Before the Tribe-Owned Casinos, Illegal Gambling Operations Brought Crowds to Cathedral City

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· After the stock market crash in 1929, every community enterprise in the Palm Springs area seemed to grind to a halt. Fewer winter visitors, as well as the slowdown in the rate of construction of homes, meant that many of the skilled construction workers, domestics, gardeners, and large hotel staff were let go.

· Within the business community, there was a real concern for the future. Some people in the community were tempted to seek quick solutions to the economic problems, even if it led to greater problems in the future.

Promising to fill the hotels in Palm Springs, the Wertheimer brothers, Lou and Al, proposed the simple idea of establishing a plush nightclub that would serve good food, musical entertainment, and a casino operation. (In the 1930s, gambling was illegal in California.) The brothers promised that this establishment would attract many wealthy easterners and that their spending would improve the community's economy.

After being denied in Palm Springs, the brothers bought 20 acres in nearby Cathedral City to build their casino, and they opened the Dunes Club in 1934. The Spanish-style building was out in the middle of the desert off a newly bulldozed street called Date Palm Drive.

(Former location ofSam's Club, and now an Amazon last-mile delivery facility.)

The Dunes Club was First-Class

The exterior of the Dunes Club was made of Spanish stucco and tile. The interior was decorated with dark wood, plush carpets, elegant chandeliers, gilt-edged China, cut crystal, and French cuisine. There was even a dress code for the patrons requiring formal evening gowns and suits. The finery seemed a bit at odds with the green felt tables and heavily armed guards. It was also alleged that the games could be rigged for the house. Guards wearing black ties stood at the massive front door to make sure that the right people got in.

For years, the Dunes Club was the “in” place to go. Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Darryl Zanuck were all visitors . As a concession to community leaders, locals weren’t admitted so that they could not lose their wages to professional gamblers.

The original Dunes Club burned to the ground in a suspicious fire in 1943. The success of the Dunes, however, prompted others to get into the game in the small community of Cathedral City.

Two More Clubs Soon Opened in the 1930s

A second, then a third gambling club opened in Cathedral City.

The 139 Club and The Cove, now the site of the Elks Club on Highway 111, soon followed.

Both had gaming tables, but they also had slot machines, which the Dunes did not. The 139 Club was more of a honky-tonk, and The Cove was a “come as you are gaming room and "kitchen” where the cook served free chili every night.

Both of these clubs welcomed everyone who had money to spend.