode 7:

“Dolan’s Poker Party” (ca. 1925-29) by Frank Crumit

Four aces and a joker is a lovely hand at poker --
All the money in the pot is yours according to the law.
Though I never like to gamble, let me say without preamble
That I am a trifle partial to a quiet game o’ draw.

On Thursday night McCarty organized a poker party.
There was Dolan, Martin, Doyle, and Reilly -- six of us in all.
Although the game was very quiet, but it ended in a riot
Sure they overturned the stove and smashed the pictures on the wall.

Listen and I’ll tell ye how the trouble did begin:
Dolan opened up a pot and three of us went in.
’Twas opened for a quarter and when Dolan won the pot
He counted it and found that sixty cents was all he got -- ho ho ho ho ho.

Oh, Dolan got excited and declared that he would right it.
He got up and intimated he was ready for a bout.
Then he reached for Reilly’s Galways which he carried with him always
And before we could prevent it he had plucked a handful out.

Just to keep the ball a-rollin’ I declared meself for Dolan
Sure they threw me on the floor an’ slammed the stove upon me back,
All o’ the furniture was broken and I carry yet a token
Of the luck I had the night that Dolan opened up the jack.

All the furniture was broken and I carry it a token
Of the luck I had the night that Dolan opened up the jack.

Here’s a brief bio of Frank Crumit.

As mentioned on the show, the song appears on Ricky Jay Plays Poker, a collection of old poker songs compiled by the sleight-of-hand artist. And here’s that interview with Ricky Jay from NPR’s Weekend Edition in which he discusses the collection.

“Poker and the Written Word” by Tim Peters

This time Tim offers an interesting overview of the history of poker books, reaching back to George Devol’s Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi (1887) to Herbert O. Yardley’s The Education of a Poker Player (1957) to Doyle Brunson's Super/System (1978) on up to the present day (and beyond).

Send Tim your thoughts to pokerbooks at mac dot com. And visit his website, The Literature of Poker, for reviews and other interesting writings related to poker and the written word.

The Education of a Poker Player by Herbert O. Yardley

I read a short excerpt from the beginning of Yardley’s classic instructional manual-slash-autobiography.

Click here to read my earlier post about the book, written last year to mark its fiftieth anniversary.

“Poker Game,” Fibber McGee and Molly (originally aired February 23, 1943)

Starring Jim Jordan, Marian Jordan, Bill Thompson, and Harlow Wilcox.

Here's the Wikipedia entry on the show, and here is a link to a large archive of old episodes.

Episode 6: The Ambassador of Poker

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:21:42 PDT

Show notes for Episode 6:

Audio from the 2008 World Series of Poker

The show begins and ends with some sound from Day 1a of the Main Event, recorded July 3, 2008.

“Four Men and a Poker Game, or Too Much Luck Is Bad Luck” by Bertolt Brecht

This story was originally published in a German literary magazine in 1926.

You can find it in John Stravinsky’s terrific 2004 anthology of poker writings titled Read ’Em and Weep.

“The Ambassador of Poker,” Escape (originally aired April 4, 1950)

Produced and directed by William N. Robson. Starring Elliott Reid (as Randolph C. Fairburn), Lucille Meredith, and Ben Wright.

Based on the short story by Ahmed Abdullah, a.k.a. Alexander Nicholayevitch Romanoff (adaptation by John Dunkel).

Here is the Wikipedia entry on Escape, and here is an archive where you can find many of the episodes.

Episode 5: The Queen of Spades

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:21:29 PDT

Show notes for Episode 5:

“Tales from the Tables” by Bob Woolley
(a.k.a. Rakewell, the Poker Grump)

The “Poker Grump” shares some anecdotes about drunks he has encountered at the tables.

If you don’t know who Red Skelton was, here’s a short biography of the comedian and long-time star of radio and television.

“Little Queen of Spades” (1937) by Robert Johnson

She is a little queen of spades
and the men will not let her be.
She is the little queen of spades
and the men will not let her be.
Every time she makes a spread,
cold chill just runs all over me.

And I’m goin’ get me a gamblin’ woman
if it’s the last thing that I do.
Goin’ get me a gamblin’ woman
if it’s the last thing that I do.
A man don’t need a woman,
hoo, fair brown, he got to give all his money to.

And everybody say she got a mojo
baby been usin’ that stuff.
Everybody says she got a mojo
‘cause she been usin’ that stuff.
She got a way trimmin’ down
hoo, now babe, and I mean it’s most too tough.

Well, now little girl, since I am the king,
fair brown, and you is a queen
Since I am the King
baby, and you is a queen
Let’s we put our heads together
hoo, fair brown, then we can make our money green.

“The Queen of Spades,” Mystery in the Air (originally aired September 11, 1947)

Starring Peter Lorre, Henry Morgan, Maureen Tuttle, Peggy Webber, and Ben Wright. Based on the 1833 short story by Alexander Pushkin.

Here is a description of faro that originally appeared in The Merry Gamester: A Practical Guide to the most popular card, dice and board games of the English speaking world, from ancient times to 1900 by Walter Nelson. And here is that site where you can play faro online, a nifty flash player created by Sean Gleeson.

Episode 4: Hitchhike Poker

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:21:18 PDT

Show Notes for Episode 4:

“Poker Woman Blues” (1929) by Blind Blake

I love to gamble, gamblin’s all I do
I love to gamble, gamblin’s all I do
And when I lose, it never makes me blue

I gambled away my money, I gambled away my shack
I gambled away my money, I gambled away my shack
Same way I lost it, same way I get it back

I won a woman in a poker game
I won a woman in a poker game
I lost her too, win another just the same

Sometime I’m rich, sometime I ain’t got a cent
Sometime I’m rich, sometime I ain’t got a cent
But I’ve had a good time, every way I went

I got a new mama, ain’t gonna gamble her away
I got a new mama, ain’t gonna gamble her away
Goin’ to keep her with me each and every day

“Tales from the Tables” by Bob Woolley
(a.k.a. Rakewell, the Poker Grump)

The “Poker Grump” returns with the continuation of his list of stupid things players say at the tables, including the ever-popular “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.”

For the first part of the list, check out Episode 2.

An excerpt from The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

In which Granny comes to Roulettenburg and wants to go to the casino.

A couple of years back, I wrote a series of four posts about The Gambler titled “Dostoevsky Is Not Considered Summer Reading” in which I discussed how the novel might be of particular interest to poker players. Those posts begin here.

“Hitchhike Poker,” Suspense (originally aired September 16, 1948)

Starring Gregory Peck (Ray Fowler) and Ed Begley (Belden). Produced and directed by Anton M. Leader. Written by John and Gwen Bagney.

Here is the Wikipedia entry on Suspense. Hundreds of episodes of Suspense remain available. Here is a page containing a sampling of some of the best.

And here is a story about Utah’s recent license plate poker contest.

Episode 3: Duffy’s Tavern

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:21:05 PDT

Show Notes for Episode 3:

2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom Schneider (author of Oops! I Won Too Much Money) starts the proceedings.

Excerpt from “Strip Poker,” Stop Messing About! (July 12, 1970)

Excerpt from “Jack’s Trip to Las Vegas,” The Jack Benny Program (May 23, 1954)

Starring Jack Benny, Don Wilson, Bob Crosby, and Mel Blanc.

Here is the Wikipedia entry on Jack Benny, and here is a link to about 600 other episodes of The Jack Benny Program. For more on the history of the Flamingo Hotel, click here.

“Playing Poker With Charles Coburn,” Duffy’s Tavern
(originally aired May 4, 1949)

Starring Ed Gardner (Archie), Charlie Cantor (Finnegan), Eddie Green (Eddie), and Hazel Shermet (Miss Duffy). Guest starring Charles Coburn.

Here is a a terrific, comprehensive history of Duffy’s Tavern, and here are links to other episodes of the show.

Leave yr comments, suggestions, and other whatnot here on this post, or send them to shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.

And if you haven't already, go subscribe to the show in iTunes!

Episode 2: The Killer Cards

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:20:48 PDT

Show Notes for Episode 2:

“Poker and the Written Word” by Tim Peters

Tim discusses Jesse May’s 1998 novel Shut Up and Deal. As Tim explains, May is also known for having been “The Voice of Poker” on the British TV show Late Night Poker (1999-2002). In fact, during the first season of the show May hosted the show as Mickey Dane, the name of the central character in Shut Up and Deal.

Along the way, Tim mentions a couple of other poker novels: Rick Bennet’s King of a Small World (2004) (which he recommends) & Richard Jessup’s The Cincinnati Kid (1963). (I wrote about Jessup’s novel early last year.)

For those interested in some other poker novels, Tim also provides the following list of titles (no particular recommendations intended, here): Tap City by Ron Abell (1985); Broke: A Poker Novel by Brandon Adams (2008); Lucky at Cards by Lawrence Block (2007); The Rebuy by Burto Deluchi (2007); The Prop by Pete Hautman (2006); Texas Poker Wisdom by Johnny Hughes (2007); Dead Money: A No Limit Poker Mystery by Rudy Stegemoeller (2007); Deadman's Bluff (2006) & Deadman's Poker (2006) by James Swain; The Picasso Flop (2007) by Vince Van Patten & Robert J. Randisi; and The Perfect Play (2005) (called The Big Blind in the U.K.) by Louise Wener.

You can read Tim’s reviews for CardPlayer along with other writings at his website, “The Literature of Poker.”

“Who Played Poker With Pocahontas When John Smith Went Away?” (1919) sung by Fanny Watson
(Sam M. Lewis / Joe Young / Fred Ahlert)

From the musical Monte Cristo Jr. Here are the lyrics (again, as well as I can make ’em out):

Looking through my history
I find a little mystery
About a certain dame.

How did little Pocahontas
Take John Smith for all his wampus?
There! I know her game!

He taught her how to play poker --
She sent him home without his dough.
But every time that John came back
He found her with a larger stack.
Here’s what I’d like to know . . .

Now, who played poker with Pocahontas when John Smith went away?
She always dressed up so pretty.
Somebody must have spent the kitty.
She wore a bluff just like every Indian that led John astray.

Johnny’s pipe of peace goes out the day he quit.
When he came home he found his piece of pipe was lit.
Now, who played poker with Pocahontas when John Smith went away?

Now, who played poker with Pocahontas when John Smith went away?
She always dressed up so pretty.
Somebody must have set the kitty.
She wore a bluff just like every Indian that led John astray.

He called on her one cold night in an awful storm.
She had no coat but still he kept her always warm.
Now, who played poker with Pocahontas when John Smith went away?

“Tales from the Tables” by Bob Woolley
(a.k.a. Rakewell, the Poker Grump)

The “Poker Grump” returns with a list of stupid things players say at the tables, in particular focusing on a couple of categories: "Compliments" & "Clichés."

You can read more of Bob’s tales -- of both the grumpy and non-grumpy varieties -- over at his blog, Poker Grump.

“The Killer Cards,” The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe
(originally aired January 12, 1951)

Starring Sydney Greenstreet (Wolfe) and Gerald Mohr (Archie Goodwin). Also starring Betty Lou Gerson, Jay Novello, Howard McNear, Barney Phillips, and Bill Johnston. Hosted by Don Stanley.

Here is the Wikipedia entry on the show (in all of its versions), and here are links to other episodes of The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe (the Greenstreet version).

You can leave comments and/or suggestions here on this post, or send them to shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.

Also, you can now subscribe to the show in iTunes!

Episode 1: Dead Man’s Deal

shamus@hardboiledpoker.com (Short-Stacked Shamus) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:20:21 PDT

Good golly, Miss Molly. A podcast. What in the hell am I thinking? Thanks a lot for checking it out. With each new episode, I will be adding a post over here containing show notes. I’ll also always give a heads-up over on Hard-Boiled Poker when a new show has been posted.

You can click here to listen over the intertubes, or just right-click the link and choose “Save As” to download. The RSS feed for subscribing to the show is http://feeds.feedburner.com/hardboiledpokerradioshow. I am not sure at the moment whether the show is going to turn up in iTunes right away or later or what. I do know if you enter that feed into other podcast-receiver programs like Juice (which I use), you’ll receive the show there directly.

Here are the show notes for Episode 1:

“Poker and the Written Word” by Tim Peters

Tim discusses one of the most heralded of all poker narratives, The Biggest Game in Town (1983) by Al Alvarez. As Tim points out, Alvarez’s account of the 1981 World Series of Poker is a must read for poker players. About a year ago, I posted a list of all of the professional players mentioned in the book.

You can read Tim’s reviews for CardPlayer along with other writings at his website, “The Literature of Poker.”

“The Darktown Poker Club” (1914) sung by Bert Williams
(Jean Havez / William H. Vodery / Bert Williams)

Here are the lyrics to the song (as far as I can make them out):

Bill Jackson was a poor old dub.
He joined the Darktown Poker Club
Then cussed the day they told him that he could join.

His money seemed like it had wings.
If he held Queens, someone had Kings.
Each night he would contribute all his coin.

He says “I think I’ll play 'em tight tonight --
No bobtail flush’ll make me bite --
When I go in, my hand’ll be a peach.”

So he saw he was in with the losing pile
And got kinda peevish after while.
One night he got up and made a speech.

He says “You see this brand new razor?
I had it sharpened just today.
And I want to tell y’all some new rules to follow hereafter
When we play.

Keep your hands above the table when you're dealing -- please.
And I don’t want to catch no aces down between your knees.
Don't be makin’ funny signs or tip your hand
And I don’t wanna hear no kind of language that I don’t understand.

Stop dealing from the bottom, ’cause it looks so rough,
And remember that in poker five cards is enough!
When you bet, put up, ’cause I don't like it when you shy.
And when yo’ broke, get up, and then come on back by and by.

Pass the cards to me to shuffle every time before you deal
Then there’s anything wrong, why, I’ll see.
Not gonna play this game no more according to Mr. Hoyle --
Hereafter, it’s gonna be according to me!”

Now seated right there in the clan
There chanced to be a one-eyed man --
Bill watched him from the corner of his eye.

The one-eyed man would deal and then
Would cost Bill Jackson five or ten.
Finally, he got up with a sigh.

“Ah,” he says, “I think it’s a shame,
But there’s cheating goin’ on in the game
And honestly I - I don’t wanna name the guy.

But where I may not call his name
If I catch him cheating just once again
I’m gonna take my fist and close his other eye!

Pass them cards to me to shuffle every time before you deal
There’s anything wrong, why, I’ll see.
We ain’t gonna play this game no more according to Mr. Hoyle,
Hereafter, it’s just according to me!”

“Tales from the Tables” by Bob Woolley
(a.k.a. Rakewell, the Poker Grump)

Here the “Poker Grump” describes a phenomenon with which we’re all familiar, though perhaps wish we weren’t. The article he mentions is from the February 2007 issue of Bluff Magazine -- it is titled “Dirty Vegas.”

You can read more of Bob’s tales -- of both the grumpy and non-grumpy varieties -- over at his blog, Poker Grump.

“Dead Man’s Deal,” Inner Sanctum Mysteries
(originally aired August 28, 1945)

The episode was written by Emile C. Tepperman and directed by Himan Brown. Larry Haines stars as Joe Lester. Raymond Edward Johnson hosts the show, aided by Mary Bennett (the Lipton Tea lady).

Here is the Wikipedia entry on the show, and here are links to other episodes of Inner Sanctum Mysteries.

You can leave comments and/or suggestions here on this post, or send them to shamus at hardboiledpoker dot com.