Difference between revisions of "Chapter 3"

Revision as of 12:12, 29 September 2025

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Smoky Gooden's policy joint
Milwaukee gambling kingpin Smoky Gooden, an African-American, ran a "policy joint" from his cigar shop on Sixth Street. Policy – also known as the numbers – was first introduced to Milwaukee around 1870. He would pay off the vice police. The concept of the game is very similar to the variety of state lottery games that exist today. Players chose a series of numbers from between 1 and 78 and placed a bet on those numbers being drawn on the local “wheel.” Payouts were based on the amount of money bet and the length of the series of numbers.

as jake with the world...
“Jake” was a popular slang word from the Roaring Twenties/Great Depression era and was used to indicate that a person or thing was in good order.

a pack of Spuds
Invented in the 1920s, Spud cigarettes, the original menthol cigarette, was developed by Ohio inventor Lloyd "Spud" Hughes in 1924, who later sold the patent and brand to Axton-Fisher Tobacco. The brand was very popular in the early 1930s, ranking as the fifth best-selling cigarette in the United States in 1932.

the el
In Chicago, the "L" (or 'L') refers to the city's public rapid transit rail system, operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The name "L" is a shortened form of "elevated," referencing the elevated train tracks that are a prominent feature of the system, though some lines also run at ground level or underground.

half a clam
"clam" is a slang term for money, specifically a dollar bill, and has been used since the late 1800s. The origin of this slang term is believed to come from the ancient practice of using clamshells as currency, a system employed by various cultures, including some Native American tribes in California.

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black-and-tan ballroom
an integrated nightclub, primarily located in the Milwaukeed's Bronzeville neighborhood, that welcomed both Black and white patrons during the era of segregation. Though segregation was widespread, these venues allowed for a rare public social exchange between races. The name comes from the slang term for establishments with a mixed-race clientele, which originated in Harlem in the early 20th century.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Castle
Vernon and Irene Castle were a husband-and-wife team of ballroom dancers and dance teachers who appeared on Broadway and in silent films in the early 20th century. They are credited with reviving the popularity of modern dancing. Wikipedia

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Mrs. Myrtle Bennett of Kansas City
The Bridge Murder case, also known as the Bridge Table Murder case, was the trial of Myrtle Adkins Bennett (born March 20, 1895, in Tillar, Arkansas), a Kansas City housewife, for the murder of her husband John G. Bennett over a game of contract bridge in September 1929. The case attracted attention before Bennett was acquitted. Wikipedia

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The Public Enemy
A 1931 American pre-Code gangster film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The film was directed by William A. Wellman, and starring James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Donald Cook and Joan Blondell. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in Prohibition-era urban America. Wikipedia

that jimmy
Jimmy Cagney, who starred in The Public Enemy

Only part I remember's that grapefruit
In The Public Enemy, the character Tom Powers (played by Cagney) eventually tires of his girlfriend Kitty; when she complains once too often, he angrily pushes half a grapefruit into her face.

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bel lavoro
Italian: Good job, nice work

Bronzeville
In the 1930s, the Bronzeville neighborhood of Milwaukee was a thriving center of African-American life, commerce, and culture, particularly along Walnut Street. It served as an economic hub with numerous Black-owned businesses and social institutions, including barber shops, restaurants, law firms, and jazz and blues clubs that attracted diverse audiences. Bronzeville was a core destination of the Great Migration, a significant gathering place for African Americans, and was known for its vibrant music and entertainment scene, with nightclubs hosting famous musicians. There is a Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago, as well. More...

Um piccolo consiglio
Italian: A bit of advice, a little tip

D and D
Drunk and Disorderly