Gambling Houses
Beginning in the late 1800s, Covington and Newport, KY, were known for their gambling and prostitution houses and organized crime. Newport was referred to as "sin city."
Newport Kentucky was the bawdiest spot in American. Its reputation as a sin city had its roots in the 1880s, when small time gambling and prostitution houses sprang up to satisfy the desires of the US Army soldiers at the Newport Barracks. Even after the army finished relocating to nearby Ft Thomas, the soldiers came back to Newport by streetcar to visit their favorite saloons and disorderly houses. Once those saloons were equipped with telephones, bookmaking on horse races became a profitable cottage industry.
One of the African American gambling houses in the area was the Alibi Club, owned by Melvin Clark in 1952. The club was acquired by Screw Andrews (Frank Andriello) when Clark was kicked out of Newport after shooting and killing Andrews' casino manager. Clark returned to Newport in 1954 and opened the Coconut Grove. He was killed 18 July 1955, in Newport by Screw Andrews. Melvin was born in Columbus Ohio in 1914 to William D Clark and Mattie Watson.
Other casinos and clubs owned by Melvin Clark that catered to African Americans were the Congo, the Copa, Golden Lounge, the Rocket Club, York Streets, and the Varga. The Sportsman was owned by Melvin's partner Steve Payne.