Gamblers & Gangsters - by Ann Arnold

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A gripping account of rampant crime in Fort Worth, Texas, during the 1930s, through the 1950s, with hoodlums, gamblers, murderers, dopers, pimps, and lawmen on the take. The author recounts the days when Fort Worth was as wide open as Las Vegas with gambling and crime that rivaled New York and Chicago with mob hits, exploding cars, and late-night police raids. The personalities were larger than life, some went on to fame in other parts of the country such as Las Vegas gambling pioneer Benny Binion. While others met an early demise such as Herbert "The Cat" Noble.

Jacksboro Highway resembled "The Strip" in Las Vegas with casinos and night clubs that served as the epicenter for illegal activity, and the money and the blood flowed, while the law turned a blind eye to the mayhem. Ann Arnold gives a detailed account of almost two dozen gangland slayings and spills the beans, naming names of those indicted, complete with the final report of a special grand jury that ended the era.

Review Quotes

Ann Arnold captured a period in Fort Worth's not-too-recent history with the keen eye of a speakeasy lookout.

Quentin McGowan, Fort Worth, Texas

Ann Arnold has written a thoroughly delightful chronicle of fort Worth's last wild 'n' wooly era. Anyone who was around in those days remembers reading and hearing about exploding cars, mob hits, and late-night police raids, but Ann Arnold refreshes our memories and provides crucial details that fill in some of the gaps in the story. Move over Chicago and New York, Fort Worth's gangsters could sling lead with the best of 'em!

Dr. Richard F. Selcer, Fort Worth, Texas

Fascinating-well researched. I learned a lot about the entertainment business of a bygone era.

Bobbie Wygant, Entertainment Reporter at KXAS-TX, NBC-5, Fort Worth/Dallas

(Ann Arnold's) book . . . is terrific . . . I was there as player-manager of the Fort Worth Cats baseball team.

Bobby Bragan

. . . a gripping account of rampant crime in Fort Worth during the thirties through the fifties, hoodlums, gamblers, murderers, dopers, pimps, and lawmen on the take . . . shooting each other or blowing each other up . . . Ann has captured it all just the way it really was.

Bill Farley, Columnist, Fort Worth Star Telegram