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ACBL Bridge Beat #13 – Behind the scenes at a 1930’s bridge tournament with ACBL Hall of Fame member, Alexander M. Sobel…

In the June 1937 edition of The Bridge World, ACBL Hall of Fame member, Alexander M. Sobel described eight types of players found at bridge tournaments. Here are the first three. Do you think these descriptions still foot the bill and if so, which category of player do you belong in? Post Mortemist: Always disregard
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ACBL Bridge Beat #11 – One of the first bridge love stories, A.B.L. Secretary Marries Former Women’s President…

On June 9, 1937, the American Bridge League’s permanent secretary, Mr. William E. McKenney married the past president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the ABL, Mrs. Marguerite Hoffmeier. The marriage took place at Broadway Tabernacle Congregational Church. Many officers and directors of the ABL attended the wedding reception. Photo from The Bridge World

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ACBL Bridge Beat #10 – Contract Bridge first taught in schools…

One of the first school bridge programs was documented in January 1937. Helen Berry Baker began teaching contract bridge to seventh through ninth grade students at Marina Junior High School in San Francisco CA. Over eighty students signed up to participate in her class. At the time, a San Francisco welfare worker gave her opinion
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ACBL Bridge Beat #9 – Crockford’s Bridge Club is a prime establishment on the New York social scene..

Founded by Ely Culbertson in 1932 and named after the English club of the same name, Crockford’s was a popular bridge club located at 14 East 42nd Street in New York, NY.  Membership in Crockford’s was by election only, and a very high standard was maintained in determining membership. Only the most socially prominent of
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ACBL Bridge Beat #6 – Ely Culbertson’s challenge matches make daily news…

In 1931, contract bridge started booming thanks to one of its greatest promoters, Ely Culbertson. Culbertson and his partner, wife Josephine, were gaining popularity with their Culbertson bidding system.  This resulted in a systemic war with the leading authorities in bridge, one of whom was Sidney Lenz.  The Culbertson-Lenz bridge match became known as the
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ACBL Bridge Beat #5 – The Bennett Murder makes bridge a popular headline…

September 1929, Kansas City, MO: Bridge makes headlines when Myrtle Bennett shoots and kills her husband, John, after he is unable to make a four spades contract. After the play of the hand goes horribly wrong, the alleged conversation between the husband and wife was as follows: “You overbid,” said John Bennett. “You’re a bum
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ACBL Bridge Beat #4 – Fall 1929, contract bridge continues to grow in popularity…

In the fall of 1929, the American Auction Bridge League held its first National Championship tournament. Auction bridge’s claim to fame was that it was the son of whist and the father of contract bridge. With the growing popularity of contract bridge, the League dropped the word “Auction” from their title and they became the
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ACBL Bridge Beat # 1 – In 1927 the idea of organizing the game of bridge was born…

The year was 1927. . . The New York Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games straight to win the World Series. An unknown kid named Lindbergh stunned the world by flying from New York to Paris. Bobby Jones regained the National Amateur golf crown. U.S. Marines landed in Nicaragua. And in Hanover, New
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