Open/Close Toolbox
Format: Audio
Parent Oral History Categories
Linked To
Copyright
General Use Special Collections Copyright
Please contactSpecial Collections if you are a subject of the interview, or know a subject of the interview, and have cultural or other reservations about the interview and summary being made available on this website and would like to discuss this with us.
This recording can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this recording for any other purpose please obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Special Collections. If you have any further information about the image, please contact us or leave a comment.
John Capp - Talk on gambling history given to Cessnock Historical Society. Recorded 9 November 1984. Part 1/1.
Expand/collapse
Details
SummaryTAPE 332A JOHN CAPP
Recorded 9 November 1984.
​Part 1/2.
00:15
Rice's Bookmaker started out as an SP bookie. Betting was rife, boys of bikes taking bets between races.
1:30
SP bookies were prevalent in the pubs. Often supported by publicans, often bets taken out back of in toilets.
2:35
Bi-Squad would tell Publican to pay up.
4:07
20 minutes before a race a call would come through to local post office, and prices given for each horse.
5:15
SP booking market was a well organised operation.
6:00
Often fights among bookies, they operated at various locations, eg. Marble Bar.
6:45
Offences relating to gaming houses. Percentages earnt.
7:45
SP bookie operated at Weston, next to Criterion Hotel. SP booking took place at Cessnock had a few, there was the 'BCU', library, School of Arts, Davies Chambers, location near Council Chambers, Broughton's, Community Hall at West Cessnock. Also one at Aberdare Hotel.
9:35
Rev. Ward was opposed to betting, addressed the council and wrote letters to newspaper.
10:15
Sergeant Bill (Bird?) 'Billy Blue'. "Looking for a start Bill". Recalls antidotes.
13:10
Game of 'two up' at Paxton 'always played there'. Players were always charged with playing a game called 'heading' (not two up), which only offered a fine, whereas 'two up' carried gaol time. Two up was also played at Cessnock racecourse, Bellbird, Kurri and Boolaroo.
14:25
People played 'two up 'in Hyde Park.
16:10
Sale of lottery tickets – a half lottery ticket.
17:10
Mrs Curtin.
19:03
Soup Kitchens. John conjures up vision of hots meals, hungry people, served at Kurri Public School in mid-winter. Their efforts not forgotten. Students came to school with their soup spoons and jam tin- children would line up near soup in playground.
20:10
Business donated vegetables.
21:15
Butcher at Bellbird, Bert Cook.
22:10
Soup was cooked in large 'coppers' (copper boiler).
23:45
Soup kitchens located all over the coalfields.
25:30
'Stinker' Coleman.
27:35
Tom Colburg.
29:40
First Cessnock Presbyterian Minister Rev. Clark McDuff.
31:01
End (Tape 332/Side A)
SubjectCapp, JohnBookmakers (Gambling) -- New South Wales -- Cessnock RegionSP bookmakersSoup kitchensCessnock (N.S.W.)PersonJack DelaneyCreatorCapp, JohnDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWDate Created9th November 1984Identifier332A
Recorded 9 November 1984.
​Part 1/2.
00:15
Rice's Bookmaker started out as an SP bookie. Betting was rife, boys of bikes taking bets between races.
1:30
SP bookies were prevalent in the pubs. Often supported by publicans, often bets taken out back of in toilets.
2:35
Bi-Squad would tell Publican to pay up.
4:07
20 minutes before a race a call would come through to local post office, and prices given for each horse.
5:15
SP booking market was a well organised operation.
6:00
Often fights among bookies, they operated at various locations, eg. Marble Bar.
6:45
Offences relating to gaming houses. Percentages earnt.
7:45
SP bookie operated at Weston, next to Criterion Hotel. SP booking took place at Cessnock had a few, there was the 'BCU', library, School of Arts, Davies Chambers, location near Council Chambers, Broughton's, Community Hall at West Cessnock. Also one at Aberdare Hotel.
9:35
Rev. Ward was opposed to betting, addressed the council and wrote letters to newspaper.
10:15
Sergeant Bill (Bird?) 'Billy Blue'. "Looking for a start Bill". Recalls antidotes.
13:10
Game of 'two up' at Paxton 'always played there'. Players were always charged with playing a game called 'heading' (not two up), which only offered a fine, whereas 'two up' carried gaol time. Two up was also played at Cessnock racecourse, Bellbird, Kurri and Boolaroo.
14:25
People played 'two up 'in Hyde Park.
16:10
Sale of lottery tickets – a half lottery ticket.
17:10
Mrs Curtin.
19:03
Soup Kitchens. John conjures up vision of hots meals, hungry people, served at Kurri Public School in mid-winter. Their efforts not forgotten. Students came to school with their soup spoons and jam tin- children would line up near soup in playground.
20:10
Business donated vegetables.
21:15
Butcher at Bellbird, Bert Cook.
22:10
Soup was cooked in large 'coppers' (copper boiler).
23:45
Soup kitchens located all over the coalfields.
25:30
'Stinker' Coleman.
27:35
Tom Colburg.
29:40
First Cessnock Presbyterian Minister Rev. Clark McDuff.
31:01
End (Tape 332/Side A)
SubjectCapp, JohnBookmakers (Gambling) -- New South Wales -- Cessnock RegionSP bookmakersSoup kitchensCessnock (N.S.W.)PersonJack DelaneyCreatorCapp, JohnDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWDate Created9th November 1984Identifier332Aloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, John Capp - Talk on gambling history given to Cessnock Historical Society. Recorded 9 November 1984. Part 1/1., [332A]. Living Histories, accessed 30/11/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/86114