Gambling on the Titanic

[Mr. Jordie Dean Byington]

I believe I first heard of it through Titanic and Interactive made by Phillips CDI and I believe I have read it thought a couple of books. But I know there is a lot of books that publish things like third and second class passengers were allowed into the Sunday Service in the first class dinning room.

I could also be confused with my memory and the fact that I am thinking of is the steward kept the lounge or smoking room open longer than the normal closing time so that passengers could keep playing their card game. But I thought that the CDI documentary said that the White Star Line did not permit card playing at all on Sundays but it just could be a faulty memory on my part.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Thank you!

It was not a "attack" against you. I know that it is stated in a few books and was wondering if you might have seen another source for it. I for my part have not find a primary source. And you are right about the Sunday Service and like this the card play it is taken over from one author/researcher by another without even looking for a source.
In Titanic's story there is much made up or general opinion which has been presented over the years as a fact even there is 0 evidence for it or the source of the claim is unknown or made up in later years.

 

[Mr. Jordie Dean Byington]

That is good to know. It is one of those things I have always remembered growing u p about the Titanic and was curious if there was any truth to it or if it was true the reason behind it. I did not feel that you were attacking me. I just felt like to that my memory could be playing tricks on me and I was confused with something else.

 

[Mr. Jordie Dean Byington]

Loannis I was happening to be listening to an audio book of A Night to Remember by Walter Lord and in chapter two it states that card playing was not permitted on Sundays. That is the only one for sure that I came up with.

 

[Ioannis Georgiou]

Thanks but I know the mention in ANTR.

And by the way my name is not Loannis.

 

[Mr. Jordie Dean Byington]

My appoligies

 

[Robert T. Paige]

There are scenes of card playing and/or gambling in most of the Titanic movies.

In ANTR, Lightolller makes his rounds and notices a group or a person he had seen on another ship and advises the Steward in the Men's Smoking Room to tell some of the passengers to be aware of the ''card sharks.''

In another ANTR scene Lightoller is hailed by a group of ''Ugly Americans'' with a loud ''Hey Lieutenant ! ''
They ask him if he can tell them how many miles the ship will make the next day since they are planning to bet on this . Lightoller tells them he wouldn't tell them because ''' Wouldn't you be unsure about betting on a sure thing ? ''

In the 1953 ''Titanic'' movie ''Richard Sturges'' (Clifton Webb) is seen in a .Bridge game group which includes
''Maude Young'' (Thelma Ritter) Quote ''A thinly disguised Molly Brown''. I don't think any gambling was inferred.

These scenes were mentioned in another thread.

 

[Robert T. Paige]

We could always try bumper pool with icebergs.

Naaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bad idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

In ANTR , there's a group of Irishmen playing a game by kicking around some chunks of ice from the iceberg on the Well Deck.

Cordially,
Robert T. Paige

 

[Dave Gittins]

I don't have the primary sources under my nose, but the playing with bits of ice is authentic. As to gambling, there was a note on the passenger list warning of fraudulent gamblers. According to Captain Rostron, they were a regular feature of the Atlantic liners. He sometimes managed to recover money for their victims.
I see a modern cruise line that proudly advertises "No kids, no casino". Sounds good!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>

He sometimes managed to recover money for their victims.

I understand part of the "discussion" included having his revolver on his desk in plain sight. It was never pointed AT anybody but never really pointed away. The card sharps tended to get the message REAL quick!

That much may very well be more legend than fact, but what is a fact was that the lines would share information with each other on who the professional gamblers were, including known aliases and would blacklist the lot from passage. It was a prudent way of dealing with a common cancer but not always effective. Here's one who was traveling in 1st Class. He was quite a piece of work!

George Andrew Brereton : Titanic Survivor