It seemed unlikely, I know, that there’d ever be another post here. I’m sure everyone thought the Hard-Boiled Poker Radio Show had gone the way of so many other poker podcasts over the last several years, never to be heard from again. But like a runner-runner straight unexpectedly coming to save your tourney life, the show goes on! Show notes for E…

Show notes for Episode 20: This episode focuses primarily on the great actor, singer, comedian, and “man of 1,000 voices” Mel Blanc. “Money” by Mel Blanc, music and lyrics by Stan Freberg and Ruby Raskin. Don’t want no lovin’, don’t want no kissin’, Don’t want no gal to call me honey. Don’t want my name in the Hall of Fame, Just want a big fat pile…

Show notes for Episode 19: “The Opposite of a Peace Sign” by James McManus, an excerpt from his book Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker (2009). I start the show with an excerpt from one of the later chapters in the new history of poker by James McManus (Positively Fifth Street). The chapter originally appeared as a column in the June 10, 2008 issue o…

Show notes for Episode 18: “Counting Beans” by John Fox, an excerpt from his book Play Poker, Quit Work and Sleep Till Noon! (1977) I read a short selection from the entertaining and informative strategy text by John Fox, a book that preceded both Doyle Brunson’s Super/System and Mike Caro’s Book of Tells. Click here to read my Hard-Boiled Poker po…

Show notes for Episode 17: “Turn the Cards Slowly” by Patsy Cline; written by Sammy Masters (1955) Turn the cards slowly while you’re dealin’, darlin’. Please don’t double-deal to win my heart. Turn the cards slowly while you're dealin’, darlin’. Don’t go breakin’ rules right from the start. The ramblin’ gamblin’ reckless way you treat my heart’s a…

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…

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 appe…

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 transfor…

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 …

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 To…

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, …

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…

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 liste…

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 th…

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. The…

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…

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 Robe…

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 ga…

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…

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 cent…